Why is it that food has become such a commercialized entity? The quick and affordable stop on the way home that so many suburban parents make as a "quick fix" for dinner. It is clear in the film "The Garden" that the South Central Farmers attain a spiritual connection with the land on which they grow their own food, but where has this rich culture and connectivity gone?
Native Americans also had a very spiritual and even respectable relationship with the land believing that the land is allowing us to live on it so we should abide by the rules that it has set (for example, not depleting it's natural resources.) My point here is not to answer these questions, but rather to raise awareness about the intimacy and spiritual connectedness that can be created through working with nature in creating a garden of ones own. Not only does it allow you to appreciate the earth but knowing where your food comes from is an important liberty that many people don't think is attainable.
Many people don't realize that it's as easy as having space in your back yard.
THE BASICS:
*Vegetables love the sun. They require six hours (continuous, if possible) of sunlight each day, at least.
*Vegetables must have good, loamy, well-drained soil. Most backyard soil is not perfect and needs a helping hand. Check with your local nursery or county extension office about soil testing, soil types, and soil enrichment.
*Placement is everything. Like humans, vegetables need proper nutrition. A vegetable garden too near a tree will lose its nutrients to the tree's greedy root system. On the other hand, a garden close to the house will help to discourage wild animals from nibbling away your potential harvest.
*Vegetables need lots of water, at least one inch of water a week. In the early spring, walk around your property to see where the snow melts first, when the sun catches in warm pockets. This will make a difference in how well your vegetables grow.
Gardening is easier than the average person thinks and only requires a little bit of research and some good ol' playin in the dirt. To help those interested get started here are a few websites that can help explain gardening to the inexperienced:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/vegetable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
http://www.backyardgardener.com/veg/VEGETABLE/growingvegetableforbeginners.htm
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/vegetable-gardening-for-beginners.htm
Manual labor can be a very developmental experience, so why not develop that into an incessant relationship with the sacred land and the organic food it can help you make?
I agree Claire!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, my mom had her own little garden, and she grew a lot of our veggies there. Not only are the veggies from our own garden delicious but they are healthy, because there are no pesticides on them. Unlike many of the veggies that you buy from the grocery stores, you don't know what pesticides were used on them.Another great benefit to having your own garden is saving money, and it's also really fun to see your plants grow =)
So I believe that everyone should have their own little garden if they can! ^_^
Great post! At the beginning of the quarter I was actually inspired to start a little garden of my own. Even though I live in an apartment I was able to fit a few large pots on my small balcony and being a "dummy" gardener myself I had to look up a lot of information on the internet. I've got some tomatoes, raspberries, and some beans growing and they seem to be thriving well. Now I can't wait to live in a house where I can start a bigger garden. I figure anything I can grow for myself is a good start.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info.