Planting For A Secure Food Future

It has been almost a decade since my family has planted a garden. Life looked very different then. I was a stay at home mom with two elementary-age children. Even though I was very involved in the community and taking care of a household, the garden was a side project, or at best a hobby. Fast forward to today, I work a full-time job, have two high school students, and a third child in elementary, all of which I homeschool. I am still involved in the community, but this year our garden will not be a hobby. This year priorities have changed, as I am sure they have for many more than just my family.

After the reality of COVID-19 hit our small town and I walked the aisles at the local grocery store to find empty shelves, everything changed. As with many, my first response was to assess what we had on hand and assess what we would need to get through the coming weeks. I was not ahead of the game and had it not been for a sweet friend mailing me some toilet paper, I do not know how my family of five would have fared these last few weeks.

With my husband, who works for the local school district, stuck at home, we decided to take advantage of our five acres and plant the largest garden we ever have. While we are fortunate to have more than enough property to plant a garden that will supply our family with food enough to get through the year, not all of our friends in the city have these resources. If, like our friends, you find yourself wanting to prepare for an unknown food future, have no fear, you have options.

If you find yourself with just a small back yard:

Square-foot gardening can be a viable solution

https://squarefootgardening.org/

If you live in an apartment:

Container gardening

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20707074/container-gardening-tips/

Indoor hydroponics

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/containers/hydroponic-gardening-indoors.htm

Concerned about not only space but time to invest:

Consider starting a community garden

https://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/ever-wondered-how-start-community-garden.html

If all else fails or you just find out you have a black thumb:

MRE’s are a great backup plan (insert link)

Important side note: Not all seeds are equal. If you are truly looking for long term sustainability with a garden, you will want seeds that will allow you to harvest seeds for the years to come. This means that you do not want to buy hybrid seeds. (insert link)

As we all prepare for whatever the future may hold, I hope that you each plant a seed of hope in your hearts and grow strong through these trying times.

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

― Robert Louis Stevenson

Happy Gardening,

Shana