Image courtesy of flickr.com.
Yes, it’s easier to buy produce at the store. But what’s the fun in that? Why buy produce possibly grown across the country (or outside it) when you can grow your own? It takes time and can be labor intensive, but you will literally reap the benefits of what you sow. If you’re interested, here are some gardening basics:
- You’ll need room to work with. If you don’t have a yard or land, some things can be grown on a patio. Anywhere with ample sunlight.
- You can till the ground – aerate the soil – or, for small gardens or planters, you can buy dirt for cheap at garden supply stores, Wal-Mart, K-mart, even dollar stores.
- You can get seeds anywhere. But what do you want to grow and what do you have room for? Pumpkins, squash and the like need a fair amount of room. Tomatoes, onions, herbs, and peppers can be grown on a patio. Potatoes, lettuce/cabbage, greens, and beans can be grown in large planters, but you’ll need more room if you want larger quantities.
- Plant your seeds according to envelope directions and keep them watered. Shelter your garden somehow (wire fence or something) or animals might eat your developing plants. Fertilizer is helpful. If you don’t want chemicals, you can acquire manure at garden supply stores or use your own food waste (bad food, egg shells, etc) or compost. Some chemicals are good to keep bugs from eating everything.
Patiently maintain your garden and, in a couple months, you’ll have fresh produce. With the time and effort you put into it, you may like it more than store-bought.
