39 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN chased a bag of Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil, a few herbs and a couple of tomato and bell pepper shoots. I ordered organic seed packets from gardenary.com, where a variety of vegetables were free with a $10 shipping fee. Before investing money in raised beds and tools, I wanted to make sure I could commit the time, effort and energy to growing some plants in the pots I already owned. Following the suggestion of a friend and neighbor who is a successful gardener, I designated a sunny corner on the back porch and diligently watered every other day or so until sprouts popped up above the surface. Soon, they became flowering, leafy bushes that needed to be transplanted into a larger area. While shopping at multiple locations instead of a one-stop groPINK PROMENADE CATWALK + COCKTAILS 8TH ANNUAL BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 11AM-1PM | LIVE @ THE OAKS TO PURCHASE TICKETS: mtpleasanttownecentre.com/events IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: SPONSORED BY: cery store and learning to grow our own produce at home isn’t hard to do, it is much more time consuming. However, the rewards are worth it. Cutting into a fresh peach or tomato, you can see, feel, smell and taste the difference between a fruit that’s been grown in and harvested from local or regional soil, rather than sprayed with preservatives so it lasts for months in a warehouse. Other benefits I’ve noticed since buying only what we are going to consume over the coming few days are that we’ve ended up throwing out less and have actually saved money as a result. Physically, I find I’m sleeping better and have replaced brain fog, inertia and anxiety with more energy, focus and happiness. Plus, by using fewer ingredients, cooking dinner is less of a chore and more of a joy. And while we may be just one small family, it feels good to know we are making a difference in our community by supporting local businesses, while also contributing to the sustainability of the planet. Although breaking old habits has not been easy – every now and then, we still treat ourselves to a frozen pizza or other convenience from the grocery store – with what I’ve learned through my research, short of moving to Europe where a market lifestyle is the standard, there is no going back to buying food that’s bathed in chemicals. To learn more about where this journey is taking us next and short-circuit your learning curve for sourcing healthier alternatives, follow me on Instagram at sarahroseglobal. FOOD + BEVERAGE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1