We
are in a war, not a war against another nation, not (as some people
would like to believe) a war against our government, but a war
against a killer virus. This war is affecting people in all but a
handful of countries; and it's an equalizer. Rich and poor, famous
and infamous, people of every color and culture, even heads of state,
are affected. We're all waiting impatiently for a treatment, a cure
and hopefully a vaccine, so we will not have to fight this particular
war again. But, in the meantime, as in any crisis or monumental
event, there are things to be learned, things that could be of great
benefit when the war is over.
One
valuable lesson that can be learned from our social and economic
downtime is that, in almost any living space, people can grow some of
their own food. This was made evident in a different type of war.
World Wars I and II also affected a large portion of the world. The
concept of a “victory garden” was introduced to the public in the
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany during
WWI and revived during WWII. Victory gardens were especially
successful during the Second World War. Gardens were planted in
public and private spaces, from city parks and vacant lots to
backyards, rooftops, balconies and decks. Both Buckingham Palace
and the White House lawns had victory gardens. In May of 1943 there
were reportedly 18 million victory gardens in the United States; 12
million were in the cities. Not only did these gardens help the war
effort by making it possible for the government to put their food
procuring attention on providing for the troops, but they proved to
be a morale booster on the home-front, empowering people and giving
them some control over their lives during those difficult and
uncertain times.
Now
we are in another very challenging, frightening and uncertain era in
history. Some of the battlegrounds are the same as those in any war
– hospitals, government offices, food-lines. As some have
suggested, this could actually be WWIII, and how we respond to this
enemy could be a huge determining factor in what our future world
will look like. So what can an individual or a family do to protect
themselves against this invisible enemy? One thing they can do is to
grow some of their own food.
I
would like to share some of the ways that people with very limited
space can do some gardening, starting with container gardening. In
future posts I'll talk about some other options.
Container
gardening:
Maybe you have a small
yard (or no yard) so you think you can't have a vegetable
garden because space is not available for a garden plot. Lack of yard
space is no excuse for not gardening, since many kinds of vegetables
can be readily grown in containers on your patio, deck or porch, as
long as you can give the plants six or more hours of direct sun.
Some veggies that grow well in containers are cherry tomatoes, beans,
radishes, peppers and chillies, lettuce and spinach. Here are
some tips on container gardening, but don't be intimidated by too
much information. Just find a nice big pot, some good
soil and some seeds and go to it.Containers are available in many different sizes, shapes, and materials. All containers, whether clay, wood, plastic, or ceramic, should have an adequate number of holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Additional holes should be drilled or punched in containers that do not drain quickly after each watering. Drainage is reduced when the container is set on a solid surface such as a cement or patio floor. Raising the container several inches off the floor by setting it on blocks of wood or bricks will solve this drainage problem.
The size of the container will be determined by the vegetable grown. Generally, most vegetables grown in the soil can be grown in containers as long as ample space is provided for root development. Shallow rooted crops like lettuce, peppers, radishes, and herbs need a container at least 6 inches in diameter for one plant, with an eight inch soil depth. A rectangular planter box works well and can accommodate several plants Bushel baskets, half barrels, wooden tubs, or large pressed paper containers are ideal for growing tomatoes, squash, pole beans, and cucumbers. As the plants grow they may need something to support them. Small plant cages can be purchased at a garden center or stakes can be made from bamboo or sticks and cord.
The gardener can make their own planting medium by mixing equal parts of sand, organic garden soil (not potting mix) and peat moss, mixed with a generous amount of homemade compost if available.*
Planting and spacing requirements for most vegetables can be found on the seed packet or plant tag. A container can sustain only a certain number of plants, therefore, it is important to limit the number of plants based on the container size and the eventual size of the plant at maturity.
Watering is one of the most important jobs a container gardener will perform. Whatever you plant from seed, while you're waiting form them to sprout, should be watered daily with a fine mist so that the soil never dries out. Some vegetables will continue to need watering every day, depending on container size and weather conditions, but container plants will always need more watering than those grown in the ground. The best way to water plants after they’ve sprouted is with a watering can or a bucket and cup, at the ground level rather than spraying them from overhead. This is the best method for the plants and the most water-conservative. The water should not be too hot or too cold.
Almost any vegetable can be adapted to container culture.
*For information on how to make compost go to my website, Making Gardens Making Peace at:
https://sites.google.com/site/makinggardensmakingpeace/home
