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The Dangers of Growing Vegetables Yourself
Take the proper precautions before undertaking an at-home garden
The pandemic and looming food shortage might have you considering planting your own vegetables. Sure, why not? Fewer trips to the grocery store, fewer food expenses, and fresher veggies are quite convincing in the current state of things. Not to mention, the stress relief you get from just digging in the dirt, and the satisfaction you feel for growing your own food is refreshing. Tackling a vegetable garden is a fantastic idea, but only if you consider the many variables that come into play with soil health, like bacteria, pesticides, and those nasty little bugs. Do you really know what you are getting yourself into?
The CDC estimates that 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses each year in the United States.
Soil can easily become contaminated from water, pesticides, runoff, animals, and even from the tools you are using. Dangerous illnesses such as E. Coli, Salmonella, or other foodborne illnesses can result from poor management of your garden. Heavy metals are also a huge concern. If you are a gardening novice, take heed to the dangers and consider the ways you can help reduce your risk.
Preparing the garden for planting
