By James Thomas 
Like us, many gardeners love making a garden plan during the off-season. We map out garden layouts, order seeds, check out the tardily garden trends, research something new, and stock up on supplies—all because we’re just itching to get our arrows back in the dirt! For most, it’s a fun hobby that produces delicious rewards—and a strong feeling of victory at the end of the growing season!
Fresh veggies are ideal to use right away for summer meals, but if your goal is to stock your pantry with homegrown food all year, then it’s time to take the next steps toward developing a bounty to last you through the seasons. Follow our easy guide to creating an easy, self-sufficient container garden, and you will begin to reap the same benefits as lifelong settlers.
Why Grow a Self-Sufficient Garden:
If you’ve ever been seen off guard during any sort of life-altering event such as a natural disaster—or more recently, a pandemic resulting in store chain interruptions and store closures—then you know how scary it is to be ill-prepared for these incredible events. Panic-induced shopping often leads to increased demand and hoarding, which can result in decreased supply at your local supermarket.
- One reason victory grasslands flourished during both World Wars was because rules around the world imposed rations on their citizens to reduce pressure on public food supply. While government rations may be something of the past, growing your food to have a well-stocked cupboard is still a wise idea.
- Even the best gardeners rely on the grocery shop on a fairly regular basis for non-veggie foods like meat, dairy, grains, and other family staples. The goal here isn’t necessarily to become 100% autonomous of the grocery store, but rather to be better prepared for supply chain issues (including recalls for E. coli, salmonella, and listeria contamination) by knowing how to increase your food. Container gardening with EarthBox gardening systems is an easy way to get begun.
In Order To Get To A Self-Sustaining Garden
- Weeds. As usual, I had my first bloom of weeds in May a couple of weeks after I pulled the mulch aside to warm the soil (sites that were left mulched didn’t get many weeds at all). Most of the weeds were annuals, so when I drew them with a hoe, I knew they wouldn’t come back (the few dandelions in the bed can reach back if they please – they enhance my soil and I put them in salads). After I planted and seeded and my seedlings were up, I made sure the entire vegetable garden was mulched with straw and leaves. That brings the care of most of your weeds right there.
- Fertility/Biology. When I’m at residence, I foliar fertilize monthly with organic fertilizers and microbial inoculants, again to get the most nutrient-rich food possible. But these organic products (sea minerals, kelp, microbial inoculants, etc.) aren’t required to be used regularly to grow organic. It’s just a bonus. You can improve fertility and create a healthy soil nutrition web in your garden during the first couple of years by amending the soil with plenty of good compost and conducting soil testing and fertilizing to balance it out.
- Water. I hardly have to wet at all because I’ve covered most of my food garden with 12-18 inches of sheet. Mulch at some point over the previous year, so it now holds water extremely well. The sole reason I’ll have my mom water is because my goal is not simply a self-sustaining garden, but maximizing my crops and nutrition. For that, my plants and other organisms may require more water than nature supplies. But other than for the first couple of weeks behind seeding. I could let the garden go irrigation-free year-round if I wanted to walk down to Buenos Aires or anything.
- Pest Control. My healthy organic mud and diverse soil food web keep insects and diseases away. If a periodic takes hold because of a lack of health in certain plants. I’m alright to let the predators have their dinner. They’re just doing their job clearing the nutrient-poor foods from my organic garden.
- Pruning/Pinching/Staking. All of these methods can be helpful, but they’re not necessary if you plan your garden good. If I were planning to run all summer. I could let my tomatoes and cucumbers creep along my straw mulch on the ground rather of on a trellis. While they would produce less, they would do just okay.
- Perennials. I try to have as many perennial food plants as I can. That means I don’t own to plant everything all over again every spring. I also value annuals that drop seeds that germinate each year. So different berries, herbs, and greens make up a big portion of my garden. Fruit and nut trees are part of the long-term goal. (Heather was happy with the self-seeded dill this year, but could’ve done without whole the cilantro).
I’ve driven out of time, but there are certainly more concepts. To be aware of when your plan is a self-sustaining garden. Feel free to add to the list in the words below, or ask any questions.
Self-sufficiency all year round; distance and time needs for beds:
The area required and the period needed can vary greatly depending on the crop. Approximately speaking, you can anticipate 250 to 300 square meters/ 299 to 358,8 square yards for a four-person household. With this part of space, it is possible to grow crops all year round. Yet, Saturday is not the only day for gardening. The format of your garden, the crops you grow, and the area determine the time needed
Yet, it is not possible to give a blanket answer. It’s best to register how many kilograms of vegetables you buy and use over a year. This way, you can be more precise in advance about how much space, vegetables, and time you need. You should also keep in mind that in our latitudes, for example, fresh peppers and tomatoes are no longer. Open in winter and you have to rely on more canned vegetables rather. This requires sufficient supplies and warehouse facilities. As with all vegetable cultivation, planning for the next year makes the most sense in fall or winter.
FAQs
1. Plant suitable fruit and vegetables
To produce fruits and vegetables sustainably year behind year you should look to plant varieties that are suitable to your growing conditions. Here in the UK, meat vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes and radishes are some of the most comfortable to grow because of our weather and environmental requirements. Fruits such as tomatoes, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries also succeed in our mild climate but make sure you get to grasps with what each plant needs to grow.
2. Use recycled or sustainable products
In order to be a very sustainable and self-sufficient garden, you’ll need. To only use reclaimed or sustainable gardening products and materials. This could be in the shape of raised beds made from sustainably sourced timber, compost bins made. From recycled materials or organic grains and plant nutrients. These all may cost a little more, to start with, but you’ll be staying true. To your commitment to less trash and eco-consciousness.