About a year ago, I read Food Not Lawns and it changed some things for me. I had wanted to do some gardening, but Food Not Lawns made me feel that, as someone concerned about the environment, it was more of an obligation to grow some of my own food. An obligation to the earth herself, to my ideals.
I tried last year, but I can’t claim any level of success. It was half-hearted, I’ll admit that, on top of me being clueless.
I’m still mostly clueless, and I started a bit later than I likely should have, but I have growing plants in the ground right now. I have an eggplant, some peppers, cucumbers, a couple tomato plants. The tomato plants are flowering, as is the eggplant, and I believe I recognized a soon-to-be flower on one of the pepper plants. I put in a bunch of seed as well (the rest I bought as partially grown plants) and some of them are sprouting as well.
It feels good. I feel like I’m doing something. Growing things is always a source of pleasure, I believe, but in addition to that normal pleasure in green things, I feel like I am slowly making my way towards etching my own world within the larger world.
Progress is slow, as it always is if it is positive. It is motivating nevertheless.
June 2, 2008 at 8:19 am
I lived in a “planned community” and a neighbor who lives on a corner (so everyone can see his yard), has dozens of broccoli plants. Every time I walk by with the dogs they try to pilfer some broccoli! He has had such great success that I’m going to fence off a bit of yard and try it myself. Eggplant, too. One thing I don’t like about our only CSA (and the reason I don’t belong) is that I like very few of the foods they grow (loads of peppers, tomatoes and cabbage). Growing my own is the only way to go, I’ve realized. Any tips are welcome.
June 2, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I would think that Florida would have a year round growing season. Is that true? Lucky you if it is!
The tips that I’ve always heard include starting relatively small, and enlarging the garden a bit each year (if you’re so inclined), which allows your growing experience and knowledge to match the amount of gardening you’re doing. I’d also recommend talking to the broccoli neighbor and asking him for advice! He’s obviously doing something right, though don’t be surprised if he starts listing the chemicals he puts on his plants to help them grow. :/
Composting is something that helps, as well, and you can usually get some small compost bins that will work even when you don’t have a lot of space.
That’s something that I need to get started on, myself. Rich will hopefully help me this weekend!
My most important tip, though, is to just give it a try. I waffled for a long time, thinking I wanted to do raised beds (probably would have been a good idea), but not quite having it in me to set about constructing what I needed. Finally I got frustrated with myself, and on the premise that a failure was better than no attempt at all, I bought a few plants (and then a few more) and planted them, as well as some seeds I’d had laying around for a year or so.
I have no idea what I’m doing, but at least I’m trying! I think it is helpful if you can find local growers who can give you advice that is specific to your area. You can probably also find books on gardening specific to your area, though they might not be specific to your (organic) philosophy.
June 3, 2008 at 9:18 am
Food Not Lawns is a great idea! I applaud you Deb for digging in the earth and planting something edible that uses water in a productive way.
Thank you for the link to Food Not Lawns, and the inspirational post. Now, I’m off to look at seeds! I think your words, “etching my own world within the larger world” makes a great motto for those embracing the food not lawns principle!
June 3, 2008 at 4:03 pm
MWM – good to see you again! I’m glad you’re feeling motivated to garden. It is always a good thing!
June 3, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I love your new truck horns
June 4, 2008 at 12:07 pm
You guys should read my friend Logan Ward’s book on his experience learning to garden. Some of the passages in that book are so funny now, years later, but at the time he was going insane trying to survive. It’s called See You in a Hundred Years.
June 4, 2008 at 8:00 pm
rich – lol. other people worry about bird droppings on their windshield, but I’m happy to have lenny and jeremy droppings on my roof!
FW – I’ll look for it! Thanks for the recommendation!