Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Many families across the UAE have taken up growing their own fruit, vegetables and herbs - in backyards, on balconies, or indoors through hydroponic systems.
What began as a pastime has become a lifestyle change that has encouraged healthier eating habits and a closer connection to nature.
Mohammed Saleh, a 33-year-old government employee, decided to start a home garden despite a hectic work schedule, and he said it was all for his family.
"I wanted my kids to know that food is more than just what they see on grocery store shelves," Saleh told Aletihad.
Since setting up the garden, the family has made a habit of spending weekends tending to their vegetables, watching seeds grow into produce they can harvest and enjoy together.
"Knowing precisely how the produce was cultivated gives us trust in its quality, and the taste is fresher," he added.
Beyond the garden itself, Saleh believes the experience has changed his family's mindset and deepened their appreciation for the work that goes into every meal.
"We are now much more aware of the importance of conserving water, minimising food waste," he said, adding that everyone in the family is now eager to cook with the vegetables they've grown themselves.
For Drawesh Alali, a 60-year-old retiree, gardening began as a way to stay active and productive, but it soon became something more: a fulfilling routine that turned his lifelong appreciation for agriculture into a renewed sense of purpose.
"Taking care of vegetables and fruit plants every morning makes me feel accomplished and at ease," Alali said. "The garden makes me think of the customs that many of us experienced as children, when families were more dependent on what they grew themselves."
He has also seen his garden become common ground between generations of his family. "My granddaughters help with harvesting and watering, and it allows us to teach them about protecting the environment," Alali said.
"Home gardening is about more than just growing food; it's about teaching values like patience, responsibility and thankfulness," he added.
Khawlah Mohammed, a 58-year-old housewife, sees home gardening as an extension of caring for her family's health and wellbeing. She started by growing herbs and leafy greens simply to have fresh ingredients on hand for everyday cooking.
"Over time, the garden expanded to include tomatoes, cucumbers and seasonal fruits," she said. "There is something special about preparing a meal using ingredients picked just minutes before they reach the kitchen."
The fresher, homegrown produce has encouraged her family to eat more greens "because they have seen the effort involved in growing them," she said. And it's this gratitude, alongside the healthier habits, that she finds most rewarding.
With more greenery around the house bringing the outdoors in, Khawlah said gardening has helped her family grow closer to nature and more mindful of conserving resources.
From the healthier, more sustainable lifestyle to the family moments it creates, she said, these are reasons enough to make gardening part of everyday family life.
