Why Juice?

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The biggest hurdle for you to start growing your own food is likely the same that I and others have faced as well – getting started.

Luckily, I was able to ignore that voice in the back of my head and just got growing. Think about it. What did people do hundreds of years ago? They didn’t take a class or “Google” the answer. They just got to planting and learned as they went along.

Well the fact that you have come to this page, you are getting closer to starting and that’s a good thing.

Why you should grow some of your own food
This is the first question that people usually ask. Why would I grow my own when I can go to the grocery store and pick it up whenever I want. Growing your own definitely is not a convenience thing (though at times it can be), but it’s about reconnecting with our food source and making a social statement such as standing up against the exploitation of women. Read all of the reasons why you should garden and grow your own food.

Choose your location
Now that you have some solid reasons to start, you’ll need to choose the location of where you will start. Examine your home or apartment and think about where a good location could be.

The two most important things that you should consider are how much sunlight the area gets and how far it is from water. My guess is that you don’t want to be lugging water through your place to water your garden.

Don’t just look down
Now that you have your location chosen the next step is to take a closer look at the area. Life up your chin and don’t just look at the floor. Look at other spaces as well – windowsills, ledges, railings and the space above you.

What’s the conditions?
As previously mentioned it’s important to know how much direct sunlight your space gets. At the minimum you’ll need about 2-3 hours of direct sunlight. On my balcony garden I’m getting only 4-6 hours of morning sun and that’s cool. I can’t grow everything that I want, but I can still grow something.

What to grow in
This can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be. I am a DIY kind of guy. I’ve used soda bottles, 5-gallon containers and shipping pallets to create my gardens, but also use some products as well. If you are interested in any product recommendations, hit me up and I can put you in contact with one of my sponsors. Otherwise, you can read more about some creative DIY gardening projects.

What to grow
I’m pretty sure this is what you’ve been asking yourself since you came to this page. The answer could very well be dictated by your location and conditions. Since I’m growing in 5-gallon containers and in mostly shade, my selection is limited. That’s not to say it’s non-existent. It’s just smaller.

My top recommendation are always greens and lettuces. We all eat them and know how to use them, so they make sense. The fact that they are pretty easy to grow and are small also helps out.

From an economical standpoint I think herbs make a lot of sense. In the grocery store, you have to buy a bushel of them at a hefty price when all you really need are a few leaves for your dish. So you wind up using a small portion and the rest goes to waste. When you grow your own, you can take what you need and let it continue to grow. It’ll always be on hand.

Tips and advice
I’m all for people just diving in and figuring it out along the way because there is no definitive right and wrong when it comes to growing your own. To help you out I’ve compiled some tips and have advice for those of you that are just starting. Check out some tips for beginners.

This helps to give you the basics of you starting to grow your own food. There is no need to plant a huge garden (unless you want to). I firmly believe that growing just one plant will make a difference.

If I can do this, why can’t you?

Save energy to save money.

Purchase State of the World 2010:
Transforming Cultures to learn more
about the shift from consumerism
to sustainability
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use.
Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
Save water to save money.

Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
 

Less gas = more money (and better health!).

Purchase State of the World 2009:
Into a Warming World to learn more
about overcomig global climate change
Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
 

Eat smart.

If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it’s even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.
 

Skip the bottled water.

Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.
 

Think before you buy.

Learn more with Worldwatch’s
Low Carbon Energy Report
Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you’ve just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
When making purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.
 

Borrow instead of buying.

Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
 

Buy smart.

Great for classrooms:
Climate Change
Reference Guide
Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you’ll be happy when you don’t have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
 

Keep electronics out of the trash.

Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
Recycle your cell phone.
Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
 

Make your own cleaning supplies.

Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing your Earth-Aid kit today.

The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.
 

Bonus Item!

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