Top 3 Reasons I Grow Food in My Front Yard
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Date: 2022-07-18
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Comments and reviews: 15
Alice
Both my grandmothers were gardeners and I sometimes helped them in their very urban gardens in New Jersey. Then when I was 19 I spent a summer living and working on a working garden. I learned how to grow food and can and freeze small fruits and vegetables. Two years later I started homesteading in the Ozarks. We had chickens and goats, fruit trees, and a big garden. We also made maple syrup. When I moved back to the city, I gardened in most of the places I lived. Then about ten years ago a series of unfortunate events occurred and I got away from gardening. I couldnt even keep a houseplant alive. I had too many responsibilities and caring for another living thing felt like another responsibility.
Then came corona virus. Today is July 14, Ive been out of work since March 13. Im alone almost all of the time. I have no income except for Social Security which converts the rent and utilities. I make masks and that covers the groceries but thats about it. I have to live very frugally.
When I was last gardening I had been growing arugula, which I love, and it was easy. I decided I would try growing it indoors. I also got a few herb plants. While looking for information on the internet, I stumbled upon Epic Gardening and got inspired. Now I am wondering what all can I grow in my little apartment and on the front (close to full shade) balcony and on the back (very sunny and scorching lay hot) back steps. Im going to find out!
So, I am having fun growing microgreens. I dont even have a real crop yet, but I take a bite of a few of the still growing sprouts. I get to have fresh herbs, which I pay a lot for in the grocery and half of it often goes to waste. Its getting me outside. Its stimulating my imaginations and creativity. Ill let you know how it goes.
A question: now that Im trying to grow microgreens and baby greens, Im wondering if there are some seeds we shouldnt sprout. I cut an apple today and thought about sprouting the seeds and then I remembered that they contain something we shouldnt eat, like maybe cyanide. I assume we shouldnt sprout tomato seeds. Are there any other seeds from edible plants we shouldnt eat?
That was probably more than you bargained for but I have loved gardening, too. It feels like Ive been reunited with an old friend. Thank you for your videos. They are a joy to watch and very helpful.
reply
Both my grandmothers were gardeners and I sometimes helped them in their very urban gardens in New Jersey. Then when I was 19 I spent a summer living and working on a working garden. I learned how to grow food and can and freeze small fruits and vegetables. Two years later I started homesteading in the Ozarks. We had chickens and goats, fruit trees, and a big garden. We also made maple syrup. When I moved back to the city, I gardened in most of the places I lived. Then about ten years ago a series of unfortunate events occurred and I got away from gardening. I couldnt even keep a houseplant alive. I had too many responsibilities and caring for another living thing felt like another responsibility.
Then came corona virus. Today is July 14, Ive been out of work since March 13. Im alone almost all of the time. I have no income except for Social Security which converts the rent and utilities. I make masks and that covers the groceries but thats about it. I have to live very frugally.
When I was last gardening I had been growing arugula, which I love, and it was easy. I decided I would try growing it indoors. I also got a few herb plants. While looking for information on the internet, I stumbled upon Epic Gardening and got inspired. Now I am wondering what all can I grow in my little apartment and on the front (close to full shade) balcony and on the back (very sunny and scorching lay hot) back steps. Im going to find out!
So, I am having fun growing microgreens. I dont even have a real crop yet, but I take a bite of a few of the still growing sprouts. I get to have fresh herbs, which I pay a lot for in the grocery and half of it often goes to waste. Its getting me outside. Its stimulating my imaginations and creativity. Ill let you know how it goes.
A question: now that Im trying to grow microgreens and baby greens, Im wondering if there are some seeds we shouldnt sprout. I cut an apple today and thought about sprouting the seeds and then I remembered that they contain something we shouldnt eat, like maybe cyanide. I assume we shouldnt sprout tomato seeds. Are there any other seeds from edible plants we shouldnt eat?
That was probably more than you bargained for but I have loved gardening, too. It feels like Ive been reunited with an old friend. Thank you for your videos. They are a joy to watch and very helpful.
reply
jcseiji
Great video! Ever thought of a small aquaculture set up. You can grow Tilapia & tie it into a hydroponic garden. Lots of info online. But love being outside with the sky, the wind, the clouds, birds, insects, animals but not really so much the humans. Too many look & wonder when I am going to cut those weeds out! Sorry folks but that Sonchus can help cure a fever & is edible too! But I see gardening as a form of tiding or pay back for being alive. What better activity can a man do than to improve the physical world around him that will allow life to flourish, even if that is of insects. At the moment I have living in the ground in my front yard a native bumblebee. Egads did not know that they lived in the ground until I had to clear out the front and discovered them. They now have protected space to do their thing!
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Great video! Ever thought of a small aquaculture set up. You can grow Tilapia & tie it into a hydroponic garden. Lots of info online. But love being outside with the sky, the wind, the clouds, birds, insects, animals but not really so much the humans. Too many look & wonder when I am going to cut those weeds out! Sorry folks but that Sonchus can help cure a fever & is edible too! But I see gardening as a form of tiding or pay back for being alive. What better activity can a man do than to improve the physical world around him that will allow life to flourish, even if that is of insects. At the moment I have living in the ground in my front yard a native bumblebee. Egads did not know that they lived in the ground until I had to clear out the front and discovered them. They now have protected space to do their thing!
reply
Donna
I am gardening in fabric pots along the front of my rental unit. Mostly I am doing it because gardening is something that I enjoy. However, last September I ended up in the hospital. I had profound weakness throughout my body. I was eventually diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease of the neuro-muscular system. I have to take breaks and get rest when I need to otherwise, the weakness comes back. So, I have adapted to gardening on a smaller scale. I am growing a tomato plant, a couple of pepper plants, some onions, some cucumbers, and some nasturtiums and marigolds.
It's been a very long time since I had my plot at the community garden. Since I can no longer do that, gardening in fabric pots will give me some produce which I have not had in quite a while due to the high price our supermarket charges.
reply
I am gardening in fabric pots along the front of my rental unit. Mostly I am doing it because gardening is something that I enjoy. However, last September I ended up in the hospital. I had profound weakness throughout my body. I was eventually diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease of the neuro-muscular system. I have to take breaks and get rest when I need to otherwise, the weakness comes back. So, I have adapted to gardening on a smaller scale. I am growing a tomato plant, a couple of pepper plants, some onions, some cucumbers, and some nasturtiums and marigolds.
It's been a very long time since I had my plot at the community garden. Since I can no longer do that, gardening in fabric pots will give me some produce which I have not had in quite a while due to the high price our supermarket charges.
reply
Plaisir
I started as a child because we had a second home in the countryside. I love the creativity and that you get to see results as well as solve issues. My parents always let me experiment with large part of the garden. Throughout my time living in rented flats and houses I have always tried to get few indoor plants or do something in the little garden. This year I finally bought a house and it is the first time ever when I can do what I like. Due to my demanding business, I take the opportunity to run away to the garden whenever I can and it has been a great way to keep my mental health in balance. I can see how everything I learned in the past is important to transmit to my students as they have less and less access to these opportunities and knowing why it is important to understand the nature's cycle.
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I started as a child because we had a second home in the countryside. I love the creativity and that you get to see results as well as solve issues. My parents always let me experiment with large part of the garden. Throughout my time living in rented flats and houses I have always tried to get few indoor plants or do something in the little garden. This year I finally bought a house and it is the first time ever when I can do what I like. Due to my demanding business, I take the opportunity to run away to the garden whenever I can and it has been a great way to keep my mental health in balance. I can see how everything I learned in the past is important to transmit to my students as they have less and less access to these opportunities and knowing why it is important to understand the nature's cycle.
reply
Kadri
I am gardening because of my grandma. She always had a garden and I was very close with her, but I was never really interested in gardening. However, out of respect for her I would always walk around in the garden with her where she very proudly showed me every single plant of hers. I also had to help her with garden chores. I remember our family always discussing that she is running out of good lawn and she should stop filling her garden with plants. Well, my grandma - one of my best friends - passed away last year. And now here I am, buying grandma plants, getting rid of grass, filling my garden with plants that she had, and wishing I could walk her around my garden and show her how my plants are doing. So yeah, oddly enough, this is how I deal with grief and regrets.
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I am gardening because of my grandma. She always had a garden and I was very close with her, but I was never really interested in gardening. However, out of respect for her I would always walk around in the garden with her where she very proudly showed me every single plant of hers. I also had to help her with garden chores. I remember our family always discussing that she is running out of good lawn and she should stop filling her garden with plants. Well, my grandma - one of my best friends - passed away last year. And now here I am, buying grandma plants, getting rid of grass, filling my garden with plants that she had, and wishing I could walk her around my garden and show her how my plants are doing. So yeah, oddly enough, this is how I deal with grief and regrets.
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lightsobrite
I grow my own garden because it gives me something to give to my friends neighbors and loved ones just to be a blessing. I also grow my own garden because I want to live a self-standing life as much as I can. I also grow my own food because I enjoy it I love to watch things grow it's exciting and I I enjoy eating food that tastes like food and not pumped full of antibiotics and chemicals. And I buy non-GMO heirloom seeds. If I could I would have a few small farm animals like chickens if the city would let me and if I was able to take care of them on my on my income and properly care for them but for a single person I think I am doing all that I can do on my own Manpower working a PT MW job and living in the city.
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I grow my own garden because it gives me something to give to my friends neighbors and loved ones just to be a blessing. I also grow my own garden because I want to live a self-standing life as much as I can. I also grow my own food because I enjoy it I love to watch things grow it's exciting and I I enjoy eating food that tastes like food and not pumped full of antibiotics and chemicals. And I buy non-GMO heirloom seeds. If I could I would have a few small farm animals like chickens if the city would let me and if I was able to take care of them on my on my income and properly care for them but for a single person I think I am doing all that I can do on my own Manpower working a PT MW job and living in the city.
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Karen
To witness new life! The sprouting of sown seeds and nurturing of tiny plants that grow and in turn, nourishes me is a miraculous thing! What an amazing cycle! And they taste so much better than store bought! The flavor level jumped amazingly high when I started adding glacial rock dust, eggshell dust and Epsom salts to my planting beds. I personally feel the added trace minerals from the glacial silt, readily available calcium from the eggshells and water-solvable magnesium without pesticide nor herbicide load, increases nutrition, returns me back to the flavor of fresh, homegrown foods from great-grandmas farm!
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To witness new life! The sprouting of sown seeds and nurturing of tiny plants that grow and in turn, nourishes me is a miraculous thing! What an amazing cycle! And they taste so much better than store bought! The flavor level jumped amazingly high when I started adding glacial rock dust, eggshell dust and Epsom salts to my planting beds. I personally feel the added trace minerals from the glacial silt, readily available calcium from the eggshells and water-solvable magnesium without pesticide nor herbicide load, increases nutrition, returns me back to the flavor of fresh, homegrown foods from great-grandmas farm!
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Alex
I got into houseplants last fall because i sucked at gardening during the summer, i needed practice, needed some green in my life and wanted to understand how to grow stuff a bit.
It was definitely self care and i knew that from day 1. I grew herbs indoor under growlights all winter, experimented a lot and
now i have over 50 (healthy) plants inside and a good little city garden on the balcony.
I feel like i discovered new hobbies and skills that actually connect me back to the real stuff i grew up with.
I think i might be better at this now, thanks for the help in all of this, i mean it.
reply
I got into houseplants last fall because i sucked at gardening during the summer, i needed practice, needed some green in my life and wanted to understand how to grow stuff a bit.
It was definitely self care and i knew that from day 1. I grew herbs indoor under growlights all winter, experimented a lot and
now i have over 50 (healthy) plants inside and a good little city garden on the balcony.
I feel like i discovered new hobbies and skills that actually connect me back to the real stuff i grew up with.
I think i might be better at this now, thanks for the help in all of this, i mean it.
reply
Jessika
To heal the ecosystem in my inner city Philly neighborhood, which lacked beauty, animals that werent scavengers, and predators of mosquitos. Ive brought back, through composting and gardening, hummingbirds, salamanders, pollinators, and snakes! And now people can be in their outdoor space without being completely devoured by mosquitos. I havent totally behaved in planting only native plants, but Im having a blast and its my pride and joy.
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To heal the ecosystem in my inner city Philly neighborhood, which lacked beauty, animals that werent scavengers, and predators of mosquitos. Ive brought back, through composting and gardening, hummingbirds, salamanders, pollinators, and snakes! And now people can be in their outdoor space without being completely devoured by mosquitos. I havent totally behaved in planting only native plants, but Im having a blast and its my pride and joy.
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Aaron
You are so right about people not knowing their neighbors brother. I have mostly old neighbors and Im outside all day sometimes just mossing around other times working hard 10-12hours straight and its weird to me because I thought people who grew up in a more neighborly generation would be neighborly themselves. Apparently Im dead wrong about that bc the only neighbor I talk to is a guy just a little older than me in his 30s.
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You are so right about people not knowing their neighbors brother. I have mostly old neighbors and Im outside all day sometimes just mossing around other times working hard 10-12hours straight and its weird to me because I thought people who grew up in a more neighborly generation would be neighborly themselves. Apparently Im dead wrong about that bc the only neighbor I talk to is a guy just a little older than me in his 30s.
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McLovin
I've read some great post here in the comments! One thing that no one mentioned was growing fruits and vegetables that money can't buy! Most heirloom vegetables are not available for purchase in the grocery store or rare fruits that spoil soon after they are picked.
Even common fruits like tomatoes or figs do not taste the same when the come from the store shelf when compared to your backyard!
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I've read some great post here in the comments! One thing that no one mentioned was growing fruits and vegetables that money can't buy! Most heirloom vegetables are not available for purchase in the grocery store or rare fruits that spoil soon after they are picked.
Even common fruits like tomatoes or figs do not taste the same when the come from the store shelf when compared to your backyard!
reply
Ashley
I recently became interested in gardening from a zero waste/sustainability perspective. I wanted to eat food that didn't come wrapped in excessive plastic packaging and didn't have to travel so far to reach my plate. Additional benefits/reasons include mental health and development of new hobbies, as I felt I lost a lot of hobbies through and post-college years.
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I recently became interested in gardening from a zero waste/sustainability perspective. I wanted to eat food that didn't come wrapped in excessive plastic packaging and didn't have to travel so far to reach my plate. Additional benefits/reasons include mental health and development of new hobbies, as I felt I lost a lot of hobbies through and post-college years.
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HadiyahBintDouglas
I haven't began gardening in my front yard but I plan to next season. We have a very large tree in our front yard. Do you think any plants would grow well up there? We have our garden in the backyard and we definitely grow for all of the benefits you mentioned here. We also raise chickens and that leads to good conversation too.
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I haven't began gardening in my front yard but I plan to next season. We have a very large tree in our front yard. Do you think any plants would grow well up there? We have our garden in the backyard and we definitely grow for all of the benefits you mentioned here. We also raise chickens and that leads to good conversation too.
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Krisy
I grow food for butterflies bees and caterpillars. Does that count lol. I do it to try to add beauty to the world with flowers and helping butterflies survive. Also to help ensure my own and the worlds future food supplies by assisting ailing pollinators. Furthermore, for my mother and our doggies enjoyment, it is in their yard.
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I grow food for butterflies bees and caterpillars. Does that count lol. I do it to try to add beauty to the world with flowers and helping butterflies survive. Also to help ensure my own and the worlds future food supplies by assisting ailing pollinators. Furthermore, for my mother and our doggies enjoyment, it is in their yard.
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Jheni
Where I live it's hard to put green vegetables on the table. And 4 months ago I fall in love to gardening and suddenly i were making my first bed. Now I have 2 big beds with greens and herbs that I like and dreaming to make more soon! I just wish that this had happened to me years ago. But I'm happy that I still had time.
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Where I live it's hard to put green vegetables on the table. And 4 months ago I fall in love to gardening and suddenly i were making my first bed. Now I have 2 big beds with greens and herbs that I like and dreaming to make more soon! I just wish that this had happened to me years ago. But I'm happy that I still had time.
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