How to Feed Your Community With A Green Thumb

This post is brought to you by Carrie Spencer from thespencersadventures.net who has a family mini-farm and is passionate about living self-sustainably and environmentally conscious.

With the right knowledge and a sizable backyard, anyone can be a proficient gardener. Not only is gardening a fun and healthy hobby, but it can also feed your community and family. If you’re interested in getting started, here are a few resources to get you on the right track.

How You Can Make a Difference

If you want to give back to your community, starting a garden will help families who can’t afford food. Many homes rely on food stamps or end up buying processed foods because they’re cheaper. 

• In 2019, around 13.7 million households in the United States were food insecure. This number continues to grow. 
• Fruits and vegetables are a source of important vitamins and minerals. They’re necessary for maintaining a healthy diet. 
• Once you’ve grown an abundance of veggies, you can bring them to your local food bank, senior center, or church. 

Plotting The Garden

Before you start your garden, you’ll need to have a plan and the right tools.  

• Choosing the right location for your garden is essential. Make sure the area where you want to plant gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, has good drainage and is level with healthy soil. 
• Fencing off your garden area is ideal in order to keep kids, pets, and pests/animals out of the space. Using the terms “cheapest fence company near me” can help you connect with the right contractors. 
• If you’re a new gardener, your best bet might be starting with easy-to-grow veggies like tomatoes, squash, spinach, and green beans. 
• Take some time to purchase essential gardening equipment. You’ll need gloves, rakes, shears, a shovel, etc. 

Planting The Seeds

Now that you’ve put together a plan, you can start growing food for your community and family. 

• To ensure that most of the sprouts survive, you can plant them indoors in potting soil with a light to help them grow. 
• Once they are big enough, you can start transitioning them to being outside. 
• Know how to properly water your garden for the best results.
• You should also make sure your garden is deweeded regularly. 

As you tend to your garden, you’ll find that growing veggies is both rewarding and fairly easy if you know what you’re doing. Knowing that you’re helping to feed people without consistent access to fresh food will make the process even more enjoyable. Your efforts might also inspire neighbors to get involved! 

Ever thought of consulting a Wellbeing Life Coach? Know more about it here.

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