The benefits of
growing your own food include the enjoyment of fresh organic produce,
getting exercise in the garden and reducing stress
Victory gardens were encouraged during WWI and WWII; some are again turning to gardening in response to COVID-19
Conventional
farms are incentivized by profit: Many are growing crops to be used in
processed foods. This potentially contaminates water and air and reduces
biodiversity
The No. 1 rule
for growing nutrient dense food is healthy soil; protect it by
diversifying your plants, avoiding tilling and by covering the surface
with cover crops or mulch
Quality seeds
are essential. In small spaces you can grow your plants in pots indoors
or on balconies and enjoy nutritious powerhouse sprouts all year long
There are many reasons more people are
buying seeds and planting their own gardens. One of the main reasons is
that you have control over growing your food organically and you can
enjoy some of the freshest produce available. During World Wars I and
II the government encouraged Americans to grow their own food to help
the war effort.1
These plots of land were commonly called "victory gardens," but were
also known as "war gardens" and "food gardens for defense." During
World War I, the new U.S. Food Administration was led by Herbert Hoover
to regulate2 "the supply, distribution and conservation of food during the war."
In response to the need for food conservation during World War I,
Charles Chambers created a poster which was printed in several
languages. The famous first line, "Food will win the war," was often
quoted3 as it encouraged people to live simply and grow food.
World War II began a short 21 years later. Unable to maintain food
distribution to the military and allies, against whom starvation was
being used as a weapon, the government again turned to promoting victory gardens as they began food rationing. The campaign was successful throughout both wars.
History.com reports4
that in 1942 there were roughly 15 million gardens planted, which grew
by 5 million in 1944. These produced approximately 8 million tons of
food, accounting for more than 40% of the fresh produce eaten that year
in the U.S:5
"Although the government’s promotion of victory gardens ended
with the war, a renaissance movement has sprouted up in recent years in
support of self-sufficiency and eating seasonally to improve health
through local, organic farming and sustainable agriculture."
Is It Time to Start Your Own Garden?
The interest in organic gardening at home has been growing, recently spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic.6
This also may be a consequence of a growing understanding of the
current food “war” we all fight against an industry that has flooded
the market with chemicals and junk food.7
These tactics have driven rising numbers of chronic disease,8
health care costs and deaths as many are deceived about the long-term
safety of processed foods. One law school professor calls this movement
“GRAS-Fed Americans,” in reference to the FDA category of “generally
recognized as safe” (GRAS) foods that are not subject to approval as
they are:9
“… generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been
adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use
…”
One of my consistent messages is that food is foundational to your
health. Processed foods, filled with toxins, dyes and sugars, are a
primary driver of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, causing about 647,000 deaths each year.10 Diabetes, one risk factor for heart disease, was the cause of 83,564 deaths in 2017, and it contributed to 270,702 more.11 Both diseases are influenced by multiple factors, but mostly by metabolic dysfunction.
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Without Pesticides: Homegrown Lowers Risk
Another risk to the food supply is from the thousands of gallons of pesticides and herbicides used on conventional monoculture farms
to control pests and weeds. One in particular, glyphosate, the
chemical foundation of the herbicide Roundup, is at the center of
debate for more than 42,700 people who claim the chemical triggers
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
As of January 2020, Bayer has lost three jury trials,12 but continues to contest the decisions, insisting — despite overwhelming evidence — the chemical is not carcinogenic.13
Politicians got into the fray, firing back at the World Health
Organization that the claim glyphosate was "probably carcinogenic" was
based on "shoddy work" as they sought to protect agrochemical business.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) director
Christopher Wild defended the results, saying:14
"… identifying carcinogenic hazards is a crucially important and
necessary first step in risk assessment and management; it should be a
'red flag' to those charged with protecting public health."
With the slowdown in the court systems from the current COVID-19
pandemic, the manufacturer of the herbicide Roundup, Bayer, is slowing
settlement talks. However, the plaintiff’s lawyers deny the pandemic
has had an effect on the negotiations, for which there is ample
technology to complete while maintaining social distancing and sharing
documents.15
In addition, Bayer is revisiting law firms that had negotiated deals
in place, demanding another cut. Mike Miller's firm currently
represents 6,000 clients and he won two of the three jury trials.
He is concerned Bayer may negotiate a lower payout, taking advantage
of the economic changes from the pandemic, as "These are uncertain
economic times. People have to consider what's best for their clients."
The glyphosate
court cases differ from other litigation, after which the drugs,
devices or goods have a printed warning label or are pulled from the
shelves.16
This makes future company litigation costs predictable. Instead, Bayer
has never publicly indicated they would pull Roundup from the market.
Industrial Agriculture Is Creating a Risky Future
Like all business owners, farmers raising conventionally grown
produce are incentivized by profit. However, as they use more chemicals
with each passing year to control weeds and pests, this has had a
devastating effect on streams and soil,17 impacting future crop yields.
The future isn’t difficult to predict — more chemicals, soil damage
and lower crop yields will not be profitable to the farmer, and they
certainly have not profited the consumer to date.
Without access to organically produced food, you become dependent on
the global industrial agricultural system, which has set it sights on
short-term profits no matter the costs; the current legal battles with
Bayer have brought to this light. These farming practices continue to
impact the environment and food supply in several ways, including:
Contamination and overuse of water18,19,20
Contribution to greenhouse gas21,22
Reduction in crop biodiversity23
Wide Range of Personal and Community Benefits
One of the obvious benefits to growing your own food at home is
reducing your risk of exposure to glyphosate and pesticides. When you
plant your own garden you can also enjoy these benefits:24
Improved nutrition — Homegrown food is usually more diverse, flavorful and nutritious than processed foods bought from a store.25 Straight from the garden, food retains more of its vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Increased activity — Physical activity, movement
and exercise are part and parcel of tending to a garden and also
important to maintaining optimal health.
Heliotherapy — Exposure to the sun
ramps up your vitamin D production; this is important to your immune
health, as it improves your mood and exposes you to fresh air.
Strengthened environmental health — Using organic
principles, your food supply doesn't pollute the waterways, doesn't
rely on transportation to reach the consumer (just walk outside and
pick your vegetables!) and doesn’t require fossil fuel to run the farm.
Stress reduction — The authors of one Dutch study found that gardening after a stressful task reduced cortisol levels.26 It also improves your sleep.27
Basic Strategies for a Healthy Garden — Indoors and Outside
As you might deduce from the information above, the No.1 rule for
growing nutrient-dense food is healthy soil. Whether you're growing
your garden in pots or in the ground, as Gabe Brown discusses in this
short video, there are five principles of regenerative farming you can use to develop healthy topsoil and build a healthy ecosystem:
Avoid disturbing the microbiome — The less
mechanical disturbance you use, the better. This means not tilling the
soil and not using herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. Instead, seek
out natural ways of dealing with pests and only open the soil enough to
plant your seed.
Protect the surface — Use cover crops during the
winter months and cover the soil with untreated lawn clippings, mulch
or wood chips during the growing season to feed the soil microbiome.
This also helps to prevent water evaporation and lower the soil
temperature on hot days.
Diversify your planting — Cover crops help fulfill
the requirement of using an array of plant life to protect healthy
soil. If you have a large garden, you can alternate the areas where you
plant your crops. If you're using pots, you can alternate the pots in
which the plants are grown.
Keep living roots in the ground as long as possible — Growth is key to soil vitality, so planting cover crops after you harvest helps improve soil diversity and health.
On a larger plot, integrate livestock and other living creatures, including insects —
Regenerative farmers use chickens, cows, lambs and pigs to help mimic
the impact wild herds once had on the land. While you may not be able
to keep farm animals at home, you can attract pollinators and predator
insects by including flowering plants.
You Can Start Small for Big Results
You’ll want to start with quality seeds for quality produce. Seek out
a supplier who sells heirloom seeds that aren’t genetically modified.28,29 This ensures you’re getting the best plant possible and that these are better suited to organic growing conditions.
There are different ways to grow your food, even if you live in an
apartment and all you have available is a balcony. One of the simplest
and most inexpensive alternatives is to grow sprouts. These can be
grown all year indoors. They grow quickly, which means you can harvest
your nutrient-dense food in just about a week and they don't have to be
cooked to enjoy.
Some commonly sprouted seeds are beans, nuts, broccoli, sunflower
seeds and pea sprouts. Many of the benefits are related to the
concentrated amount of nutrients in the initial phase of growth. These
benefits include a higher vitamin, enzyme30 and fiber content.31
Purchasing fresh, healthy foods can sometimes be expensive, but
sprouts don't fall into this category. When you grow them yourself the
cost is significantly less than purchasing them from the store. I have
found 1 pound of seed can produce more than 10 pounds of sprouts when
grown in soil.
Sunflower sprouts have the most volume and, in my opinion, have the
best taste. If you don’t have much garden space, consider growing your
garden in pots. Many of the vegetables and fruits you enjoy can be
grown on your porch or balcony.
After choosing what you’ll grow, take care to prepare your potting
soil or garden carefully. You’ll find growing instructions specific to
your plant needs, including natural ways to reduce pest damage, in my “Ultimate Guide to Gardening.”
Resources to Plant an Urban Garden
In 2011, Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan, faced a possible 93 days in jail after being charged for planting a vegetable garden in her own front yard. In five raised beds she grew squash, corn, tomatoes, flowers and other vegetables.
The city warned her to remove the garden when they claimed it
violated an ordinance stating that only “suitable” plant material is
allowed on the front lawn. In 2011, Ron Finley received a citation from
the city of Los Angeles to clear his “overgrown vegetation” or purchase
a $400 permit for his garden. He wrote:32
“Plus no one was being cited for the discarded old toilets,
couches and used condoms on the street—but I got a citation for
bringing nature, beauty, pride, art, and a sense of peace and calm to
the neighborhood. It just made no sense.”
It may be worth paying attention to the rules around urban
agriculture in your neighborhood. It's important to educate yourself
about your homeowner’s association, city, state and federal ordinances
before you start planting.33 There's nothing fun about getting a citation, and there’s even less fun in fighting it!
Since zoning laws and ordinances consistently change you need to do
your due diligence in the winter months before you plant. Lawn and
garden laws can include:34
Regulations on fence and hedge heights, and length of grass
Restrictions on front yard food gardens35
Watering requirements and limits
Regulations to protect wildlife
Regulations on weeds and invasive species
Farm animal ordinances, including beekeeping36
Composting ordinances
Regulations on rainwater collection
Gardening-related business activities, should you consider selling any of your produce
Hell strips — This refers to the land between the sidewalk and the street.
By and large, this land belongs to the city, but must be
maintained by the homeowner; oftentimes, you're not allowed to remove
or damage plants or trees growing there
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