Lower your grocery bills and carbon footprint

It’s no secret that higher food prices are straining many budgets.  And food can be a significant portion of a family’s carbon budget too (especially for diets heavy in animal products).

So here’s a simple strategy to help address both of those problems: why not grow your own vegetable garden?  It doesn’t have to be large; you don’t need to spend a fortune on garden equipment; you don’t need previous experience; and you don’t even need a lot of space.  Homegrown veggies are cheap and local; you can trust that they’re free of chemicals and contaminants because you’ve grown them yourself; they give you a measure of food security; and they can be fun to watch growing!

Ready to try it?  Here are a few tips:

• If it’s your first time, start small.  Dig up a little corner of your yard, or get some window or patio boxes, or build a raised bed, or get a large pot you can place on your balcony.  Don’t overlook the potential of small spaces!  Or if your ambitions are larger than your available space, look into getting a plot at a local community garden.  You can get topsoil, potting soil or organic matter from your local garden center.
• Choose veggies that appeal to you and fit your growing situation and tastes.  The following are usually quite easy to grow: lettuce; spinach; radish; beets; onions; carrots; cucumbers; and bush beans.  (I’m also partial to potatoes – pretty easy to grow as long as you can avoid beetles and blight!)  Some good guidance on planting depth, seed spacing and thinning here.
• Have some fun with the younger helpers in your crew by trying unusual crops like green cauliflower, purple carrots or – if space allows – Atlantic Giant pumpkins.
• Keep soil moist by regular watering.  Most plants don’t do well in soggy conditions, so be careful not to overwater – especially important for plants in containers that don’t have drain holes.
• Be prepared to add a little fertilizer or organic matter from time to time, especially if your plants start to look a bit pale or tired

Enjoy the mind-clearing benefits of tending to your plants and watching them grow; and then the fruits of your labour: fresh, cheap, local and low-carbon-footprint!

Happy gardening!