Eating locally-produced food helps the climate problem a lot. When you buy locally, the food is not being transported as far, so less pollutants are released into the environment. Typically when you buy home grown or local foods they are cheaper, because the transportation cost is not added in. So not only does home grown help the environment, as seen in the significant decrease in automobile use, it also helps the soil get more nutrients from plants and other foods being grown in the ground. Locally grown foods usually have less chemicals and preservatives, making them better for your health. I do not have a food garden, but I think I would like to start one. Home grown food tastes so much better, and helps the environment. Something this simple is a no brainer to do!

Sami, 15
North Carolina

Homegrown food is especially good because when you grow it yourself and have knowledge of everything that was put into the plant.  Along with growing your own food, we can use the leftover parts of the plants to compost in our own soil benefitting not only the new nutrients being added, but also providing food for animals like worms, snails, and slugs that are needed to compost unused materials.  Another benefit of using homegrown food is that there would be a less likely possibility of becoming sick from any unwanted bacteria or animals using exported food as a way of transportation and invading new lands.  Lastly, when growing your own food we allow growth for more plants which will help use extra CO2 in the air during photosynthesis to help keep CO2 down and certain areas and overall clean the air.