Why Grow Your Own Food (and Where to Start)

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Growing your own food was once humankind’s only way to get something to eat.  Back then, we didn’t have the luxury of supermarkets, fridges or freezers.  You ate what you grew!  And while I am sure we won’t ever go back to that stage, there are things to be said for growing your own food, even on a small scale.

So before diving into talk of vegetables, the best herbs to grow on the windowsill or what fruit and flowers to plant together, I thought I’d take a moment to consider just why to grow your own food and where to start as a newcomer.

Why grow your own food?

Let’s start with a few basics – why grow your own food and is it really worth it?  There are some solid reasons to considering growing your own food and here are a few to help you see the plus points.

Saves money

Yes, it costs to buy seeds or plants, compost and it takes time to work on a garden which could be argued has a cost.  But in the long run, it saves money on the cost of the food but also the trips back and forth to the supermarket, the greater cost of getting food there and you could even eventually grow enough to sell to your neighbours and make some money.

Freshest means most nutritious

The fresher food is, the more nutrients it contains so the quicker you can get it on your plate after harvesting, the better.  By growing it yourself it only travels from the garden to the house so you get the most nutrients in every item.

You can grow what you eat

We’ll talk more on this one in a moment but it is worth pointing out that you are in control of what you grow and can focus on growing what you eat.  That cuts down on waste.

Fresh is also best tasting

We’ve mentioned the nutritional benefits but there’s also the fact that fresh food tastes best.  So even if you aren’t a huge fan of a food, you’ll find you enjoy it more when it is fresh from your garden.

Exercise and fresh air

This applies to any type of gardening but you get exercise and fresh air, with Vitamin D from sunlight, all when working on your garden.  This can help boost your overall health and improve your mood.

Sense of pride

There’s a lovely sense of pride when you eat something you have grown.  A sense of achievement, of having managed to do something.  You see this as a benefit of gardening in general. And that’s a great side-benefit from growing your own food.

Combat food insecurity

Now I don’t want to get negative but let’s also take a moment to be realistic.  The COVID-19 pandemic has brought home to all of us how stores can be hit if people start to panic buy or think that something is going to unavailable.

We all remember those crazy pasta-less shelves or the mad days where toilet rolls were the most valuable item in the store.  Here’s hoping we never go back.

But one thing that has come from it was that people have a sense of food insecurity that they’ve never had before.  That’s why more people are growing their own food.  It might even be why you are reading this article.

Learning to grow a few food basics can help you combat that sense of food insecurity and even help if there is an issue with a favourite food and its supply.  Bad weather, unexpected world events, these can all knock food supplies.  So if you are able to grow a few favourites yourself, you can avoid a little of that worry.

Can’t do much about toilet rolls or pasta but at least we can have fresh potatoes and some nice crispy lettuce to serve with it!

The easiest foods to grow for beginners

Okay, I can see you nodding your head, those benefits are pretty strong and you want to know more.  Then doubt creeps in – some of those foods are pretty complicated to grow, right?  What if I can’t do it?

The trick is to be selective about what you start with and go for some of the easiest foods to grow for beginners.  Here’s a few suggestions:

Beets

Beets are another vegetable that you can grow as a beginner. They’re hardy and can survive even if conditions aren’t perfect for their growth.

Berries and fruit

It’s easy to grow berries in a food garden. You can choose from ones like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries. Some fruits may take a little more care, but can still be grown by a beginner gardener. You can grow apples, peaches, cherries and more.

Carrots

Carrots just need soil that’s cultivated, some room in between plants and they’ll grow. Make sure that your soil doesn’t have a problem with drainage and you’ll be able to harvest plenty of this vegetable.

Green beans

Green beans can survive in gardens that may not be completely ready for them. All they need is some warm soil that’s well-watered. So even if your soil doesn’t have all the nutrients, this item still manages to flourish.

Lettuce

It might surprise you to know, but lettuce is easy to grow.  It adapts well to various climates and can even survive when it’s hot outside. You’ll want to make sure it does get sunlight but not if the temperatures are too high.

Peas

Peas aren’t vegetables that need constant care or vigilance. Once you plant them, you just need to keep an eye on the water.  They’re hardy enough that disease isn’t usually a problem and pests can easily be taken care of by washing the plant off. 

They can also handle cooler weather, so if the temperature drops after you’ve planted them, they’ll still survive.

Spinach

Just like lettuce, spinach is easy for a beginner to grow.  It can grow in sunny or shady areas. You just need to make sure the soil doesn’t retain too much water.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be grown by beginners. You just need to stake them, make sure they have plenty of sun and they’re ready to grow. If you’re a fan of peas and carrots, then as a beginner gardener, you’re in luck.

Tomatoes are easy to grow for beginners and you can grow the Roma variety or cherry tomatoes. You can also grow beefsteak tomatoes. These are perfect for sandwiches, salads, stews, for use in sauces and more.

Getting the hang of what works

Because these are easy to grow foods that will survive even if the care isn’t perfect, you’ll be motivated to learn from any mistakes that you make while growing them. You can learn from the steps you took to grow these.

Make notes of what you did while growing these beginner foods. Keep a record of when you planted and where. Note what you did when it came to the soil and what kinds of weather conditions were in play.

Keep track of how much or how little water you gave the plants. Write down what issues you had with pests, if any. This way, you’ll know what to do the next time you plant your garden.

Grow the Food Your Family Loves to Eat

A garden is a labour of love. It’s fun to grow things, but it does take some effort. You certainly don’t want to waste that effort by trying to grow things that no one is going to eat.

It can be wasteful as well as expensive to grow foods that will rot or get tossed out. Instead of planting foods that you think are fit for a garden, look at what you already consume.

Your family has favourite foods that they enjoy. You can grow these foods for them.

The items that you grow in your garden can help your family be healthy all year long. You can keep fresh fruit and vegetables around even in the wintertime. 

Plus, you can also can any surplus that you don’t use. These foods are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Plus, many garden-grown foods are rich in antioxidants as well.

When you’re planning out your garden, choose foods that are your family’s favourites.

Get started growing your own food

You can start growing your own food at any time of the year, even in winter.  Pots in a kitchen windowsill work just great for growing a few herbs and getting the hang of it.  Then as spring comes, there’s more and more you can consider growing.  Before you know it, you’ll need more room to grow all the food you have planned!