3 Tips to Start Growing Your Own Food

About a month ago, I posted about the epic road trip I planned to take across the country, and how I planned to eschew gas station goods for sustainable, healthy food. Well, the trip went well, and I was incredibly inspired by how the local food movement has taken flight. Everywhere I went, whether it was Withey's Natural Foods in Kalispell, Montana or Peace Coffee in Minneapolis, there was evidence not only of successful and sustainable businesses, but of a thriving local scene that celebrated local food and small farmers.

I was so inspired, in fact, that I decided the next step in my journey was to start my own local movement here in Hadley, Massachusetts. And by local I mean my own backyard. That's right. I moved to Western Mass in part because I needed more space than what was afforded to me in a small, second-floor studio apartment in Oakland, California. I love the Bay Area, and its local food movement is impressive (hello, Alice Waters and Michael Pollan). But when I walked into my new apartment in Massachusetts and could actually take three giant steps from one side of the kitchen to the other, I almost turned a cartwheel. And when I went into the backyard, I almost cried. Actually, I did cry. There are corn stalks back there already, and sunflowers nearly twice my height. The next door neighbors have a rooster, hens, and even rabbits. So I'm going to do it: I'm starting my own small, organic garden.

I'm hoping some faithful readers will take the dive with me. I've had a garden only once before, and I ended up moving out before I could partake of the fruits of my labor. But it's important to me to start one again, and for those with the space, I encourage you to do the same.  Having your own garden gives you the opportunity to appreciate how food is grown. It also gives no doubt as to where your food comes from and what's been administered to it. Growing your own veggies can even save you money – during WWII, many Americans planted Victory Gardens to help supplement the nation's food supply at a time when food was rationed.

Here are three initial steps I plan to take over the next few weeks.  Feel free to let me know what I missed, how you plan to go about it, or, if you have other helpful hints for readers.

Plan the planting:

Unfortunately, late July isn't the best time to start a garden. But laying the groundwork for a garden takes a lot of work, and it's often this process that discourages many would-be gardeners. Sure, you can dig a hole and throw some plants in it, but the better you plan your plot, the more likely you are to succeed at growing healthy, edible fruits and veggies.

1. Start by figuring out what USDA Zone you live in (I'm in 5), which will help establish what you can plant, and when.

2. Take a look around your yard and watch the areas that get a fair amount of sun, but are afforded some shade. Different plants have different requirements, but full sun or full shade definitely limit your options. You can also test your soil (you can purchase a soil testing kit at most gardening stores, or online) to get a good idea of what growing conditions are like, and what kind of organic fertilizers will be best. For example, bone meal or bat guano can reduce soil acidity, while dolomitic limestone can raise it.

3. Don't forget to start small. I've got a huge plot of land at my disposal, but I only have two hands and a limited amount of time each day. Take a look at a planting calendar (from the very specific Farmer's Almanac to the more general month-by-month guide at Better Homes and Gardens), and figure out what you can reasonably care for given the time, space, and resources you currently have.

Here's to a future full of garden-grown veggies. In the meantime, you can support local, organic farmers by signing our petition demanding that lawmkers continue to provide them with the crucial financial assistance they need through the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.