Great article but you overlooked the most important benefit of growing your own food, the health benefit. The only way you can be 100 % sure your food is safe is buy growing it yourself. Growing food for yourself and family is the only way to know for certain that its non gmo, pesticide free, and nutrient dense. Not to mention that it was grown with love, has superior freshness, and can be assured that it was picked under sanitary conditions, with nobody being exploited or underpaid to bring nature's fresh bounty direct to your table. Also it will be loaded with naturally occuring probiotics from the soil and air, as well as beneficial yeast and other micro organism and enzymes that promote health and are killed through flash pasturization, fumigation, chemical washes and wax coatings that are applied to commercial crops. So start a garden and get healthy to dramatically improve your quality of life!