by Julie Watkins
| Growing food. Humans have been gardening since the dawn of civilization so by now there must be some instinct built into all of us. And besides, when you are reaching out to your constructive and creative primal state you are waking things inside of you that have been asleep for far too long. I think that's why gardening has so many health benefits like relieving stress, improving mental health and physical well-being. If people were successful at planting and growing food thousands of years ago what makes you think you can't do it today given ALL of the freaking resources available to you 24-7? FYI, way back when, they managed to grow food just fine without all the toxic, polluting, soil-eroding, water and air contaminating, bee- and baby-killing chemicals so ORGANIC, ORGANIC, ORGANIC is the way you were meant to grow food. And the current state of your health is there to confirm that statement. | Reasons To Grow Your Own Food:
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I am definitely no expert on gardening, heck, I've only been doing it for a few months. However, I am good at taking something that might seem overwhelming and complex and JUST DOING IT! (For example, I'm not very good at blogging as it takes me a long time to write just one measly blog, but here I am). You want to learn how to swim, you jump in a pool. You want to learn guitar, you get a guitar. You want to grow your own food, you get seeds, dirt and a pot. Keep it basic. But, like everything else that matters in life, it takes a little patience, a willingness to make mistakes and a determination to keep trying.
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1. | Don't Overthink It!  Thinking about where to start for too long just might stop you dead in your tracks. You may begin to ponder things such as growing seasons, what will and won't grow in your region, whether or not to try companion planting, what insect repellants to use, etc. I'm not saying don't be prepared, but just find a fruit or veggie you like to eat and plant the damn thing. It'll take a while to grow and bear fruit, during which time you can "dig" a little deeper into the dos and don'ts of what you just planted. Your knowledge will "grow" along with your new plant, ha! Now, isn't that much better than thinking you have to know-it-all before you can begin this journey into green thumbland? There's just no need to overcomplicate how a seed buried in the soil basking in the sun getting watered from time to time begins to grow. It just happens so begin right there. |
 Lettuce is by far the easiest thing I have grown to date. Well, that and basil - they both grow great in pots! I planted 4 groups of seeds in which 3 sprouted quickly. The fourth took a while, but it's now caught up and filling in quite nicely. |  After just a few weeks, I have fresh greens that I can now add to any salad, smoothie, sandwich, juice, etc. Minimal effort required! |
2. | Gather Your Supplies  Gardening is pretty inexpensive to do even BEFORE you've bought the organic seeds. Don't want to buy seeds? Then just remove the seeds from your produce and use those. Now run to the store and get a pot or two, some dirt, (rocks, if your pots DO NOT have holes in them) and perhaps a little shovel and watering can. Well, lookie there, you've got everything you could possibly need to grow some fantastic food! |
3. | Get Dirty  Now rip open that big bag of dirt and get ready to dig in! If your pots DO NOT have holes, then place a layer of rocks at the bottom. This will allow for the water to drain. Otherwise, fill the pot with dirt and read the directions on your seed packet to find out how deep to plant your seed. It could be from 1 inch to 1/8 inch. Throw them seeds on in there, cover and water. Now brace yourself, the fun is just about to start! |
4. | Check On It Frequently  Plants have feelings, too, you know, so check on them now and then. (They don't really, but they do respond to energy so talking to them or wishing them well doesn't hurt one bit. And, this is a great way to get your neighbors to leave you alone.) Just make sure your new friends are getting enough sun and water. I would recommend watering them once a day unless the soil feels damp to the touch, then let it dry out a bit. |
5. | Live and Learn  You've made a huge mistake? Good! Congrats, you just got in touch with your human side and you learned what not to do. That's just as valuable as learning the right way to do it. Did you accidentally grow some weeds like I did (see below)? Did your leaves turn white and all wilty? Well, just try to diagnose the problem and then do it all over again. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, you have resources available to you 24-7: YouTube, garden clubs, community gardens. store clerks, social media, books and more. The universe will not let you fail as growing food has never been easier to figure out than right here, right now. And since you're not going anywhere anytime soon, grab those seeds and refer to step 1! |
 I planted wheatgrass here, but now I'm thinking I've been tending to and nurturing weeds for the last few weeks. It doesn't look like the wheatgrass I'm used to seeing which is thinner and a brighter green. But, that's a damn fine pot of luscious weeds. |  I have a plot in an organic community garden where I planted these beans. I find growing items in pots at home easier only because I can check on them more often. Here, it seems something got to the leaves. Apparently, spraying a concoction of water and biodegradable liquid dish soap is all it needs. I recommend Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. |
I love this website because it lets you know when produce is in season in your state! Do you have a favorite fruit or vegetable, and you'd love to get it fresh and local, but you don't know when it is normally harvested in your area? Then you are in luck: click the button below to get the United States first national crop harvest calendars.
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