Container Vegetable Gardening

Is there a patch of land in your backyard that’s been left useless all this time? If you’re still undecided to what to make out of it, maybe it’s high time you consider planting vegetables in it.

Read on to learn some of the advantages of planting vegetable gardens right in your back yard. You don’t even need much room.

Yummier veggie treats

Many people attest that vegetables grown in their own backyard tastes much better than those bought at grocery stores. They remark how much flavorful their harvests are, whether used as ingredients in a fresh veggie salad or cooked dishes. Be it because of the extra amount of love and care these home-grown vegetables got or the person taking pride in growing crops in his or her backyard, it doesn’t rally matter. What matters is what you serve on the table is fresh right off your vegetable garden and more scrumptious for every member of the family to enjoy.

You are also assured that what you put on the table is fresh and free from harmful chemicals like preservatives.

Guaranteed no harmful chemicals

Chances are you might not fully know whether the vegetables you buy at the supermarket are free of pesticides. Some vendors claim that their vegetables are free from harmful chemicals.

What about if the soil where those crops grew was exposed to pesticides before or they were planted next to crops sprayed with pesticides?

Prolonged dietary exposure to pesticides has linked to various adverse reproductive and developmental effects, although some say there is little data to support this.

Your children are at higher risk to the dangers of such chemicals on the vegetables they consume. Their bodies are not yet fully developed to properly metabolize or excrete such substances.

A great way to workout

If you got little or no time to go to the gym or health spa to workout, then let gardening provide your daily dose of exercise. Tending your vegetable garden for at least 30 minutes a day is a great way to burn those excess calories and lose weight.

You are able to work several major muscle groups in the body, like the legs, arms, back, buttocks and many others. Gardening is also improves your flexibility each time you stretch to reach for weeds or bend to plant a seedling.  (And as I always say, if you have containers or raised beds, it’s easier to weed, if they grow at all)

By the time your crops are ready for harvest, you will notice a change in your body, especially if you look after your garden on a regular basis. Picking the car key that fell on the floor or reaching for a book at the top of a tall shelf will be a lot easier for you to do. Unlike jogging, playing basketball and others, gardening has less impact on your joints.

Gardening is best were vigorous exercises is not applicable, such as for people with high blood pressure, heart diseases, bone joint disorders and many others.

Help save the environment

If commercially grown vegetables receive little demand from consumers, then commercial farmers will find no reason to expand their plantations. So there’s no need to cut down rain forests and devastate habitats of wild animals. Also, if demand is lowered farmers will use less pesticide and other harmful chemicals that pollute our rivers and the rest of the environment. You might feel that you as a concerned citizen cannot contribute that much positive impact on the environment by planting vegetable gardens.

But imagine the difference made if a lot of people started to plant their vegetables in their own backyard.

Hi. So I knew we had a water shortage. I won’t get into why I think it’s messed up that we flushed our water reserves to save a smelt, but now we’re in a dry cycle and no reserves.

So I planted flower seeds. We managed to get the last of the rats right after I swore I was done growing vegetables for a year until I was certain that they were gone.

I also planted blueberries and strawberries, and they’re doing OK. I lost one blueberry and about 2 strawberry plants to my minimalist watering.

Flowers started but haven’t been growing well due to the dryness.

 

 

Many of the seeds haven’t even sprouted. It’s making me wonder if I should test my soil.

I was actually gone a bit in March and April. I needed to go help out my brother in North Carolina. I have to say up front the watermelon in the spring was the best I’d ever had in my life. You all are so lucky.

Bottom line is if you have high blood pressure, don’t pretend you don’t and keep ignoring it. He got a tear in his aorta. I went back right after it happened to help get him stable and settled.

Then I went back to help him through the surgery. They put two stents on.

Modern medicine is awesome.

But, cough cough, taking care of yourself so it doesn’t happen in the first place is better.

Doing things like gardening that lower our blood pressure is highly recommended. There’s something so spiritual about getting your hands in the dirt, and watching something grow that just fills you full of joy.

So what have I been doing other then grumbling about my flowers not growing? And how am I getting my vegetables?

I’m on two CSAs. I’m still doing Farm Fresh To You (there will be an ad below. If you click and sign up, I’ll get some money). And I share a share with some dear friends through Live Earth Farms. I’m loving that everyone’s going to the model of getting more choice.

I admit it. I don’t like kale.

But this way, I can get tons of other things like leeks and frisee and unusual mushrooms and leave the kale for the rest of you. And not have to toss it right into the compost pile.

I’m also getting more creative with how I plan my meals around which veggies are showing up Wednesday and which show up on Friday.

I’ve pickled some of the cabbage using my Krout Source

 

 

It should be ready by 4th of July, but I think we may test it this Father’s Day weekend. I could make my Dad anything, and he wants hot dogs.

And cherry almond cream pie. So who am I to argue.

 

 

Today I got two heads of cauliflower that I want to pickle. Hopefully I’ll make time for it.

I confess I haven’t been to any of the farmer’s markets near me in awhile. They get too crowded during the warm months. I love going when it’s cold and rainy.

So what are you growing? And if you’re not growing, how are you supporting the local farmers?

Good morning. I hope this finds you well. We are still having rat problems. They’ve built a nest underneath the “catwalk” as I’ve seen new holes spring up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is quite frustrating. The little dears are also eating our oranges as I find the rinds on the ground in the morning. I have been picking up the birdseed so there’s nothing left overnight.

When I had vector control out last year, he said that a vegetable garden does attract them and give them a food source. And truthfully, I was pretty worn down not getting much of my harvest last year.

One of my (for all intents and purposes is a)sisters suggested that I plant flowers instead. It will attract bees and butterflies. So this past weekend, I planted flower plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

blueberry plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

strawberry plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

and flower seeds. The flower seeds are all over the place….in containers and in an area where I’d been building up my compost.

It shouldn’t take long before they poke up their heads. I promise to post some pictures.

And as my husband said, it doesn’t rule out some tomato, cucumber and summer squash plants either.

Have you ever had to get rid of rats in your yard? I don’t really want to use poison because it could poison any animal that found and ate it. OK, I know, gross, but it does happen and I don’t want to inadvertently poison another animal. I just want to get rid of the colony under my garden that eats it!