Food prices are rising, and a food crisis is sweeping the globe. Underdeveloped, less industrial countries are already suffering from the effects of the current food crisis. The rise in prices is starting to affect consumers in the United States, as well. In order to provide a buffer for your family against unaffordable food, or unavailability of fresh produce, you need to plant a garden-now!
Gardening-Not Just a Hobby
Gardening has been the fastest growing hobby in the United States for several years. Thousands of new gadgets, tools and products have flooded the market making gardening even easier than ever. With the potential for fresh produce to be priced out of reach for many families, starting a kitchen garden-a fruit and vegetable garden-is more important than ever.
During World War II, families were called upon to plant Victory Gardens. These gardens supported families as large-scale agriculture supported the troops. Today, there is a resurgence in the movement to plant victory gardens.
The Time to Plant is NOW
Unless you live in the Yukon Territory, or in Siberia, you can grow plants in your yard or garden year-round. That makes the middle of summer or the middle of winter as good a time to start a garden as spring or fall. Tasks such as soil preparation, plant selection and starting, and equipment purchasing will take a month or two. If you start planning now, you can see your first harvest in a couple of months. Following are some plants you can expect to harvest within a month or two after starting your garden-categorized by season. (This list is based on gardening in a temperate climate.)
Mid-summer planting: Beans, beets, radish, okra, turnips
Fall planting: lettuce, spinach, potatoes, turnips, onions, green onions, artichokes
Winter planting: peas, rhubarb, asparagus, beets, celery, onions
Spring planting: squash (winter and summer), pumpkins, tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, spinach, sweet corn, chard, mustard greens, runner beans, fennel
No mater what time of year you build your garden, you can always harvest a bountiful crop. Growing your own garden will give you peace of mind if food prices start rising beyond your reach.