Organic Gardening, Does it Cost too much? ( Part 3)

How to garden organically without spending a lot of money
So You have decided to give organic gardening a try?
Where do you start?
Start small, if you want. No matter what size yard you have, you can always start small, whether you have just a balcony or 10 acres. You have start somewhere. container gardening works very well for organic gardening. You don’t need to buy any special containers, just use what you have. Tomatoes can be grown on the patio in  a topsy turvy planter.


When Green daddy and I were first married we lived in a t townhouse with a small patio. This patio had a little strip of dirt about four square feet.  Between containers and this little strip of land I grew enough tomatoes and basil to make my own spaghetti sauce.  Yum,  yum. nothing tastes better than fresh pasta sauce.

Where do you plant?
You can begin by planting in containers or as Frugal Granola did plant in your existing flower beds. If you choose the later then you are  following a time honored tradition of English gardens.  Some people prefer to make raised beds, but you do not have to have special beds for herbs or vegetables.  Green daddy’s grandma puts her tomatoes in with her zinnias and marigolds. They  have a fancy name for this now, Edible Landscaping.
If you want to start small try containers.  They are a great way to start you can move them, keep them close to the kitchen or back door, wherever you want them.
Every day items make great containers for planting in.  I might have to try some of these.


What to Plant?

So you ask, I am ready to plant what should I plant?  In no particular order  here are some of the easiest to  grow, yes even from seed. 

garlic 

beets

beans all types

lettuces and spinaches 

tomatoes

radishes 

swiss chard 

onions 

tomatillos

I planted my onions, red and yellow, kale, spinach and some lettuces this past weekend in our new garden bed.  We also planted some chives and cilantro.  After a long absence from fruits in the garden, my 6 year old convinced me to try raspberries and blackberries.  We will be adding tomatoes basil. probably sage and rosemary too. I am hoping to have a beautiful vegetable garden that fits into our front yard. I know I have 5 acres but I have decided that I like my garden close to my kitchen.
More to come be sure to check out the next posting in this blog.  How much do I spend a year gardening?




  


  

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Real Food For Real People

             


I have  always been a proponent of what I call REAL FOOD for Real People.  I am not a a fan of prepackaged , processed food.  In my opinion real food, cooked by real people should be eaten by real people. No one should have to settle for so called cheap food just because it is convenient. Convenience foods are neither cheap in the long run, or really that convenient. Studies have shown that people who eat a diet high in refined carbs and processed food have a higher BMI, suffer from high blood pressure, and diabetes just to name a few. 
But what does real food have to do with being a Green Family? Well, considering that food is a big part of our carbon footprint we can do a lot about that. 
 

How can you make an impact on your Carbon Foot Print with Food?

Gardening

Perhaps the biggest way you can make an impact and be more green with your food is to grow and cook your own.  I know that everyone does not have access to acres and acres of land that where they can farm sustainably, but you can always find a window sill and and plant some greens, or if you have a little more room plant herbs and lettuces, spinaches and the like in containers. 

Composting

is a great way to not only reduce your carbon footprint to put it to good use.   I like to use a container like this one on my kitchen counter to hold the kitchen scraps. I empty it as needed, usually once a day, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Farmers Markets

Supporting your local famers at your area farmer’s market, is a great way to go green. Produce is fresher, the nutrition is a better quality and you are helping the local economy. Not only that you lower your carbon footprint by not having to transport food over hundreds of miles.

Cooking Your Own Food

I can think of no better way to have an impact on your food and become more green than to cook your own food at home.  Compared to eating at a restaurant you don’t have to drive there; you don’t have any styrofoam take-out containers to bring home, and you get to choose exactly what ingredients you want to go into your food ie, organic, gluten-free, vegan – whatever you choose.  Perhaps the best part of cooking at home is that you are truly sharing a meal with your family. Invite the kids in to cook.  You will make
many memories and pass on more than good recipes to your children.  I would love to see your favorite green recipes.