Someone said that a lot of children today, don’t know where french fries come from. I suspect it may be true for some urban kids, who have no connection to a farm or a garden.  I think we should all – Grow Some Food.

My mom grew up on a farm, and I visited my farming grandparents for a few weeks on summer holidays, as a kid. I spent time with my farming cousins, and learned a lot from working in their garden. My uncle made us weed the huge garden one summer, with rows that seemed half a mile long.

Now in retirement, my wife and I have taken an interest in backyard gardening again.

At a Rotary club a few years ago, a member went on an international trip ( I think it was to the Phillipines ), where they were working at an orphanage. The kids were taught to grow food in anything they could, even a plastic water bottle.

Plant In A Water Bottle ?

The plastic bottle idea I thought was creative. After painting my fence, I had a number of empty paint cans that I decided I would plant in. You can see them in the video.

Become Self Sufficient

By growing some of their own food, these kids were learning how to become self sufficient. If they grew more food than they could use, they could sell it or trade it. I was impressed that this orphange was teaching children to be self sufficient at a young age.

Square Foot Garden

A few years ago, I downloaded a pdf copy of how to grow a “Square Foot Garden” . It showed how someone could grow a garden in nine square feet of ground.

I was amazed at how much food you could grow in nine square feet on the ground, and about six feet high.

Small Space Gardening

Square Foot Gardening Foundation

https://squarefootgardening.org/

The Square Foot Gardening method says it –

“saves gardeners time, effort, tools, space and water. Schools across the nation and international humanitarian groups around the world are using the Square Foot Gardening method making inroads against poverty and hunger. The Square Foot Gardening method is estimated to cost 50% less, uses 20% less space, 10% of the water, and only 2% of the work compared to single row gardening. Additional benefits are: virtually no weeds, no digging or rototilling, and no heavy tools are necessary. “

Grow Food In Unusual Places

Here is a great article on growing food in unusual places.

https://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/small-space-gardening#garden-anywhere-driveway

Growing a Greener World

Growing a Greener World is a public TV show that talks about many aspects of gardens and food.

https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/

Self Sufficiency In A Greener Way

The idea of creating some food self sufficiency, produce it in a greener way, and use small under utilized areas to produce food, seems like a good plan to me.

Hands In The Dirt

I read some years ago, that gardening was the number one hobby in the US. I am starting to appreciate why.

As we made our own garden last year, I decided to write a song about it. The song titled – Grow Some Food, resulted.

We managed to grow a small amount of food from the garden. It was an enjoyable experience, got us to spend more time outside, got some exercise, and harvested some home grown vegetables.

Grow Some Food – Song Lyrics

Verse 1

Under all lies the land The earth feeds us as best it can

Nature’s gift is to plant and grow Plant the seed water it and watch it grow – stop

Chorus

Grow it in a pot Grow it in a plastic bottle

Grow it in a paint can make something grow

Grow it in a pot Grow it in a plastic bottle

Grow it in a paint can grow some food

Verse 2

Put your hands in the dirt, and your face towards the sun

Your heart will be content with nature

Bridge

If you have no yard Be a small space gardener Have a planter box out your window

Add a trellis to your square foot garden You can grow up not out

Verse 3

Man’s in a hurry trying to do things fast But nature drives a slow speed

Nature teaches us lessons Like a patient father