Hello there! Today we are going to dive deeper into the wonderful world of food production and how it can help us reconnect with nature.
As our lives become increasingly digital, it’s more important than ever to find ways to reconnect with nature and find meaning in our daily lives. Whether you are planting a garden, raising chickens, or starting a small farm, producing your own food can be a deeply satisfying and rewarding experience.
In this post, we will expand on those ideas and provide useful tips and tricks for those interested in reconnecting with the natural world through food production.
From Farm to Table: Exploring the Joys of Growing Your Own Food
Our food system has become so industrialized that it’s easy to forget where our food comes from. It’s like we are so out of touch that we don’t even realize the conditions in which much of our food is grown. But fear not! There are many ways to get back in touch with the land and enjoy the fruits of our labor. One powerful way to do this is through food production – whether it’s growing your own vegetables in a backyard garden, raising chickens for eggs, or even starting a small farm. By producing our own food, we not only gain a deeper understanding of where our food comes from, but we also gain a new appreciation for the rhythms of the natural world and our place within it.
Eggs from a variety of chicken breeds including the Araucanas that produce green egg shells. Kids love to see the different colors so I always pick a variety of shades and colors when I pick out breeds of hens to raise!
Discovering the Magic of Watching Seeds Grow into Beautiful Plants
Let’s start with gardening. Even if you don’t have a lot of space or even a green thumb, you can grow your own herbs, fruits, and vegetables. There’s something so magical about planting a tiny seed and watching it grow into a beautiful plant that produces delicious food! And you don’t have to have a perfect garden to get food. A few weeds won’t hurt anything if you get busy!
Growing your own garden is a fantastic way to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying the outdoors. It can also be a great way to save money on produce, as growing your own food is often much cheaper than buying it at the store. And you know what was applied to your own garden so you can avoid unwanted chemicals such as herbicides or pesticides. This adds to your family’s food security because you know what you grow is healthy for you!
Sunflowers and zinnias lining the edge of the garden! Delicious sunflower seeds (or leave them for the birds) and so beautiful!
How Raising Chickens Can Benefit Your Garden and Local Ecosystem
If you have a little more space, you might consider raising your own chickens. Chickens are great for producing eggs, and their waste can help fertilize your garden. Just start a compost pile and the resulting humus is an excellent addition to your next year’s garden. You’ll want to check your local zoning ordinances. In some suburban and urban areas, hens are allowed but not roosters as they tend to be noisier. Since hens lay eggs every 1 to 3 days throughout most of the year, you’ll have a steady supply of eggs. Chickens don’t need a lot of resources so they are easy to get started on a small scale. And having animals to look after can give kids a sense of responsibility. It’s a win-win!
Here’s one of our roosters with a few of his hens. Typically one rooster is enough as they often fight over the girls. This boy was raised from an egg so he’s a mixed breed with lovely plumage!
Gain More Control Over Your Food Supply By Starting Your Own Homestead Farm
If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even start your own farm! This might seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually a lot easier than you might think. With a little research and hard work, you could be producing your own meat and vegetables in no time. Starting a small farm can be a great way to get involved in your local food community and support sustainable agriculture. It can also be a great way to teach your children about where their food comes from and the importance of taking care of the land.
You don’t necessarily need a huge plot to start a small homestead. People have grown enough food for a family of four in as little as a 10-foot square garden. And if you stick with smaller animals, like a handful of sheep or goats, or raise just a couple of pigs, you can get by with an acre or two.
Building Your Skills: Embracing the Learning Process in Food Production
Whether you’re starting with a small garden or a full-blown homestead farm, it’s important to remember that food production is a skill that takes time to master.
Don’t be discouraged if you make mistakes along the way – use them as learning opportunities and keep trying! Sometimes mistakes lead to great results! Like when I realize I’ve been too busy to keep up with weeding (happens a lot!). In one very dry and hot season, the beans grew better with something to climb up and with a bit of shade to protect them from the heat and desiccation.
These were the bean rows during the hot, dry summer of 2021. Full of waist-high weeds!
The Three Sisters concept is a Native American one where you grow beans, corn, and squash in one spot. The beans grow up the corn plants and the squash vines shade the ground and help keep in moisture. One year I got the bright idea that beans might love to grow up sunflowers instead. It turns out that sunflower stalks have prickles that beans do not like. Good idea in theory, but the plants did not agree! I still got beans, just not as many.
Here is some of the delicious harvest of purple pole beans from the same weedy plot!
Support Sustainable Agriculture and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Food production is also a great way to support sustainable agriculture and reduce your carbon footprint. When you produce your own food, you know exactly where it comes from and how it was grown or raised. You can ensure that your food is free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. You can also support local farmers who use sustainable and regenerative farming practices. For example, even though I usually have a few chickens, I don’t raise my own broilers very often. I rely on another farmer who produces her chicken meat in a sustainable way. She feeds nonGMO chicken food which avoids extra chemicals. She uses moving chicken coops so the broilers get a chance to free range and they fertilize her farm in the process.
You reduce your carbon footprint because you can just walk outside to harvest, rather than having all of your food shipped across the country or around the world for your meals. You also reduce your carbon footprint by adding to the plants that use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow. If you plant shade trees, that adds to your carbon sequestering and adds to the quality of life of all the animals on your farm, including the human ones!
Support Local Food Systems and Food Culture
In addition to the environmental benefits, food production can also have significant social and cultural benefits. When you produce your own food, you are supporting local food systems and promoting food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is the idea that people can produce healthy and culturally appropriate foods through sustainable methods that preserve the local ecology. By participating, you lead by doing.
You are also a part of a tradition that has been passed down through generations, connecting you to the land and the people who have lived on it before you. Another benefit is that you can explore and share new recipes by growing heritage vegetables and herbs. Having those fresh ingredients available will help you see why some of those vegetables and herbs have been preserved throughout the ages.
NonGMO porkchop and delectable gourmet baby potatoes both came from the farm! One way to get these little potatoes is to use the process called “graveling” where you dig with your hands and collect just a few potatoes. This does not harm the plant and it will keep growing more and larger potatoes for you through the season.
5 Tips for Starting Your Own Backyard Garden or Farm
Food production is a rewarding and fulfilling way to reconnect with the natural world and gain a deeper understanding of the food we eat. Whether you’re starting with a small backyard garden or embarking on a larger farming venture, here are some tips to help you get started and succeed.
1. Start small and build your skills:
When starting a backyard garden or farm, it’s important to start small and gradually build your skills and knowledge. Don’t try to take on too much at once, as this can be overwhelming and lead to frustration. Instead, start with a small garden plot, a few chickens, or a potted herb garden.
Starting small will give you the opportunity to learn the basics of food production and build your confidence before expanding. As you become more comfortable with the process, you can gradually increase the size of your garden or farm and try new things.
2. Embrace the learning process:
Food production is a skill that takes time to master. Don’t be discouraged if you make mistakes along the way – use them as learning opportunities and keep trying! Remember that every mistake is a learning opportunity that can help you improve your skills and knowledge. To accelerate your learning process, consider joining a local gardening or farming group, attending workshops or classes, or reading books and online resources about food production. By staying curious and open to new ideas, you can continue to improve your skills and create a more successful food production venture.
3. Get to know your local ecosystem:
To grow food that thrives in your climate, it’s important to understand the plants and animals that are native to your area. This means getting to know your local ecosystem, including the soil, climate, and wildlife.
Consider taking a class or workshop on local ecology, visiting a nearby nature preserve, or consulting with a local agricultural extension office to learn more about your local ecosystem. By understanding the unique conditions of your area, you can choose the right crops and practices to create a thriving and sustainable food production system.
4. Use sustainable practices:
When producing your own food, it’s important to use practices that are environmentally sustainable. This might include using organic or regenerative farming methods, composting, and conserving water.
Organic farming involves using natural methods to control pests and fertilize crops, rather than relying on synthetic chemicals. Regenerative farming goes a step further by focusing on building soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon in the soil.
Composting is another sustainable practice that can help reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your plants. By composting food scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials, you can create a rich soil amendment that will improve the health of your plants. If you have animals like chickens or other livestock, you can compost their manure to really add organic material to your garden’s topsoil.
Conserving water is also important in food production, especially in areas where water is scarce. Consider installing a rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering your plants, or using drip irrigation to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants. Or look for varieties that can handle a bit of water stress in your growing zone. Some crops require daily watering while others are much more hardy and tolerant of intermittent rain.
5. Share your bounty:
One of the joys of food production is being able to share your harvest with others. Whether you have more than you can consume or just want to spread the joy of fresh, homegrown food, consider donating your excess produce to a local food bank or sharing it with friends and neighbors. Not only does this foster a sense of community, but it also helps to reduce food waste and provides nutritious food for those in need. Additionally, sharing your bounty can inspire others to start their own gardens or farms and foster a deeper connection with the natural world.
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