Can Growing in Very Small Spaces Help us Eat Better?

Can we grow enough food in containers on a balcony or patio to make a difference to what eat? This post looks at what you think and shares the results of a survey completed by over 200 subscribers to this website. The survey asked: "is growing in containers helping you to eat more fruit and veg and / or a wider variety"? The answer for many of you is 'Yes' to both, full results below. 

Why is healthy eating such a hot topic?

First, a little context. There is increasing awareness that the modern diet is adversely affecting our health. We eat less fruit and veg than we used to  and only about 30% of people in the UK eat the recommended five portions a day. And, as a nation, we eat increasing amounts of highly processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, fat and other potentially harmful ingredients like emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners. The UK is far from alone in these issues. 

A recent report from the UK's House of Lords on Food, Diet and Obesity summarises the problem as follows:

"The Government needs a plan to fix our broken food system.... The report finds that obesity and diet-related disease are a public health emergency that costs society billions each year in healthcare costs and lost productivity."

The report observes that a staggering two thirds of people in the UK are now overweight and one third have obesity. And that there is a steady rise in type 2 diabetes and other diet related diseases. 

Can small space growing play a role in healthier eating? 

The problem is a complex one. But one obvious part of the solution is to find new ways to help people eat less processed food and more vegetables.

This brings us to the questions of what - if any - role can growing in small spaces play to contribute to a healthier diet?

From personal experience, when I started growing on a balcony, we began to eat a lot more fresh food with our meals - without really thinking about it or trying.  We just found it easier to eat fresh food when it was on the doorstep, and it tasted better, too. It was often also more affordable, and we found we were growing a much wider variety of herbs, leaves and fruits than are widely available in the shops. 

When we started growing salad on the balcony - we started eating more of it! A wider variety of leaves, too. 

But is this just my experience? There are several studies (like this and this) that show that growing in community gardens or allotments does help people eat more fruit and veg. But what about those of us who grow in much smaller spaces at home on our balconies, patios, roof tops and yards?  To find out, I sent a survey to subscribers of this blog to ask if you find you eat any more veg - or a wider diversity of plants - and what sort of space (eg balcony or patio) you grow in. 

220 found time to complete the survey - and I am most grateful to all of you, thank you!

Please be aware that this isn't a rigorously designed or scientific survey: not least because, as a couple of you pointed out, those with a keen interest in the topic will be more likely to complete it! Nevertheless, 220 is a decent sample size and gives us an interesting (even if slightly skewed) snapshot of your experience.  We can also glean interesting insights from the comments you made in the survey, some of which I share below. 

What did you say? The results

• A total of 82% of you noticed some positive change in your diet - whether eating more fruit and veg (49%) or eating a wider variety of fruit and veg (coincidentally also 49% - as some people ticked both boxes). 
• Of the 49% of you who are eating more fruit and veg, 30% say they eat a little more and 19% significantly more.
• Only 11% of you said that growing made no significant difference to what you eat. 
• The majority who completed the survey (78%) said they were 'very interested' in healthy eating. I thought this sounded high but actually it compares quite closely to the UK Food Standards Agency who report that 87% of UK consumers consider a healthy diet important.
• Only 1.4% (3 people) in the survey said they weren't particularly interested in healthy eating. Interestingly, all three of these people said they ate more fruit and veg as a result of growing, and two 'significantly more'. So, even if you aren't interested in healthy eating, growing might help anyway! 

Of the respondents, 55% were growing in yards, 31% on patios, 10% on balconies, 5% on rooftops, and 2% in community projects. 

It's not just about the number of plants we eat! 

We can gain further insights from the comments in the survey - many of which illustrate, much better than numbers, how growing our own food contributes to our wellbeing and is about so much more than just the number of plants we eat or nutritional value. There were lots of thoughtful comments and I've enjoyed reading all of them. I share a few with you here. 

Katrin puts it perfectly when she says:- 

“As I'm member of a CSA [Community Supported Agriculture] group, I'm getting seasonal and good veg anyway, but the things I cut and eat directly are still different. They sparkle. Sort of: still alive. They always make a wonderful addition to all I have. And the satisfaction of contributing by my own hands is priceless for my good mood, which is important to keep up in times like this.”  

I love her use of the adjective 'sparkle' here, it's so true. She goes on: 

“I think we all need encouragement to try things, and try again if it doesn't work, and keep on finding out what we can succeed with and what we like. After all, the nourishment isn't only in vitamins but in the connection with nature (successful or not) and the experience of new season, new chances...”

In two paragraphs Katrin has summed up the essence of growing -  the joy of trying different things, connecting with nature, always learning - and remembering that not everything is always successful either in the garden or in the kitchen.  

Chrissie then reminds us “Container gardening is hard work as you have to water VERY regularly." and goes on "But oh! The joy of picking what you want, when you want it! And oh! The flavour. There's nothing like it."

And Sue Oldcorn says: “We have always eaten a large quantity of fruit and vegetables as a proportion of our diet, but growing our own has made it possible to eat even more, a larger variety, and more cheaply. A win-win!”

“[I have] Years of experience in [growing] all year round salads etc & really delighted over last two years in learning what & how to grow microgreens." says Harriet Earle, "A joy to grow more in small spaces for our kitchen, our health and satisfaction of results” 

Agnes reminds us how much can be grown in limited spaces: “It's nice being able to pick fresh produce as and when you want it.....Of course mass production will feed the masses as cheaply as possible but even with limited space, it's surprising what and how much you can grow.”

Involving children

Michelle Richards raises how important growing can also be to encourage children to eat more plants: “We need to stop accepting some of the poor quality tasting produce we get from supermarkets - it doesn’t encourage children to eat healthily if it tastes of nothing!", she says.  And Helen adds: "My child is always happy to try things she has helped to grow - it really encourages her to eat a variety of fruit and veg."

When I run workshops, I've often been surprised by how kids who 'don't eat salad' will be happy snacking on strongly flavoured land cress and lemony sorrel - and sometimes even demolishing whole trays of pea shoots. And I love watching my daughter foraging for berries and herbs in our front yard on her way in and out of the house each day. 

My daughter foraging mint (one of her favourite snacks) from a container in our front yard. 

Learning about the best plants to grow for your situation

Part of creating a container garden that works really well for you is learning which plants you like to eat most and which you have the time and space to grow - as highlighted by these comments. 

“I focus on things I love to eat, that are little fuss, and have a high yield." says Sarah. "We have been eating a lot more fresh and veg heavy meals over summer - not only did we not want to waste a single one, but we wanted to make sure the veg is the star of the meal not a sorry overcooked side, that might even get dropped from the meal or shopping cart to save some money / effort. It was a great feeling to be in sync with summer and grow foods that we can't buy.”

And Sally has adapted her growing to meet her circumstances: “At the moment, due to longer absences from my home, I only grow herbs and seasonal strawberries. However I would not want to miss my wide variety of herbs, which I couldn’t get in an ordinary supermarket.”

Conclusions

As already said, this is not pretending to be a rigorous or scientific survey. Even so, it's still interesting and encouraging to learn how many of you do find that, through your container growing, you are eating more veg each week or eating a wider variety of different plants. 

It's also good to be reminded through your comments in the survey how growing contributes to our wellbeing in so may different ways - and it is not just about the number of portions of fruit and veg we eat, even if this is also important to our long term health. 

There are many different reasons to grow our food at home. Perhaps the most important - and most often cited by experienced growers that I talk to - is the simple joy and fulfilment of it. Nevertheless, this survey does highlight that, if you are aspiring to a healthier diet, there is evidence to suggest that growing in a small space will often help. What is there to lose? 

What is your experience / thoughts?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments so that we can all continue to learn from each other. What is your experience - has growing made any difference to what you eat? And / or what, if any, role do you think growing on our balconies, patios and yards can have to help more people eat a healthier diet - particularly at a time when processed food is so cheap and convenient? Do let us know!