Eating well is part of living a healthy life. We are fortunate to live in a region where we can grow a wide variety of local, seasonal and heirloom foods that never grace our supermarket shelves. Eating from a backyard garden provides us with a three-season adventure in nutrition and tasteful delight.

Growing fruits and vegetables yourself, even just a few squash plants and some parsley, is nourishing and satisfying. A garden always gives back more than it receives. The exercise is great, the fresh air, the feel of your hands in the dirt and the amazing variety of insects to be encountered and the scent of the fresh herbs snipped all contribute to a sense of well-being, even in spite of the aching muscles or thorn pokes and scratches that you get along the way.

If you are limited on space, or you have physical limitations, grow a garden in a large pot on your deck. It’s amazing how much you can get into one of those big black plastic potting tubs that come with trees and shrubs purchased from nurseries. If you have no need to buy a tree, look for these containers at garage sales or used-goods stores. Plant cherry tomato, basil, cucumber, oregano and chive plant in the pot and place in a sunny spot on your front or back porch, water regularly and voila! You have the makings of a salad.

You will feel great excitement when you check on your garden and see it growing by leaps and bounds. Not only can a garden be a delectable delight, but it is also beautiful to look at and can offer shade from the hot sun. For example, when my kids were little we built teepee-shaped beanpoles for them to take cover in on a hot afternoon while I puttered and weeded nearby.

Eating what grows in your backyard can add so much goodness to your day. Ah, to wander out in the early morning stillness to pick a bowl of raspberries for breakfast. Or gather some cherries to add to a salad or a bowl of rice pudding. On hot days, I often raid my volunteer spearmint patch or slice up a cucumber from the garden to flavor a pitcher of water cooling in the fridge. It’s really thirst quenching and no cost or calories!

Gardens always give up surprises. In fact, just the other day I found an overlooked head of immature garlic while I was turning over some soil for a pole bean patch. I picked the garlic, sliced it up and tossed it into the pot of soup I had simmering on the stove. Plant what you like to eat: green beans, fresh peas, or crisp baby carrots. Feel free to experiment. You could plant some edible flowers (look on the Web or ask your local nursery for a list of edible flowers). Just remember to water your garden often and enjoy its many delights.

Abby Terris, MA, LPC is a Counselor/Educator at Heartspring Wellness Center. She has been a parenting coach and is the mother of two grown daughters.