Yes, yes, yes….the times are uncertain. It’s only been less than 4 weeks now since our world as we know it here in the Greater New Orleans area has turned topsy-turvy. So what are we to do? Gripe? Moan? Complain? Sit in fear and angst? Well, of course not. If we did, we couldn’t call ourselves true New Orleanians and Louisianians (although that’s been the on-going trend since Katrina - to call yourself a local because you have some allotted years on your belt as a resident. SMH). What do we do as natives and locals…well..we get creative. We get resourceful. We get personal - and there’s nothing more personal than that of your relationship with food - AND who’s more credible to discuss food, than a New Orleanian? Well, lots of folks actually, but we’re definitely on the top of the list! ;)

So here we are, post No.2 and today we’re going to talk about whether it’s a good thought to grow your own food or not and how, or what to consider, when doing so, should you choose to do so. Let’s start with the Pro’s and the Con’s. Here’s what we’ve got so far:

Pro’s

MONEY SAVED: Yes! You can and do save money, maybe not initially because of your original start-up investment, but certainly as time progresses if you keep up with your garden. Those lofty grocery bills will slowly but surely get reduced.
A NATURAL LIFE = A HEALTHY LIFE: Ok, we promise that this isn’t your average tree-hugging sentiment. But it’s true, going back to nature is soul-satisfying. Tending to your garden is grounding (pun intended), humbling, relaxing and even therapeutic. (Lord knows, we can all use a little beneficial therapy these days.) It’s exercise with a cause. Best of all, with all those fruits and veggies in abundance and part of your normal diet, you’ll surely see (and feel) the highs of healthy eating.

Con’s

STARTUP INVESTMENT: The initial startup up can range from $50-$500+. I mean let’s get real, to actually feed an average family, it takes a good bit of plants to satisfy. This is also true especially if you use till directly into the ground, use pots, or use raised beds. The average cost of one raised bed, whether built DIY or not, is about $69 to start. However, there’s tons of alternatives to in-ground and raised beds. Hydroponic gardens have proven to be highly productive and very minimal in setup costs. Also, planting indoors (not exclusive to green houses) have also been a huge money saving and high yielding venture.
LEARNING CURVES: I can surely attest, as an amateur gardener, this stuff isn’t as easy as it looks. One needs to research what food best grows well in their specific region of the world, and even in their specific yard. One needs to know when to plant, when to harvest, what to feed the plants, how to keep pests at bay, and all sorts of factors for the healthiest garden, most pleasurable experience, and biggest return on investment. It’s truly a science and an art, if you ask me. Don’t let this discourage you from diving in! In fact, it’s a beautiful learning process, especially when you get the kids involved. There’s so much wonder and mystery to be discovered in each element of your garden. And get this, if you get too overwhelmed, well that’s what we’re for. We can help!

Raised beds can make for great aesthetically functional garden designs

Hydroponic gardens are ideal for small spaces that need high productions.

All in all - it’s never not a bad idea to plant your own food. There’s truly no space too small nor too large, too wet nor too dry. Some sort of food can grow in every condition. To put it simply, if an animal can exist in a certain elemental condition, so too can food. Now is a great time to consider it. Even when things let up and we get back to a normalized lifestyle, how great would it be to be a little more skillful, self-sufficient, re-connected, cost efficient, and ready for whatever this wild life may throw at us…at least in reference to our sustenance? I wasn’t born yet, but I’ve learned through history and my grand-folks, about the days of the Victory Gardens during the World Wars and how important they were to families and entire communities. Call it going back to the old ways, or simply another case of human adaptation, but “we’re gonna do what we gotta do, right”?! You betcha bottom dollar, we will.

I’ll leave you with this, “To grow, or not to grow”…is not so much the question these days. In fact, growing our own food is soon to be the best option for so many reasons. In my mind, the question is, what is it that we CAN control and manage best in these most uncertain and seemingly un-manageable times? What does it mean to not allow ourselves to be fully succumbed to the modern world’s problems and to remain vigilant and triumphant? Well - it’s now, then, and always will be - growing, controlling and managing our own food supply.

Happy planting!