Eating locally grown food in season saves energy by reducing transportation needs and supporting local farmers. Do you know what’s even better? Growing your own!
There's nothing more local or sustainable than planting, sourcing, and preparing your food each season. This not only conserves energy but also promotes sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and your finances.
Gardening is more than a hobby. You can feasibly grow fruits and vegetables each season to feed your family. This comprehensive guide from The Old Farmer’s Almanac demonstrates how to start a vegetable garden from scratch, which vegetables to grow, and when to plant what.
Depending on the location of your garden, you will need to consider which vegetables do best in partial shade (kale, lettuce, greens, and herbs) vs. those that thrive in the sun (tomatoes, squash, potatoes, corn and onions). Find out the best spot for your at-home garden.
You can also grow delicious apples, figs, berries, peaches, and citrus fruits that work best in your climate – even with limited space. A few trees can provide you with a plentiful bounty of fruit each year, and some fruit plants, like blueberries, can even grow on the patio. However, growing fruit can have its challenges, so consult the experts before exploring this option.
New to gardening entirely? Test your green thumb and start small with a simple herb garden.
It’s a great way to source fresh ingredients with little effort and low cost.
Already have a green thumb? Make your garden more eco-friendly
with these energy-minded tips this Spring. Happy sustainable planting!
Sources: The Almanac, The Seasonal Homestead, Urban Farmer, Gardenary
