Produce the Produce
Maybe it's your new goal for an eco friendly life, or your hobby or simply a fun activity to start your own produce patch. I took this up with my kids and we loved creating our flourishing vegetable patch. We watched together as the seed grew into a seedling and then mature plants. For my kids it was an exciting process to witness, wondering what was going to be the next development. I called it the ‘Seed Brain’!
Why is it sustainable to grow your own food?
Locally sourced produce has a much lower carbon footprint since it reduces transportation energy from food production to consumption.
Reduces packaging waste that is mostly plastic.
More control on chemicals used. Reduces the need for most pesticides used in conventional farming that mass kill insects and worms, upsetting the ecological balance.
“Yard to Fork” food has more health benefits since it is fresher and retains more nutrients.
Getting started
Do you think you absolutely need a raised vegetable bed or planters boxes or a greenhouse? It really does not have to be that way. Any nutrient rich soil, with plenty of sunlight is enough to start your own produce. Since our backyard does not receive much direct sunlight I chose the front yard to start a dynamic vegetable garden. Initially I wanted to try propagating vegetables/herbs from the store bought produce. I collected and planted seeds from them as is. I was amazed to get rich produce which in turn inspired me to go down this path.
Root propagation
I used this method to propagate herbs that can grow in water like mint and basil which I later moved into soil. Mint plants love to grow in shade.
Seed propagation
This method was used to grow vegetables using seeds collected from the corresponding parent. They were bell pepper, tomatoes, beans and peas. I used soil already enriched with fertilizers, so I didn’t have to worry about fertilizing separately.
Seasonal Vegetable Produce
Twice a year I refresh the vegetable patch with enriched soil. Tomatoes, beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, beets, eggplant, carrots all grow well here. They require ~ 6 hours of direct sunlight. There were times where I had to shoo away bugs on these growing plants, but hey… there is a reason they call them organic. I later had to add some extra fertilizer to keep bugs away. There are many ways to fertilize the soil. It could be store bought or you can make compost at home. I chose to spray some vinegar diluted in water 2-3 times a week.
These are some of the vegetables that I grow successfully and use on a regular basis.
Mid Spring
Broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, eggplant, beetroot, beans, peas.
The harvest will take ~8 weeks, which is right around peak summer when the plants really begin to thrive.
Late Summer
Radish, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, mint.
These vegetables should be planted in summer and are ready to harvest as cooler weather sets in by fall.
Note : I tried growing a specific cucumber called ‘Boston Pickling’. Though I could get a lot of produce, they were bitter to eat. Later I learned that it requires a lot of fertilizer on a regular basis.
“Yard to Fork”!
Grow your produce with seeds and scraps that you already have. If you have healthy soil, abundant sunlight, and water regularly you have your first ever crop just a few feet away!
Annual Fruit Produce
Let’s talk about some of the fruit trees I tried growing in my yard. Apples, Figs and plums were a success to establish from ~2ft tall plants. As for maintenance, they all need bright direct sunlight with regular watering. No extra treatment though, and I prune them once a year before spring. These trees grow well. Figs and plums are ready by June-July (summer), whereas apples are ready by late October. I got plenty of yield and I was happy to share them with my neighbors and friends.
Handling rodents
Pretty much every fruit tree and vegetable patch attracts rodents, especially squirrels. I tried keeping a figurine in the yard to discourage them. Having a netted fence or using ultrasonic repellers in specific areas are known to work. I am yet to try them out in areas that I want to absolutely protect.
Author’s pick!
Let’s talk about the herb: ‘Murraya koenigii’ or ‘Sweet Neem Leaves’ or ‘Curry Leaves’- are tropical shrubs used a lot in India. They are relatively expensive and they are not easy to grow at home as well. I have had a few curry leaf plants that did not survive. Since they are widely used everyday mostly in Indian cuisine and have health benefits it became important to grow it myself. A few years ago I finally successfully grew a healthy mature curry leaf plant. Once you buy a large enough sapling from the store, keep them indoors in a pot by the window until they reach ~3 ft. They need direct bright sunlight. I kept them by the patio door for around 3 years, before moving it to the ground. They don’t survive outdoors in temperatures below 70°F when they are young. Yogurt and coffee grounds once a week work like magic to help them grow. Here’s a peek at the outcome!
You can similarly design your own eco friendly and sustainable produce patch too. Read more on how I built my water wise environmentally friendly yard!