When I was a kid, in the 70’s, I never really realized the importance of having a garden.
All I knew was that my Grams grew one, and I had to help her strip the beans of those awful strings, and then snap em into smaller pieces. ( I didn’t think it would ever end). LOL
Today, I grow my own urban backyard garden, and here’s the 5 things my green thumb Grams taught me.
1. You can grow a garden anywhere!
Gardening isn’t limited to a big yard anymore. People grow food on their patios, rooftops, apartment banisters, or vertically on walls. My Grams used flower pots, whiskey barrels, and of course her little patch of land in her front yard.
She also grew grapes on a long, metal fence, and had a couple of cherry trees to boot. Bottom line is, being creative with what you got, is key.
Southern Patio 15.5″ Resin Whiskey Barrel Planter
2. Its hard work, but boy oh boy, the food taste GOOD!
There is nothing better than walking outside your door, and picking the perfect beefsteak tomato, slicing it up, and putting it between two pieces of bread with mayo.
Or, how about picking a couple of cherry tomatoes, and throwing those babies on your freshly made salad, hence, that you grew from the garden too! It simply taste so GOOD!
3.It’s healthier
If you want control over what’s in your food, then growing your own, is the way to go! Many people have food intolerances, including me, and I like whole, natural, foods without all the chemicals. Nuff said.
A Woman’s Garden: Grow Beautiful Plants and Make Useful Things
4. Build your seasonal recipes around your harvest, and then extend it by preserving.
Grams canned, froze, or dehydrated whatever she could get her hands on. My grandparents ate what was in season, and canned the rest for the winter months.
I have a feeling with the rising costs of produce, that preserving products are going to go sky high, and out of stock. So, if you’re thinking about the ancient art of preserving, then check out my
Canning Essentials Idea List.
I also HIGHLY recommend that you get this All American Canner. I have had mine since 2012, and it’s been worth every penny. It’s a canning machine, that’s solid steel, with excellent results.
All American 921 Canner Pressure Cooker
5. Save money, by stockpiling those gardening goodies
My grandmother grew up in Chicago, Il during the Great Depression, and there were many times that she had to beg for food as a child. She always told me that she wasn’t too proud to beg, because she was simply hungry.
Fortunately, for all of us, she made it through those difficult times, and learned how grow her own food.
Her canned soups, stews, chili, relishes, and jams were to die for, and oh….how I loved her variety of jams and jellies.
And finally, as you can imagine, it was extremely important to her, to have a stockpile of food on hand in case of an emergency. It not only gave her a little sense of security, but she loved to tell the stories on her produce savings. Now you can see where I get it from.
I know that there are a ton of you out there that can relate to these grandparent gardening tips, and I hope it inspires you to take the challenge and grow your own food. I promise you will get hooked, ecspecially when you know you grew it yourself. Happy Harvesting All!