A guide to self-sufficiency: Growing your own food

Imagine stepping out into your own garden to pick fresh fruits and vegetables for an evening feast. This, the dream of many hopeful horticulturalists as healthy eaters alike is a trend that seemingly fell away for several decades, but is now coming back in a big way.
This fulfilling hobby delivers convenient fresh produce to your backdoor year round (depending on the growth cycle of your chosen vegetables), but it’s also a great choice for the environment that can cut your food shopping bills in half!
With all these fantastic benefits, it’s easy to see why this is such a fast-growing trend, but how does one begin to turn their lawn into a vibrant veggie patch?

Prepare Yourself
For most people the hardest part of starting a project like this is knowing what you will need going into it. Companies like SunshowerOnline can be gone to for most of the equipment that you may require such as irrigation tools and piping for DIY work, but ultimately it depends on your climate and the types of vegetables you are hoping to grow.

For areas with an excessive amount of sunshine, a weather that Australia specialises in, you may want to invest in removable shading such as a tarp to avoid drying up your produce before you’ve had a chance to cook it. In these areas, irrigation is a fantastic idea, as it takes a lot of the stress out of the frequent watering that your garden will require.

Choose Your Areas Carefully
At a base level, your vegetables need the two big basics, sunlight and water, so making sure that you have planned your placement in advance is a great way to assure that your planted goods are getting what they need to thrive.

A plot in the open air, away from trees and other such obstructions, will give your garden most of the nutrients it will require to flourish. Not only will This give your veggies the most opportunities to soak in the sunshine, it will also give your vegetables a chance to soak in the rain on those cloudier days, making your maintenance job a little easier in the process.

 
Selecting Seeds
Now that you’re prepared for the road ahead, it’s time to take your first steps. Choosing the right plants to grow can be tough, especially when you haven’t had much experience with taking care of vegetables. Luckily there are a few assortments that are simple and perfect for the farming novice the hone their skills with.

Planting basil and tomatoes together will not only lead to a tasty combination, it will also repel detrimental insects and often improve the flavour of the tomatoes as they grow. Tomatoes have been a staple of home gardening for a long time, as they’re both delicious and simple, requiring little maintenance to grow delicious and nutritious.

Carrots are another good starter, as you may remember from growing them in primary school. These delicious classics are simple, unobtrusive, and can grow in full or partial sunlight if necessary, making them the perfect beginning for those with unideal gardening conditions.

From here you have started your own garden, and are ready to take it in any direction you desire. It may not be as simple as getting someone to do it for you, but the money saved and eco-impact is sure to leave you feeling fresh when those vegetables are ready to feast on!