Growing Foods for health
There is so much blarney talked about health these days that I decided to find out for myself and am doing some research (what else?). Initially online, but I will also be popping into the local garden stores to pick their brains as well.
With my recent unexpected health issues, (not the big C thank goodness) and with the weather here beginning to slowly improve, I have decided to get back to growing my own food as I did when I lived in a colder part of the country.
I am also seriously researching growing some items hydroponically as well. Something I also did in the couple of years before I moved to this warmer part of the country. Needless to say, knowing a little more than I did then, I am finding out what I need BEFORE I go out spending the extra money I don’t have just now. In my new place I have a conservatory that covers the front of the unit and which gets plenty of sun, through the windows before noon, and with the heat of it after that.
So, first job, re-arrange the furniture in there to accommodate my hydroponic unit once I have everything I need to start growing by that method in there. I confess that I am already starting to feel excited at the thought of once more feeding myself from my own garden.
After that, buy seeds, seed trays and seed raising mix. Will check out initial costs at the local garden centre tomorrow.
Out back I have two good size raised beds, big enough at least for one person’s needs, in one of which last season I managed to grow cauliflower, broccoli, spring onions, peas, apple cucumber, capsicum and chillies. Don’t think I’ll bother with that variety of cucumber this year as it just went crazy and I felt I had cucumbers coming out of my ears!
In my second bed I have a young bay tree, which will have to be re-potted this year, strawberries, rosemary and a baby cherry tree, bought last year. This last will also need to be moved to a large pot of its own and sited in the front garden which has much more room for it. It is supposedly quite a small tree, but it’s single main step is already as tall, if not taller, than my single story unit. So that will be done in about 10 days, hopefully before any buds are wanting to sprout as I’ve been advised to prune it down to at least half of its height to reduce stress on the roots during the move.
I don’t eat a lot of potatoes these days, previously my almost favourite food, but think I’ll get myself a potato bag and just grow a couple. They will do me for a long time.
I like the idea of growing from seed and watching progress, something I can do better now that I no longer have to go out to work for someone else and can just work on the computer inside, for myself. A real pleasure! Especially as doing that gives me a reason to put words on paper, or online, a daily joy for this wordaholic. (Is that an actual word?)
While I enjoy most foods, I REALLY like vegetables and being able to go out and pick my own, whether cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes or peppers. I really don’t believe, The flavour of fresh picked vegetables and fruit over store bought, can be beaten.
With my focus on gut health just now, particularly for mature adults, I am starting with the easiest veggies to grow that also encourage good health; peas, beans, cabbage and broccoli. As growing some of the others will take too long at this stage, I’ll buy my lentils, chickpeas – goodness me, I could go on and on so will stop now.
So – Re-arrange furniture in conservatory, shop for seeds, seed raising mix, seed trays.
Once I’m all set up, start research on hydroponic necessities, needed to keep food coming throughout the year.
And watch this space for regular updates.