7 Ways to Grow Your Own Food and Save Money

This "Sarah's Social Action Snapshot" originally appeared on takepart.com.

Can't take the heat? No, not the kitchen heat but the intense heat our society is generating from the stresses and horrors of our continuing economic decline and the fury directed at Wall Street, politicians, the stimulus bill and everyone and anything else possible. From rural towns dotting our nation's landscape to corner coffee shops in our cities, the economic meltdown and resulting inferno are evident everywhere. People who used to smugly discuss their multiple homes are now racing to plant "for sale" signs in their lawns.

And, many more people are now being forced to cut back on staple expenses such as food. It's distressing that millions of Americans will be food insecure (meaning they do not have secure food access), there are measures that people can take to ensure they have better access to food during these serious times (though we obviously need fundamental system changes to address the root causes of our financial crisis and its results). Stop getting steamed and grow some food to steam!

1. Tear up your front lawn and plant a garden. If it seems to radical to tear up your entire front lawn (and this might not go over well with those of you who have strict neighborhood associations), I suggest planting a section in the back, side or flower boxes. In the long-term, it will be a lot cheaper than shopping at the supermarket. And, you can share your harvest with your community.

2. Pick produce in public areas. Did you know that the branches of your neighbor's lemon tree that gracefully bow over the public sidewalk is actually public property? How about the fruit trees in the medians of public streets? Those are for you too.

3. Join a community garden. It's an easy way to grow your own produce, meet fellow gardeners and support the greening of our cities.

4. Become a guerrilla! No, not against the government but a guerrilla gardener who plants in public areas in your hometown (such as traffic medians, under trees, etc).

5. Grow herbs indoors. As long as you get some decent sunshine at a window, you can easily grow some herbs.

6. Join with friends to participate in a CSA. (Community Supported Agriculture). You will receive a weekly box of beautiful, fresh produce from a nearby farm and also have the opportunity to work on the farm.

7. Yes, we can, can! Can your own foods rather than buying pre-made ones at the store. You can can, pickle, jam and freeze virtually anything with fresh produce. I've been enjoying delicious summer sweet corn during Los Angeles' long, dark winter days.

8. Adopt an egg-laying hen! It's not a rooster, so it won't wake you or the neighbors up before dawn, but it will provide you with plenty of nutritious eggs.

These tips won't save Detroit, Wall Street or stop millions of foreclosures. But, hopefully it will help to ensure that a few more people have daily healthy foods on their plates. This crisis requires all of our efforts to ensure that no one goes hungry. If you are fortunate enough to be food secure, please also consider supporting your local food bank.

Sarah's Social Action Snapshot originally appeared on Takepart.com

 

Follow Sarah Newman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SarahNow

Comments

[gitmar]

Great posts. I like all your ideas. How do I find a CSA in my area? Thx Sarah

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

Local harvest should be able to help you: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

[Katnawlins]

Great post! Growing your own garden is so empowering. Not only can you save money, but it's good for you, too

I really liked the idea "Become a guerrilla! No, not against the government but a guerrilla gardener who plants in public areas in your hometown (such as traffic medians, under trees, etc)." because it's so true there is a lot of empty space not being used by anyone, and so why not plant something that could be of some use for the community? Plus, it's great for those who can't grow food in their apartments.

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, go guerrilla!

[OzChicago]

Great stuff Sarah - always full of ideas for change !! Yes, food banks need all the help - people with jobs and without are hurting. Time for the minimum wage to be the living wage like every other industrialized country - might mean higher prices at restaurant­s/cafes/dr­y cleaning/house cleaning/baby sitting and all those things that low wage people do for the upkeep of the professional class but hey, those things should be more expensive.

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

Absolutely--we need living wages!

[grayareadesign]

I love this! I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now, but I live in an apartment and I always seem to kill any herbs I've tried to grow indoors. But my neighbor just cleared out some weeds from a common area in the back of our building, and I'm considering planting some stuff there. I really don't know anything about what is best to plant in sunny/shady area, what is hearty enough to stand up to my brown thumb, and how to avoid attracting pests (like rats) to the area. I have also been meaning to start a little compost bin to cut down on the amount of "garbage" I throw away, so I figure this would give me an excuse to do so. Anyone have some specific tips or links to help me start out?

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

Check out this site for more details on how to compost: http://www.howtocompost.org/

[yelena]

Homemade herbs are easy to maintain and fun to use. They require such little space and there are few pleasures that compare with picking mint leaves off and freshly grindly them in my mojito!

[LitDr2B]

If your homeowners association will let you. Most won't. At least in the front. You have to have the officially sanctioned, wasteful green lawn.

And I'm looking at -you-, Arizona and L.A., which are for all intents and purposes desert areas.

[mariandc]

I work at a school with disadvantaged kids and we are going to start a vegetable garden for them to learn and eat from. It is being built with funds from our city government. Obviously, your list of what we can do makes so much sense in this time of financial and environmental crisis.
Joan

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

community school gardens are fantastic! Check out the Farm to School Network and Edible Schoolyards for more details!

[bobreich]

Last year, my partner and I grew arugula, jalapeños, thai chilies, lemon basil, parsley, and thyme (note: she is the one with the green thumb). This year we are definitey doing it again, but what to plant?? Or should I ask, what do squirrels not like?

[tompoe]

This afternoon, I scooped a little over 3 cups flour into a non-stick, oven-proof pot. I added about 1/2 teaspoon yeast, the same for some salt, and roughly 1 5/8 cup water. Stirred it all together (maybe 2 minutes). After about 2 hours, I'll stir it again, then place the pot into the refridge. Tomorrow, I'll bake the loaf for 40 minutes, or so. Now, I've had bakery bread, and paid a premium for it. But I'll be hard pressed to find any bakery bread that tastes better than what this NO KNEAD BREAD tastes like. Type in those keywords, and watch the videos. If it weren't for the economic crisis, I may never have stumbled across this recipe. I might still be paying exorbitant prices for really bad tasting bread.

Next time you're in the store, you might check prices on flour, and pick up a pot for your own NO KNEAD BREAD. Might be the best thing you've done, lately.

[Leens]

Maybe growing your own food won't save money, but cooking at home can certainly be much cheaper than take-out in this economic climate. And healthier too!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/health/07well.html?scp=3&sq=economy%20cooking%20at%20home&st=cse

[jem1187]

These are all great ideas. It's clear that we really don't take advantage of our opportunities to utilize our resources when it comes to growing our own food. Community gardens are a great solution for crowded cities like LA where you may not have the luxury of your own yard and garden. Also, I've seen so many fruit trees go unpicked and unnoticed until the fruit is rotting on the ground. Picking these fruits and sharing them with neighbors is a great way to build community and appreciate what is naturally growing around us.

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

Community gardens are sprouting up all across the country! Check out the American Community Garden Association's site for more details: http://www.communitygarden.org/

[spacester]

9. Vermiculture (keeping a worm bin): put your food waste in, get the best fertilizer on the planet out. Keep that food waste out of the landfill and the sewage treatment plant, grow the best veggies on the block and sequester the carbon in the food. No, it doesn't stink. Yes, the worms stay in the bin. Squeamish? Get over it!

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes-indoor worm bins are a fantastic idea! And, if you have space, you can put one outside.

[ceggertsen]

Love this! Especially the tip about trees on sidewalks, medians, etc being public property. Who knew?

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

i should have added that guerrilla gardening also makes otherwise unattractive concrete areas more beautiful.

[oustfan]

Gardening is a great hobby and I recommend it to anybody. However in today's society, even with rising food prices, growing your own food will NOT save money. Suggesting otherwise is ridiculous.

[MonkeyDaddy]

You can also do a sprout jar in any kitchen cabinet (no e. coli). Don't forget about bread machines, yogurt makers and other ways to make inexpensive healthy food at home.

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

great suggestions!

[Sarah Newman - Huffpost Blogger]

great ideas!

[Kasandra]

You don't need a machine to make yogurt. All you need is milk, a clean mason jar, a half container of starter yogurt, an igloo or other small cooler, and an aquarium heater. Toss the milk in the jar and mix with 3 oz of yogurt (shake it baby!) then stick it in the igloo, fill it with hot water (I used a thermometer the first few times to get the aquarium heater at the right setting) and ignore it for 10-12 hours.

My total time: 5 minutes