May 17, 2012

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Living off Your Land – How to Start Your Own Garden

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Anyone who gardens will tell you that even though it’s hard work, it’s a pleasurable and stress-reducing hobby that provides a lot of satisfaction, especially when the crops mature and are ready to harvest. Gardening is fun, and with some planning, time and the right plants, a productive garden is almost guaranteed.

There are several proven steps to growing a successful garden. First you have to find the perfect location for your garden. Generally speaking, the garden area should have good sunlight for about six hours a day and drain well. As for size, a small garden that measures 25 to 30 square feet is a manageable size for a beginner. It is also useful to determine the type of soil or soils the garden area has because different vegetables grow best in specific soil mixtures.

The next step is to decide what crops to plant and how many of each to plant. A word of caution for beginners: Keep the garden simple. Pick a few vegetables that are known to do well in the local area. Too many plants can become an overwhelming experience. The local state extension office is a great source of reference for what grows best in a particular area.

The next order of business is ordering seeds. Many gardeners prefer to buy their seeds from local nurseries or stores, but others like to buy seeds from national firms because they are less expensive. When ordering seeds, check out the USDA hardiness zone to make sure the seeds will do well. The zones are located on the bag of seeds or online if ordering from a website. Here again, be careful about ordering too many seeds.

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Gardening requires tools, and even though quality tools are expensive, they’re an excellent long-term investment. There are a number of good gardening tool suppliers. For bargain hunters who want good tools at a reasonable price, check out gardening tools on eBay. Some people still prefer a hand tool for tilling, but most gardeners will agree that the one essential tool is a power rototiller. A tiller is the most efficient way to prepare the garden by turning and breaking up the soil. While tilling the soil, it’s also a good time to blend in compost to enrich the soil.

Before planting seeds, make rows using a hoe and break up any remaining clumps of soil. When planting seeds, follow the directions on the package and place seeds a little more densely than recommended. Once the seeds are planted, maintain a regular watering schedule in the early morning or evening. Keep an eye out for weeds and remove them every few days.

Next comes the fun part — harvesting the vegetables. Because different crops mature at different times throughout the summer, there will be a constant stream of fresh vegetables to enjoy. The rewards are definitely worth the time and work.

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Importance of Fruits and Vegetables

Countless number of people are afflicted with all kinds of diseases and conditions. Such diseases include cancer, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular accidents commonly known as stroke. However, scientists are letting us know that we can also influence the outbreak of these diseases by controlling or modifying what we consume. In other words, we need to eat more of fruits and vegetables.

For thousands of years, man has planted and consumed fruits and vegetables and now modern science is showing us that we need to take more of the agricultural commodities mentioned above. Apart from the fact that fruits and vegetables are delicious to eat, they can also be described as the ultimate medicines and drugs. For example, it has been shown that tomato contains lycopene which gives it the red color. Apart from giving tomato the bright color, lycopene is also very good as it prevents against certain forms of cancers especially those that affect the prostate glands in males.

To get the fruits and vegetables may be the main reason why some people are discouraged from consuming them. However, fruits and vegetables are quite easy to get. There are grocery stores and fruit stalls where you can purchase these products. If you want to make it more interesting, you can decide to grow your own fruits and vegetables. This will entail you having a garden in your backyard. Being a gardener is always a good thing and a nice way to exercise at the same time. As a matter of fact, if you are industrious, you can even sell your harvest and make some extra bucks. This will be in addition to the nutrients that you derive from consuming them as well.

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Gardens and Good Health: Participation

A child sits at the table — his expression is dour; his disdain is clear. A plate filled to vegetables (the broccoli and carrot fiends) waits before him, untouched since it was first offered. He doesn’t trust the tastes. He doesn’t want the textures. And all arguments of vitamins and calcium enrichment are snorted at, dismissed with all the anger a toddler can manage. He will not eat.

And you finally yield, taking the food away and allowing him to leave.

This is not the first time he has refused to sample what you’ve given him. It will also — you’re certain — not be the last. You wonder what you’re meant to do, how you are to inspire interest. He won’t listen to your explanations. He won’t heed your demands. Instead he views all vegetables with suspicion, unable to decipher their colors.

And that is the source of the problem.

Children are not creatures of reason. Their logic is fueled instead by emotions. If they cannot comprehend an issue they then brand it unworthy. It is your duty to ease that distrust therefore. You must expose your son to the value of nutrition — by allowing him to participate in it.

Gardening is an ideal way to introduce a child to food. It offers hands-on experience (and overwhelming pride). Youths — when provided with their own little patch of land — will be able to grow what they wish, take responsibility for their produce and learn the processes of nature. This will allow them to become familiar with all foods, leaving the mystery of vegetables behind. They will no longer be uncertain of them. They will instead be pleased with their appearance, knowing they were the cause.

This will spark interest and happy egos — enabling them to then sample food with more assurance. They will want to taste what they have created; and they will then discover the goodness it provides.

Filed Under: Organic Food Tagged With: ,