Hunting and gathering began about 14,500 -12,000 BP (Years Before Present). Throughout this period, the Epipaleolithic people began domesticating both plant and animal species to harvest for food. Many of todays modern dietary staples were established in this time period. Gardening and farming have been an important part to cultures across the globe since its advent; creating a broad range of consumable crops for many generations. It has been a vigorous and extensive labor, and continues to be so to this day. There is a boundless expanse of hard work required to fulfill the needs of successful harvests each season. This heavy labor has been made easier with modern technology and equipment; however, it has not taken away from the significance of this vital duty.

The dawn of cultivation was able to provide more sustainable and well-rounded diets which offered health benefits in return. Picking ripe fresh fruit, or crisp vegetables from a garden is still a well-rewarded feeling of gratification and accomplishment, let alone fairly delicious. Many of today’s communities and markets rely on immense farming and agricultural systems to offer essential produce and livestock needs for contemporary diets. This dependence has exhausted individual and communal gardening in many regions; subsequently rendering gardening for pastime. Can getting back to our roots help create better quality living, smarter economics, and closer communal connections?

In today’s world, several urban areas have become populated with great building assemblies, housing communities, and numerous industries or marketplaces. This has led to many inner-city areas being absent of gardens, and instead present with many subsidized constructions. In some cities, activists have begun reforming empty lots and buildings into communal gardens. Whether it be in an abandoned parking lot, rooftops, or refurbishing an old building into a modern garden, communities are starting to take action into restoring old habits from their ancestors. Being active in a garden bids many personal health benefits in the likes of mental, spiritual and physical well-being. Collective gardening has helped social climates, and also offers freshly grown produce to the native cities. It is motivating to discover that with some of these improvements crime rates have decreased. Carbon emissions have congruently reduced because of less necessary commutes to supermarkets. There is also positive financial influence in districts that frequently hold farmer markets. Lacking the immense quantity of imports to markets, humans can begin finding themselves in situations where they can provide for themselves in a much safer, and friendly manner.

Countless farms over recent history have integrated disparaging strategies and practices to meet the demand for produce. Some of these measures consist of using harsh chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which causes toxic water run-off into local water systems, there is also massive volumes of water used for upkeep on a farm. These practices have also led to soil erosion in many farms, and while this may not seem like a pressing matter, it is. Without soil to grow, nothing can grow. Recently, organic gardening has come to light. The benefits of this practice seem to far outweigh the benefits of what modern farming has commonly become. Organic farming offers less water use and toxic runoffs (most of the soil in these farms is fed with compost and mulch) than conventional farming. Organic farming uses 45% less energy and yields equally as much, if not more than modern cultivation. Organic farming is also more apt to produce yields through seasons of drought. The Rodale Institute performed a 30-year study to provide the basis for most of this information, and at the time had been the longest standing study on farming agriculture. Organic farming can also offer community help and outreach programs. Surrounding communities could help provide compost to the farms, as well as job opportunities to help maintain the practice. This also helps support local farms and companies economically as the demand for farming internationally or countrywide could be lessened. Ultimately, organic farming suggests longevity and sustainability of which conventional farming seems to be at a crossroads.

Upon all of this, there is always the option of using the area in private backyards to create a sustainable garden as well. By implementing safe and organic gardening practices, humans can begin to reap the benefits of what they sow. The National Wildlife Foundation has created a certification system approving those who convert their backyard into a natural habitat for native species of animals and plants. With this accreditation, it is known in your neighborhood that you care about nature and preservation of native life species. By successfully establishing a safe haven for nature: food, water, cover, safety to raise youth, and sustainable wilderness, you are taking part in going green and being supportable of the forthcoming. Planting trees is another wonderful strategy that can be implemented into communities or personal yards as well. Trees offer many substantial benefits for the planet, and can greatly impact the ecosystem we are living in. Trees improve air quality, reduce flooding, reduce erosion, reduce noise pollution, and reduce water runoff (100 mature trees intercept 100,000 gallons of water through their canopies). Trees also offer benefits to homes by offering shade in hot summer months and providing sunshine in winter months, as well as blocking cold winds too. Trees help temper the climate by lowering air temperatures and regulating wind speeds. Planting trees within a community could provide a wonderful event for all ages, races, sexes, and creeds to help benefit their individual communities.

Blockchains can help encourage motivations to start gardening by offering apps or tokens to be created that would promote community connection and competition. Blockchain apps could also be used to help support local farms and gardens. By creating a token that could be exchanged between farms and citizens, a system of payment could be used to promote eco-friendly compost contributions. The tokens could be later exchanged at farmer market events, or other useful garden needs. Restoring a system of bartering would be beneficial to gardening as it was once an effective means of exchange. Overall, there are many great benefits of gardening that ought to be considered in human life moving forward. By being an active gardener in your community you can help the economy, the environment, and your well-being as well as appreciating delightful harvests.

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