Victory Garden

There may come a time, and it may be coming very soon, when you can no longer go to the grocery store to buy vegetables for your family. Our bodies need the nutrients provided by vegetables. So what do we do? I believe it is time to bring the victory garden back to your neighborhood. In past times of crisis people have planted gardens in every little piece of dirt they can. You too can have a victory garden growing your own food organically in your yard. This is a skill your entire family can learn well before you would ever need it. A real bonus for now is that you can use the fresh vegetables you grow and cut down your grocery bill. Having a fresh organic vegetable garden just a few steps from your back door requires a little planning and time, but the results range from happiness to survival.

Raising your own backyard victory garden is enjoyable and will generate the freshest produce to cook with. The work involved can mean quality time for the whole family. Growing vegetables on your own will give you and your family a sense of accomplishment. Thus the benefits of growing the garden are much greater than just being prepared for a disaster.

You will need to use quite a bit of compost to fertilize your plants if you are not blessed with peat soil. If you are going organic keep in mind that without chemicals your garden will grow more slowly, but your plants will be stronger. Also, since you will not be using chemical herbicides you will need to weed your garden regularly. You can use a hoe to chop out the leafy part of weeds, killing them off. You may need to use a trowel and dig them out if they keep coming back.

When you want to keep insects and slugs out of your garden you can use diatomaceous earth. This is an abrasive white powder that damages the skin, cuticle and joints if insects. This is a great organic way to provide a pest barrier. For soft bodied insects you can also use an insecticidal soap. This will only work while it is wet so make sure you aim well. Once it is dry it will not harm beneficial insects. It is simple to make; just mix one tablespoon of regular dish soap with two cups of water. The soapy water enters their respiratory system and breaks down cells. To make the mixture work for hard bodied insects add one tablespoon of vegetable oil. One big challenge is keeping deer out You may need to build a fence or use one (or more) of the many different deterrent methods from chicken wire, human hair or urine, planting lavender on the outer edges, etc. It is extremely frustrating to spend countless hours on a victory garden only to have fed some deer or rabbits.

Birds can be another problem, especially if you are growing berries. Berries are a great option because they are so nutritious, but birds love them too. When you have a berry garden you may need to go out every morning to pick berries before the birds have a chance to get at them.

The solution to all of your big pests is a green house. They don’t have to be big or fancy. PVC piping and thick clear plastic works great.

For irrigation you can use your first wash from your rainwater harvesting system. The pH will be right and it doesn’t contain any chemicals. Another option is to redirect your washing machine drain to water your garden. The soap will help with the critters as mentioned above.

Your veggies will only be as good as your seeds. Shop for and purchase quality non-hybrid heirloom seeds. These are strong and will bear seeds that can be harvested to plant next season.

It is best to get a book on gardening that is specific to your region. You will need to know what kinds of plants grow best in your area. You will still need to learn how much light your garden will get and adjust your plan accordingly.

Tear up the grass and plant some vegetables!!

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