The alarm-bells about the scary state of our food supply have never sounded so loud, nor the frantic messaging to grow our own food been so urgent. I have met many people who are getting stressed about figuring it out, and many more who have a ready defense for why they are not yet growing anything themselves. Most of us in today’s modern, technologically-advanced societies did not have food-growing modeled for us, and many hardly know what the food they buy at the store even looks like while it’s sprouting, growing, or ripening. People feel overly busy, and lack basic confidence about growing food. The learning curve can feel very daunting.
I’m always looking for how to help myself and others be sure to keep life, with all of its inherent complexities, feeling do-able, healthy and enjoyable day to day. Life hums at a nice vibration when we know a sense of purpose, and can co-create with confidence, integrity, and joy. Sometimes what is called for is to let go of obligations, and pack less into every day, mindfully. Another strategy is to shift perspective by consciously dropping the stories our ‘monkey-mind’ invents, so we can meet reality and each of our many chosen activities with the calm focus of true presence.
Imagine embarking on a new food-growing adventure with one or both of these strategies solidly in place. What if you refused to let outer voices pressurize you, and you could simply consider quietly what it is that YOU really want? In reality, there are so many different ways to help improve the quality of our food supply. You can grow food yourself at home on your own land, in pots, or in an indoor tower-garden. You can join a cooperative community garden project with other more experienced growers, volunteer at an organic farm, or donate to or buy direct from growers you trust. Mail-ordering from a conscientious company is another option. All of these are meaningful, healthy choices that contribute to a better, cleaner food system.
Pressure, coercion, and shame (either from others or from yourself), do not lead to inspiration and joy. These bullies are not friendly or fun to hang out with! And sooner or later, most of us will find a way to duck out. If, after considering all the options for contributing to food-security solutions, you decide that you really do want to focus your attention on growing some food, let’s imagine some happy next steps!
I suggest setting the stage for heart-led inspiration to be the driver. Close your eyes and imagine how you want your food-growing adventure to feel. This really matters! Where do you see yourself growing food most happily? At home, quietly on your own or with friends or family, out in your community meeting new people, or traveling for a farm-stay in a new location? Do you feel inspired to grow for your own family’s sufficiency, or for the purpose of sharing with others? How much time or resources could you be inspired to invest? Do you feel most at home picturing yourself traipsing barefoot through a wild-like food forest, walking serenely on immaculate pathways between creatively defined garden beds, or lightly tending a collection of simple pots on your deck or balcony? Which foods that can be grown in your area do you actually enjoy eating frequently? What are your real favorites?
I think that this kind of visioning is so important, because it gets the inspiration-juices really flowing, and helps us get in touch with our true desires. With this kind of clarity in place from the start of a new endeavor, and re-installed daily, our heartfelt, enthusiastic purpose makes it easy to shrug off the outer voices that might try to keep us in their comfort zone, or sway us in a direction that does not feel inspired or wholehearted.
I have dabbled in food-growing everywhere I’ve lived. I’ve learned to keep the feel-good element a priority, after over-stretching a few times and feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I had created for myself. I’m an advocate of dreaming big, and I’ve also discovered that dreaming big doesn’t need to mean only in terms of outer manifestations. Dream big about how you wish to FEEL in your daily life! In fact, this may end up meaning more to you than how much you produce, and you’ll be more likely to stay with your projects.
I live in the subtropics of southern Florida now, on a lightly wooded, flat acre with sandy soil. I surrendered happily to the wild, natural woodsy look and feel. We have stopped mowing or weeding much, and each time we acquire a tree or shrub to plant we simply pick an appropriate spot, dig a hole and plunk it in, and toss some thick mulch around it. Gradually over time, we have less grass and more mulch and no-mow, self-selected ground covers. The dappled shade from the tall slash pines and palms creates an easy forest-garden opportunity, for over-story trees, under-story trees, shrubs and ground covers. I focus on adding edibles for humans, animals, birds, and butterflies, and ones that grow easily in our sandy subtropical zone. I am adding things as I feel inspired to or as they organically come to me, and taking the long view.
The biggest demand has been watering, since we don’t yet have an irrigation system in place. It has become a meditation for me, a few times a week. Soon the summer rainy season will kick in, and nature will do the watering. And as trees mature, they won’t need my help as much. I choose to focus on growing fruit, since that makes up the bulk of my diet. Fruit trees and fruit bushes, with a focus on fruits we eat daily (like bananas), fruits we especially love (mangoes), and fruits we can’t easily source elsewhere affordably.
These are all perennials, meaning that I only have to plant them once! I’m learning about what fruit grows best here, with the least input from me. I do not like fussing over things or being overly-tethered to them, and I really value my free-time. I have a few herbs in pots, that friends gave to me from their gardens, and I’ll likely plant some salad greens at some point, but for now I can easily get them half a block away from a local organic farmer. And we did plant some native perennial greens that don’t need much attention.
If you think about it, humans were originally gatherers of food that nature grew in the wild for us. Intentional farming of food is a more recent trend, necessitated by relocation away from our original tropical forest habitats. And today, with so much development taking over our wild spaces, it makes sense to have intimate home-gardens and neighborhood gardens everywhere. One of my neighbors is starting a regular meetup for some of us backyard growers to exchange information, seeds, cuttings, and harvests. I am looking forward to that!
Take the time to listen inward, and be honest with yourself about what is most important to you, and how you want your days to feel. Then and only then, look around at what is readily available to you, and be resourceful about sourcing what is not already in place. A quick google search revealed this organization: https://www.communitygarden.org/ . It would also be easy enough to find or create a local meetup group, for those of you who want to connect with other growers.
Most importantly, do not sit on the fence. There is a do-able, feel-good way for each one of us to contribute positively to the betterment of our food options. Our food supply is truly under siege, and we all need to be resourceful and find ways to secure healthy, uncontaminated natural foods for ourselves and our families. Our well-being absolutely depends on it. So dream up a fun and heartfelt vision for your contribution to healthy food security, and take a step toward it today!
I enjoyed the emphasis on feeling good while you garden as a key to sustaining regular gardening across one's life! We are excited to cultivate these regular meetups with nearby backyard growers alongside you!
I wholeheartedly agree here- finding and growing things to eat is something we should all do more of, but it's important to cultivate a marriage of intuition and judgement. Grow what you're excited about, and open your eyes to new possibilities. Pretty soon you'll start seeing potential in every bit of open ground... thanks Ellen!