How to Grow Food Sustainably at Home

Growing food at home is inherently more sustainable than buying it shipped across the country, but the methods matter too. A few choices make the garden a genuine environmental win.

The principles are building soil, saving water, and avoiding chemicals, each of which improves the garden while lightening its footprint. Sustainable gardening is really just good gardening.

• Feed the soil with compost instead of synthetic fertilizer
• Collect rainwater to cut tap water use
• Grow diverse crops to support beneficial insects
• Avoid pesticides in favor of natural controls