With all of the work we put in to growing our own food, why wouldn't you want to learn more about preserving it? We all are feeling the effects of the rising cost of grocery (and everything else, for that matter) Now a days social media calls it "Homesteading", but not all that long ago, it was the only way to live. You don't have to have a million acres of land or a full blown farm to start growing your own food. I've taught people how to utilize the space they have, which in some cases is a small apartment balcony or even just a windowsill. You don't need fancy equipment or expensive seeds. You can most definitely start a cleaner healthier lifestyle with things you already have in your home.
What do I mean by that?
Well, a few things. You can start a living low waste by starting a compost with your food scraps. You can use boxes, bags, and empty toilet paper rolls to start seeds. You can even regrow most fruits and vegetables with their seeds, or the ends that you would throw away. Celery, onions, and potatoes are great starters. When I started growing food for the first time, I started with a couple of herbs in a windowsill. From there, I grew a couple of tomato and pepper plants... then I added and added and now? Now, I teach others. I continue to grow and expand and I teach classes within my community on beginner canning and preserving. I'm hoping to add cooking and baking classes in the future. Staples, like bread, cooking the food that you grow, and the best ways to prepare your food for freezing. I'm also looking to set up a food swap within my home community. Everyone deserves access to good, healthy, wholesome foods and resources on different ways to prepare it. Some of the local food pantries are amazing, but I'm finding a lot of people don't know what to do with what they get if it doesn't come out of a box or a can. I'd like to change that.
Did you know, that if each one of your neighbors grew 1 to 2 different crops in a 4 x 4 space, you would have enough produce to feed your entire neighborhood for a whole year? Now, imagine that you grew something all year round, by adding a plastic or glass covering in the fall and winter months (in the states that require it), you would very rarely, if ever, have to shop at a grocery store for produce. NOW imagine if one or two of your neighbors had chickens, ducks, or quail? Boom! Eggs. I never could understand how this doesn't make sense to some people. Want to know how to change the high price of groceries narrative? This is it. Literally. This is it. Start growing your own food. Start making your own food at home. If you really want to step up your game, start selling some of your excess food to your local mom and pop stores and restaurants. It keeps the food local, keeps the local economy thriving, and allows businesses to sell their goods at an affordable price and still make a profit. Everyone has food on their table. The distribution of wealth will even out. The prices of living will go down. Even in our industrial and urban areas... you wouldn't think a couple of bucket gardens would make that big of a difference, but the truth is it would make a HUGE impact on the climate and our carbon footprints. The air would be cleaner for starters. Plants reduce the sweltering heat of the concrete pockets throughout the cities, bringing temperatures down. If everyone got on board, planting gardens could actually save the world.
Recently I read a few articles on "Tiny Forests". It's a movement working its way around the world that is proving to restore the eco system and even save certain species of animals from extinction. What is it?
Great question!
People are taking smaller sections of land (quarter acre-ish in size) and densely planting native species of plants and trees. By planting densely, the plants and trees fight for resources and expedite the growing process producing a solid root and stem system. By planting solely native plants, its brings back native species of animals and insects, that create a self-sustaining eco system. In turn, our outdoor spaces become healthier and begin to once thrive and self-sustain. No more manicuring lawns. Much less invasive bugs and mosquitoes. And if you have some stray cats in the mix, rodent population tamed. It really is a win win for everyone if you think about it. All of a sudden, life becomes affordable again. People are living healthier lives. When you start controlling your food sources, your government no longer has your health in a vice grip. You once again have choices. You'll save on healthcare costs. Big pharma is forced to take a step back, because people are healthier and no longer dependent on unnecessary medications.
Growing and preserving your own food won't solve all of your problems, but I'm willing to bet it solves a lot of them.
Below are some great articles and recipes for beginner water bath canning. No special equipment needed. This is the method I use most for canning and preserving.
https://oneacrevintagehome.com/tomatoes-water-bath-canning/
Water Bath Canning Simply Good Dill Pickles
https://youtu.be/RqEsn22LURw?si=0x0vshu3dfzLIsFT
I've personally learned a ton from this gentleman right here. He shares his life as a resourceful grower and living low waste. This goes beyond food and steps into the world of holistic treatments and repurposing things you are getting ready to throw out. This is a trip down the internet rabbit hole you didn't know you needed today. You won't regret it, I swear!