Yards to Gardens

Ever wonder how far your dinner traveled to get to your plate? The concept of food miles measures the distance food travels from its origin to you. But the real picture is even bigger. It includes the entire food supply chain, from the fertilizers used to the machinery that processes your food. This global journey is more than just a convenience; it’s a massive contributor to climate change. The food transport system alone accounts for almost a fifth of all food-related emissions, a staggering 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.

We have the power to change this. While the global system is complex, our individual choices can make a huge difference.

• Rethink Your Plate: The simple act of choosing locally grown food can transform a 1,500-mile journey into a trip of just a few steps. Seek out farmers’ markets or join a community-supported agriculture program.
• Grow Your Own: One of the most impactful things you can do is to grow your own fruits and vegetables. By nurturing your own food, you build a deeper connection and appreciation for what you eat while reaping the benefits of extra nutrients and superior quality. Even if sometimes the veggies aren’t as pretty. 
• Demand Change: Support businesses and policies that prioritize local and sustainable food systems. Your voice and your dollar can help shift the market toward a more responsible future.

While household lawns create a pleasant atmosphere and have become the standard practice, it is essential to note the amount of water, pesticides, electricity, and physical exertion that is required to maintain them. By turning sections, or all, of a homeowner’s lawn into usable garden tracts, we redirect the energy spent on upkeep into creating a valuable food source, an even more aesthetically pleasing yard, resource efficiency in our cities, and an opportunity to give nutrients and vital ecosystems back to the earth.
Jovial Organic Gardens can be seen as a classroom to foster direct connections to our food. In any healthy garden, one can observe countless different species working together to create a balanced system. We can learn the best methods to nurture these beneficial relationships, pass this knowledge to others, and show the clear lesson that the healthiest gardens are the most balanced.

We have the power to change this. While the global system is complex, our individual choices can make a huge difference.

• Rethink Your Plate: The simple act of choosing locally grown food can transform a 1,500-mile journey into a trip of just a few steps. Seek out farmers’ markets or join a community-supported agriculture program.
• Grow Your Own: One of the most impactful things you can do is to grow your own fruits and vegetables. By nurturing your own food, you build a deeper connection and appreciation for what you eat while reaping the benefits of extra nutrients and superior quality. Even if sometimes the veggies aren’t as pretty. 
• Demand Change: Support businesses and policies that prioritize local and sustainable food systems. Your voice and your dollar can help shift the market toward a more responsible future.