Gardening for Food Security: Tips for Growing Your Own Food and Reducing Waste

In an increasingly uncertain world, where climate change, economic fluctuations, and global pandemics disrupt food supply chains, there is a growing recognition of the need for food security. The concept of food security goes beyond having enough food available; it encompasses accessibility, affordability, and the sustainability of our food sources. In this context, gardening has emerged as a powerful tool to enhance food security at an individual and community level.

Growing your own food not only provides a sense of self-reliance but also contributes to reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a tiny balcony, gardening can be adapted to any space, making it accessible to people in various living situations. If you’ve been interested in growing your own food for the amazing benefits, here are some tips on doing just that, ensuring you that you’ll have food security.

Fertilize

The art of fertilizing is simple, yet greatly beneficial to the health, size, color, and flavor profile of your homegrown produce. With the addition of fertilizer, you will be giving your produce the chance to thrive and grow a far better product than you would otherwise. When it comes to which fertilizer to apply, homemade is always the best option. 

Store-bought doesn’t even begin to compare and is usually full of harmful chemicals. You can make your own fertilizer at home by gathering grass clippings, small twigs, leaves, and kitchen scraps, such as egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, and other organic matter. With time, the contents of your homemade fertilizer bucket will begin to decompose and create a delicious treat for any and all of your plants, especially your beloved produce.

Grow What You’ll Eat

There’s a saying “Waste not, want not”. Meaning, a person who wastes very little will be happier with fewer needs than those who do. Being wasteful is often simply a product of laziness or ignorance. Once you educate yourself on how to make use of unwanted and unused products, being wasteful will be a thing of the past. 

One way you can reduce waste is to use leftover plant matter from your garden in your fertilizer bucket to continue the plant life cycle. Another simple way to reduce waste is to only plant what you know you will consume. If you happen to plant too much or produce that you dislike/have no use for at the time, you can always share it with family, friends, or preserve, and can it for future use. 

Greenhouse 

If you are serious about wanting to grow your own produce on a regular basis, despite your climate and weather conditions, then a greenhouse would be the absolute best thing to invest in. The space, safety from outside disturbances, and temperature-controlled environment are essential to growing healthy produce all year round. 

You can use your greenhouse for just about anything, making it a wonderful investment for all of your planting wants and needs, even beyond produce. A greenhouse can go for a few hundred, to a few thousand, depending on size and quality. Find what works best for you and your garden’s needs.

Jar

Jarring and canning are fantastic ways to preserve the longevity of your fresh produce. Fresh produce is best eaten as is, or used as a tasty ingredient in a tempting dish. For the times you have an overabundance of fresh produce that you do not want to waste, preserving and sharing your goods is your best option. 

The process of canning is relatively easy and can be done at home with very little skill. You will want to do your research, so you go about preserving it safely and properly. There are tons of different recipes. You can use it for various fruits and vegetables. Salsas, jams, jellies, toppings, butter, and spreads. All delicious, and not a bit of it wasted.