Cebu City -- Buying vegetables like malunggay, ampalaya, batong, oktra, onion chives, ginger and many more in the market is quite spendy not only that there is also the hassle of walking or riding a jeepney/trisikad going to the public market.

Backyard gardening has been encouraged to the families over the years, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Agriculture has advocated the Plant Plant Plant program to have a sustainable and attainable source of food and income in each household.

Having a source of food right at home can help the family save money and time, not only that there is a constant source of healthy and nutritious food for the family and many for the neighbors as well. Having the children involved in growing these vegetables right at home may encourage them to eat more vegetables since they have experienced first-hand the process that each vegetable undergoes and the hard work that goes into gardening.

Another perk of having a backyard vegetable garden is having a reliable source of food in times of emergencies. Our country the Philippines is known for having natural calamities and when it comes there is a shortage of food in the area affected. Having this garden may prepare the family to harvest ahead of time for food storage during typhoons and floods. Furthermore, the food stored is also nutritious for the whole family.

These are the only few advantages of having a vegetable garden at home, whether it’s a backyard garden, vertical, potted, no matter how big or small the vegetable garden is there is an advantage to gain for the whole family. // Christine April M. Lopez, RND, Nutrition Officer I