Homegrown: Food For The Soul

Growing your own vegetables is not only a great way to find the freshest produce, but it’s healthy for the spirit as well. Homegrown all starts with the soil and getting down and dirty.

- Sue Musial Bigelow

While gardening, it’s great to take off your shoes and get grounded; wiggle your toes in the dirt and get your hands dirty—all while soaking up some vitamin D. This is all part of the process that fuels your soul while creating food that nourishes in so many ways!

If you have never grown a garden before, don’t worry because acquiring a green thumb can be a process. If you have a sunny spot in your yard with good soil you can begin by removing the sod and loosening up the soil with a shovel or tiller and adding some rich compost. It doesn’t have to be big. You can grow plenty in a 5-foot by 10-foot plot of land.

A sample of your soil can be sent to your agricultural extension agency for testing to determine what you may need to boost its nutrient value. If your soil leaves little to be desired, then a raised bed may be the best way to go. One can be built simply with four boards or the stacking of rocks to form a boarder and then buying commercial organic soil. If you are on a hill use the grade to your advantage.