As more and more people are confronted with the health risks of processed foods and the energy drain of trucking foods into our areas, they are turning to gardening and growing their own food. Others are content to eat as much local food as they can find and just fill in the gaps with shipped in foods.
While space can be limited, since many of us do not live somewhere that has a lot of land to garden, we have to seek alternatives to growing our own foods. Using one or more raised beds can help reduce the amount of space needed to produce a good amount of fresh food.
There is a unique bond between the older generations that went through the depression and the younger generations of today as they are both very aware of what is happening to the world around them. It seems lack brings on this consciousness as well as innovation and good use of resources.
People have been growing their own food for generations so little is really that new though the technology and tools make it easier. Integrating cedar raised beds into an organic growing plan is great but it will never replace the gardener. It needs you to succeed.
If you decide to use a raised bed on a balcony, deck or suspended patio you will need to be aware of the weight restrictions before you decide on the size of bed you would like to use. Though you can plant more with a tiered bed it will weigh considerably more since all the dirt is amassed in a small space. You can also use "light" soil that can be purchased at your local plant nursery.
Use common sense when placing your bed for the fall through winter months as the sun does change position and the plants will need as much sun as they can get during this time. This will also help you with heat as well. Depending on where you live, you will need to invest in a covering of some sort. A good milled plastic will work to block out the wind and you may need to add a heater for the evenings that are below 45 degrees mark.
Another consideration during the colder months will be heat. Your plants will need to be kept above that 40 degree mark if at all possible. You can accomplish this with a number of methods but the easiest is to use a small electric heater. Just be safe and make sure it is free and has a lot of room around it. You can also heat up and pot of water and simply place it within the enclosure as the heat will radiate all night long.
What you should be able to take away from this article is the fact that you can grow your own food on a year round basis as long as you plan well and have the right tools and equipment. It doesn't take a lot of money and is well worth the effort once you start harvesting those tasty veggies and herbs. Good Luck!
While space can be limited, since many of us do not live somewhere that has a lot of land to garden, we have to seek alternatives to growing our own foods. Using one or more raised beds can help reduce the amount of space needed to produce a good amount of fresh food.
There is a unique bond between the older generations that went through the depression and the younger generations of today as they are both very aware of what is happening to the world around them. It seems lack brings on this consciousness as well as innovation and good use of resources.
People have been growing their own food for generations so little is really that new though the technology and tools make it easier. Integrating cedar raised beds into an organic growing plan is great but it will never replace the gardener. It needs you to succeed.
If you decide to use a raised bed on a balcony, deck or suspended patio you will need to be aware of the weight restrictions before you decide on the size of bed you would like to use. Though you can plant more with a tiered bed it will weigh considerably more since all the dirt is amassed in a small space. You can also use "light" soil that can be purchased at your local plant nursery.
Use common sense when placing your bed for the fall through winter months as the sun does change position and the plants will need as much sun as they can get during this time. This will also help you with heat as well. Depending on where you live, you will need to invest in a covering of some sort. A good milled plastic will work to block out the wind and you may need to add a heater for the evenings that are below 45 degrees mark.
Another consideration during the colder months will be heat. Your plants will need to be kept above that 40 degree mark if at all possible. You can accomplish this with a number of methods but the easiest is to use a small electric heater. Just be safe and make sure it is free and has a lot of room around it. You can also heat up and pot of water and simply place it within the enclosure as the heat will radiate all night long.
What you should be able to take away from this article is the fact that you can grow your own food on a year round basis as long as you plan well and have the right tools and equipment. It doesn't take a lot of money and is well worth the effort once you start harvesting those tasty veggies and herbs. Good Luck!
About the Author:
You can find many types of easy to install raised beds that really stand out. You can also get a variety of containers and other garden accessories at Bevoworks.com to further enhance your yard or garden.
No comments:
Post a Comment