Comments on: Are You in Danger of Becoming Free?

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:09:37 +0000

Maybe in addition to volunteering to help your elderly neighbor, you could give her some tips on how to make gardening less physically demanding. I would like to recommend a blog entry that examines ways to make gardening easier for senior citizens. Take a look. http://live-in-care.org/?p=47

By: marci

marci — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:48:50 +0000

The library can be your best friend for finding free info on gardening and edible landscaping – so much available!

I have been veggie gardening for years, and now am passing the skills along to my grandkids, who have their own plots within my garden that they were responsible for. As a bonus, we took their produce to the county fair and they received ribbons and premium $$ – That has encouraged them to continue gardening with Grammi this year again :) We also have salad bowl nights – they take a bowl out to the garden and fill it with whatever they want to eat! I so enjoy their creative salads :)

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:09:13 +0000

Great article! I love the idea of becoming free via gardening! For all the newer gardeners out there, I highly recommend Square Foot Gardening – either visit the website or get the book from the library. It’s a wonderful way to get started – not too overwhelming, you don’t need expensive equipment and it’s so quick to weed and water. Also, check out http://hyperlocavore.ning.com/ . She has set up a website for yard sharing and also experienced gardeners can send newer gardeners seeds from their stash. Good luck to everybody and let’s get growing!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:04:04 +0000

Excellent post! I love the idea of gardening for freedom. To all the newer gardeners out there – check out Square Foot Gardening. You can visit the website or get the book from your local library. It is (IMHO) the very BEST Way to get started for newbies. It’s not overwhelming. You don’t need a tiller. You can easily weed it and water it in just minutes a day. Also, check out http://hyperlocavore.ning.com/ I joined and am in the process of sending a newbie gardener some seeds. They have great ideas about yard sharing too! Good luck everybody and let’s get growing!!

By: Sheila Bueltman

Sheila Bueltman — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:58:53 +0000

I worked for a large Grocer for 15 years. I love the Freedom from companies idea. They are totally in the biz to make money and the manufacturers are even worse. We should only be eating the perimeter of a grocery store anyway. If you can grow your own, even better. We downsized our home 1.5 years ago so I have no space in townhome living to grow but am working on eating more local and organic. It is my dream to move back to a yard with a garden like we had for over 17 years. If you are needing supplies, I have this great tool on my desktop called My Shopping Genie. Download it for free at http://www.MyShoppingGenie.com/Freedom and it will help you find the best price on garden supplies, tools, anything, saving you time and money.
Happy Gardening!

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:44:46 +0000

We just moved into a new house in January and we now have a yard. Even though we have very acidic walnut trees on our property we’re going to do a square foot garden and get some veggies and herbs going. Hopefully one day we’re going to get an apple and pear tree and some blueberry bushes. I’m really excited and already have my organic seeds starting in some biodegradable peat cups. We are using cherry tomatoes, peppers, green onions, basil, chives, and dill from the Canadian certified organic seed line from Aimers seeds.

By: Alison Kerr

Alison Kerr — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:53:28 +0000

Every year I grow a little more and learn a little more. The best advice I can give is, as with all new things, be prepared to make mistakes. The only failure is not even trying. Just don’t expect your food to look like the produce at the grocery store. Homegrown food just has much more variation in shape and size. Blemishes are fine, just cut them off and eat the good part. Even caterpillars are OK. No need to spray, just remove them by hand.

And if you’re not ready to grow enough food yet – I’m not after 3 years at this – you can try CSA. Don’t know what CSA is? I have an article on this if NatureMoms doesn’t.

By: Tracey

Tracey — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:49:31 +0000

Too funny about the Central Park Gardener! :) Great Post!

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:54:53 +0000

I would like to start growing a few things too. I do have a yard to be able to do a garden, and could do pots as well. I feel totally overwhelmed as to where to begin. Can anyone recommend a good website or book for the total novice who is nervous about messing it up?!

By: Katharyn

Katharyn — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:50:57 +0000

Though I’m moving to Phoenix, I am determined to grow my own produce! I have been chatting with Phoenix locals about this and have been told that this is actually quite possible. So far I have received three pieces of knowledge appear to be golden:

1.) The grown season is backwards: beginning of October to the end of May (so you won’t see many pictures from my blog until September).
2.) If your produce or the leaves of the plant aren’t taking well to the direct sunlight tarp a fire proof mesh fabric directly above the plant to cut down on the extreme degree of sunlight. Most plants take find to the sunlight (apparently) but soft skinned fruits such as tomatoes will want shade.
3.) Put up a barrier from the southwest spring wind, you don’t have to cut off the area completely but something to break up the force.

I was already planning on having a potted vegetable garden (as a renter), if I wasn’t then given the issues of breaking desert dirt I would have a raised garden bed.

What I have been able to gather is, know your produce. Don’t just plant tomatoes, read about them. Find out exactly what your tomatoes wants, and then predict the problems are you going to have and how you might fix them. When you have a few ideas for problem control, then you can plant.

So I bought a book on fruit and vegetable gardening, and until September I’ll be reading up on my chosen produce. (Tomatoes are a must; I’m thinking carrots and potatoes – start with the stables sort of mentality).

Here’s a good site for desert planting
http://desertgardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/planning_a_desert_vegetable_garden

By: mama k

mama k — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:23:34 +0000

I am back on the gardening wagon again this year! We started some seedlings this week. I’m going to try an implement The Square Foot Garden methods since we only have a small space that gets enough sun.

By: Stefanie Stricker

Stefanie Stricker — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:22:14 +0000

I have 3 small kids and we have never grown our own food. It was not something I learned how to do as a child. I would really like to plant a garden this year with the kids, but I am not sure where to start. Are there any good gardening for beginners resources out there? I’d appreciate any tips to get us started. Thanks for the post. It’s always so great to get these emails, Tiffany.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:45:26 +0000

We have a 10 month old son and just recently moved from a townhome to a house…with a YARD! I am very excited to have the space to start a garden this year. The yard already has an established apple tree and raspberry bushes which I am very happy about. My best memories are canning/freezing with my mom and grandmother and I want to pass that on to my children. Thank you for encouraging this!

By: Jennifer Lavender

Jennifer Lavender — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:13:18 +0000

Thank you so much for this article. I posted about it on my new blog today and added your button to the side bar. I’m really looking forward to hearing updates from you and your other readers.

By: Kristen's Raw

Kristen's Raw — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:18:36 +0000

Oh… my dream is to have my own garden. I want it so bad. I’m hoping to work on it with my mom in her yard this year.

By: Christina Martin

Christina Martin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:28:28 +0000

Thank you for all these ideas. You’ve put into words (and concrete suggestions) some vague ideas that I had floating around in my head, and I can’t wait to put some of this to use.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:25:28 +0000

I used to grow our own veggies and then can or freeze them to last the winter. This season i plan to get back into it full force with containers. I just don’t trust the food companies anymore.

By: andiscandis

andiscandis — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:05:04 +0000

I read once that if you purchase produce at the supermarket 9% of your money goes to the farmer. If you purchase produce at a farmer’s market 90% of your money goes to the farmer.

Excellent post and thanks for the grab.