Gardening

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Gardening, particularly growing food, is not only a great way to bring more self sustainability into your life but can also improve health and foster a connection to the land around you along with a better appreciation of food. The act of gardening can also be used as a form of resistance (e.g. guerrilla gardening or seed bombs).

Gardening has gained attraction in public media in recent years due to people wanting food safety during uncertain times, an escape from stressful daily life and to build connection to nature and cultural roots. The act of gardening is also gaining popularity in communities and resistant groups to fight against global warming and the stark decline in animal and insect populations due to lack of habitat and food. Particularly useful in strict neighborhoods that contain a lack of native plant diversity.

Ways too garden

Common techniques for gardening are raised beds, in-ground gardening, community gardens, roof gardens, hydroponics, indoor plants and pot gardens. While these all have their advantages and disadvantages it primarily calls for where you live. In more urban areas with small apartments or homes with little growing space, it is  raised beds or in-ground gardening and might even be limited to some pots by a window sill.

Community gardens can be a great way to not only give urban gardeners an opportunity to tend to their love of gardening and grow their own food on a slightly larger scale but also to introduce people with similar interests and build a community around it. Finding a community garden can be relatively easy depending on where one would live. Places to find information would be online, at libraries and at public parks for example.

For roof gardens you might need to gain permission and should check the stability of the building for safety as it can damage buildings if not done right. However the benefits have been shown to be rather fruitful with increasing air quality and helping to reduce harsh temperatures, especially in dense urban areas, along with producing a lot of food. An example of this is in Brazil a movement against the government and global warming has taken the form of families growing roof gardens to reduce the temperatures in and around their homes. This has already proven to be effective.

World hardiness zone. Photo by Tara Krause

Hardiness Zones

Hardiness zones (or zones) are geographical areas that have been calculated to show average and minimum annual temperatures to determine the survivability of most plants. This information helps calculate when and what to plant in each zone along with how long the growing season is.

Garden Layouts and techniques

Garden layouts can vary greatly depending on what the gardener intends to grow and how much space there is. Strategies like vertical gardening or mixing pots with raised beds can help make the garden more efficient, however companion planting and methods like permaculture and agroforestry will greatly determine how a garden will look and function.

Companion planting is a strategy of planting where you will fit plants that benefit each other together. Herbs are often a major companion plant that can be fit between other sets of plants to attract beneficial insects and deter pests. Some examples of companion planting are:

• Many flowers like Queen Anne’s lace, cosmos, dill and marigolds will attract beneficial insects like butterflies, parasitic wasps and ladybugs.
• Basil deters pests like aphids and grows well next to tomatoes and peppers.
• Beans, peanuts and legumes can be planted before or next to heavy feeders like corn to help fix the soil with nitrogen.
• Plants like squash and pumpkin can play as a cover crop that helps keep soil cool and damp.
• Shady loving plants like spinach and kale can be planted under fruit trees in raised beds or pots.

Methods like permaculture encourage the use of companion plants and try to create a more naturally sustaining environment that does not require fertilizer or insect poison for the garden. Permaculture has also been used to battle climate problems such as regrowing forests, greening deserts and battling land erosion using native plants while also aiming to feed locals in those areas.

The term food forest refers to a forest garden where the use of companion plants, fruiting bushes and fruit trees are used to create a complex ecosystem that takes care of itself while still producing lots of food. They also can play an important role in housing insects, birds and small mammals.

Damp soil. Photo by Relativity

Soil health

Mycelium. Photo by FungiFriendly

Soil health is the most important component in gardening without fertilizers. A healthy soil environment includes a complex system of healthy bacteria, mycelium and is made up of minerals, dead organic matter and air pockets. With healthy soil most vegetable, flowering and fruiting plants will not need as much upkeep and won't require any fertilizers. Healthy soil will also help divert nutrients through roots and mycelium and help battle diseases in your plants. It will also require less watering and won't easily become waterlogged.

Repairing or creating healthy soil will take a long time and often will need heavy assistance with compost while growing plants are helping develop that complex system. Using natural additives like compost, compost tea, worm castings and manure can help build healthy soil by boosting it with the good bacteria while also feeding your plants. A lot of these additives can be made yourself in your own home by using your food waste. However, undiluted compost tea and fresh manure can burn your plants so be careful.

Warning: Do NOT use dog or cat manure as they are highly likely to contain pathogens that can transfer to your food.

The use of growing certain plants can also speed up the development of the soil. If left in the soil to decompose the roots of taproot plants and complex root systems can build up that organic matter and help add vital air pockets that will host healthy bacteria. Adding nitrogen fixers (e.g. Beans, peanuts, clover, peas…) will also pull nitrogen from the air into your soil which most plants need. However it is best to leave the roots of legumes in the soil as they tend to only release nitrogen while decomposing.

To upkeep your soil health it is vital to not till or dig it up. The roots and mycelium are connected and that is what's transferring nutrients around and digging it up will disrupt that system. Soil doesn’t like to be open to the air either so planting cover crops or adding mulch will help keep it moist, shaded and cool.

Podcasts

The Revolutionary's Garden

• The Garden 101 episodes are very information-dense