Eat Smart by exercising your green thumb

The benefits of growing your own vegetables go beyond eating a healthy meal. In addition to helping you stretch your food budget, gardening provides exercise, can reduce stress.

April is usually the start of the outdoor vegetable gardening season in the Northwest. But many of us feel like we don’t have the time, the space or the knowledge to grow our own food.

If the new White House vegetable garden or the warmer weather have inspired you to give gardening a try, here are some resources to help get you started.

• Attend a gardening class – Check out the Eat Smart Events section of the Health Matters website for a list of local offerings. Many classes are free.
  
  
• Get free advice – Contact experienced volunteers at Seattle Tilth’s Garden hotline or attend a WSU Master Gardener Plant Clinic to get answers to your general gardening questions. Both services are free.
  
  
• Learn from experts – King County’s Yard Talk provides dirt simple tips for natural yard (and garden) care. Learn about composting, techniques to minimize water usage and how to deal with insects.

Happy gardening!