The sun beats down on my back as I pick green beans. Although the labor can sometimes be overwhelming, I know it will be worth it to have the fresh produce on my plate tonight.

Every April, my family gears up for home grown vegetables and fruit, like many other families across America.  According to Mother Nature Network, gardens are becoming more of a norm in American households because of their many benefits. Home-grown foods can help you save money and tend to taste better than the produce from the grocery store that is grown all over the world.

Although my dad does most of the work in the actual garden, I take care of the apple and pear trees and blueberry bushes when they are in season.

Since April is just the beginning of the gardening season, there are not as many foods in my family’s garden as in the summertime. Currently my family’s garden consists of strawberries, lettuce, and brussel sprouts, but it will have a stronger variety of foods come May.

As the weather turns warmer, my garden will consist of tomatoes, corn, green beans, potatoes, green peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and eggplants.

Produce from the grocery store is expensive because it often has to be flown from foreign countries and given many different treatments to keep the produce from becoming rotten, according to 100daysofrealfood.com. Home-grown food is less expensive because this produce does not have to go through those procedures.

Because home-grown produce is also fresher than their grocery store counterparts, it tends to taste better. Produce from the grocery store can spend hours traveling from foreign countries and is often picked before it becomes ripe, which makes the food less tasty.

Getting fresh produce from your backyard has proved to be not only healthier for your body, but also more helpful for your wallet.

Ashley Beyer is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.