Whole-Person Benefits of Growing Our Own Food

Our ancestors were probably all involved in growing food in some way—and it was hard work! Today, most of us no longer have to grow food out of necessity. But choosing to do so in some way, big or small, can be richly rewarding. As the farmer and poet Wendell Berry observes, in gardening, “one works with the body to feed the body.” There is a natural synergy here: quality gardening makes us hungry and brings us excellent food.

Saint Irenaeus tells us that “the glory of God is man fully alive.” Growing food can truly help us be more fully alive in all aspects of our whole person: physically, mentally, and spiritually. As time and space in our season of life allow, we invite you to enjoy  the whole-person benefits of  participating in the growth of our own food:

1. Delight in Creation and Creator

Christian tradition tells us that one way we can come to know the Creator is through Creation. By growing food, we come to know Creation in a more intimate way—not just with our eyes and intellects but with our five senses and our whole person. 

One Reformer told this story: she tried to grow pumpkins in her garden for a couple of years without success. Eventually, she decided to let the project go and threw the small and fruitless plants into the compost pile… only to find pumpkin vines growing robustly out of the compost pile to come next summer, soon to bear fruit! She now tells this story with a laugh. 

Growing food invites us to adopt an attitude of childlike play and dependency. Whether through the immovable rhythm of the seasons or through the unpredictability of plant growth, we are tangibly immersed in the Father's designs. We are not in control of exactly what or how much grows; rather, we are disposed to an attitude of wonder and gratitude for the good gifts the Father will send. 

2. A Natural Mood Boost 

Growing food naturally involves various types of physical movement, which increases the production of endorphins. The sustained, repetitive, and low-intensity movements in gardening fall into a similar category as Pilates. This type of gentle movement can build functional strength and  is ideal during seasons of lower capacity or as a complement to other forms of movement. 

Research also suggests that touching soil provides a natural serotonin (mood) boost through skin contact with bacteria naturally found in soil. Further, the “earthy” aroma produces a calming and balancing effect on mood. We also know that being outdoors and soaking in sunlight benefits our mood and circadian rhythms and that sweating is a powerful form of natural detox.

We invite you to be open to the sometimes-sweaty challenge of being in the dirt — you might feel an unexpected exhilaration afterward. 

3. Enjoy High-Quality Local Produce at Peak Freshness 

Growing food allows us to come closer to the source of our food, obtaining the freshest produce possible with the most nutrition and taste. One simple reason is that produce steadily loses nutrients in the days after it has been harvested.

Further, in the globalized food system, produce varieties are often selected for their ability to be transported hundreds of miles while still appearing edible and fresh — not for taste and nutrition. Imagine how tough a tomato has to be to travel hundreds of miles across the country in a truck and still look pristine days or weeks later. Many of us have tasted the difference between store-bought and home-grown tomatoes. And what a difference!

There are hundreds of thousands of edible plant species on earth, but in the global food system, 75% of produce comes from only 12 plant species. Industrial agriculture has focused on a small number of high-yield varieties, while other varieties are no longer widely grown. When growing our own food, we gain access to varieties native to our region, which provide new flavors to delight in. These are often the easiest for us to grow because they have evolved over centuries to thrive in the local climate.

The fruits of the earth and the design of Creation are truly gifts from God. We invite you to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 34:8).

4. An Avenue to Enter More Deeply into Scripture

Sacred Scripture is full of agrarian images, such as sowing seeds and pruning a vine so that it bears good fruit. Although we can imagine these images, few can relate to them through personal experience. Living these realities first-hand opens up an avenue to enter Scripture in a new way. 

One Reformer described going out to prune her orchard for the first time when it was only a couple of seasons old. She knew pruning was necessary, yet the act of actually pruning was terrifying. As she was cutting, she would wonder, “What if this branch was going to bear the best apples?” She began to pray, “Holy Spirit, show me where to cut.” After prayerfully pruning throughout the orchard, half of each tree seemed gone. She worried the pruning had been too intense. 

But in the fall, the orchard was overflowing with apples. When the trees had not been pruned the year before, there had been almost no fruit. 

Agriculture involves accepting realities we do not choose and may find difficult to accept. So, too, Jesus’ parables can strike us as counterintuitive. Yet the Lord is constantly inviting us to meet Him in the mystery. 

5. True Rest

Today, many of us work jobs that prioritize our intellect and leave our bodies passive behind a desk or computer. Our minds can easily become exhausted. Surprisingly, when we undertake repetitive manual work, we find that our minds are freed and refreshed. Some people say they do their best thinking while weeding a garden bed. 

We know that true rest is not dissociation. Rather, it is intentionally choosing a non-demanding activity that is restful in the particular area where you may be exhausted (i.e., body or mind). In our modern world, growing food can be a truly restful complement to our everyday tasks. It is a tactile outlet that provides gentle movement for the body, peaceful rest for the mind, and a contrast to the activities we are primarily engaged in throughout the rest of the day.

It is very difficult to be rushed or frantic when gardening. There are rhythms of patience and seasonality that we cannot change. When cultivating plants, we must adopt a slower pace than the world’s. We encounter a heavenly pace and can further cultivate that heavenly pace throughout the rest of our lives.  

There are several ways to get involved in growing food: 

Mini-homestead: Consider allocating a portion of your yard to be a garden and/or incorporating some fruit trees into the home landscaping plan. With upfront planning, a home garden or orchard can continue to bless your family for many years to come. Herbs are often easy to grow and can be a good plant in your yard before committing to a larger garden. 

Note: be sure to test your soil before growing food to ensure it is free of heavy metals and other environmental toxins.

CSA: Through a Community Supported Agriculture arrangement, you can meaningfully partner with a local farm, supporting their business through an up-front commitment and receiving produce and sometimes other farm products throughout the year in exchange. An added bonus is that receiving regular boxes of farm products can cut down on grocery shopping time. Some CSA arrangements also invite members to get involved on the farm on special community days. 

Community garden: There are two types of community gardens. Some are centrally planned and run by head gardeners who direct the work of volunteers. In this model, volunteers are encouraged to take produce home. Other community gardens offer individual plots for annual lease, and you plan and cultivate your own plot. 

Both types of community gardens are wonderful options for those new to gardening. You will constantly learn from fellow gardeners working beside you, and this can also become a wonderful source of community!

Start small: In small spaces, cultivate a garden on the balcony or grow potted herbs near a window with sunlight. Use high-quality potting soil and choose plants that can thrive with your daily sunlight.

We can nourish our whole person not only by eating good food but also by growing it. We were created with the capacity to grow food, and doing so can bring us to a state of feeling fully alive. What beauty there is in God’s design! We invite you to consider what it might look like for you to get involved in growing food in some way, big or small, in the Lord’s time. 

References: 

Berry, Wendell. “The Body and the Earth” in The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays. Counterpoint, 2022. 

Kim, Seon-Ok et al. “Psychophysiological and Metabolomics Responses of Adults during Horticultural Activities Using Soil Inoculated with Streptomyces rimosus: A Pilot Study.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 19,19 12901. 8 Oct. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9564959/. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024. 

Kim, Seon-Ok, Su Young Son, Min Ji Kim, Choong Hwan Lee, and Sin-Ae Park. "Physiological Responses of Adults during Soil-mixing Activities Based on the Presence of Soil Microorganisms: A Metabolomics Approach". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 147.3 (2022): 135-144.  https://journals.ashs.org/jashs/view/journals/jashs/147/3/article-p135.xml?rskey=y3YGTt&ArticleBodyColorStyles=contributornotes-4381. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.

“What is Happening to Agrobiodiversity?” https://www.fao.org/4/y5609e/y5609e02.htm. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.