The late-20th and early-21st century is the only period in history when people have been so disconnected from the ways that food is produced. Many people in early-20th century America and Europe had their own gardens. Even if they weren't farmers, which a much larger proportion of the population was, many families still grew their own staple foods like potatoes, tomatoes, beans, and several types of fruit. Today, most families don't garden. The urban gardening and beekeeping movements have been slowly gaining traction recently and resources like the A & M Farm and Garden Center help people interested in producing their own food get started on their own gardens. Here is some information that can help you get a backyard garden started and why this will benefit you and the environment. Ready the Space and Make a Schedule First, identify a place in your yard that is mostly sunny and will accommodate your garden space, whether a small vegetable patch or a larger field. This area will need to be tilled, fertilized, and fenced in order for the soil to be ready to produce food and to keep pests out of the area. You can use a mechanical tiller for a larger plot or use a pick axe by hand to get the soil to a point where seeds can be sown. Look up the types of plants you'd like to grow. Each type of plant has a different period of germination and time frame when it will grow the best. Some plants will die if they are planted and then a frost comes in. Make a note of the weeks that will be ideal for planting and corner off different sections of your plot for each type of plant. Growing Food for Taste and Sustainability Your first harvest will be exciting. You'll notice that well-fertilized, fresh vegetables will taste different than store-bought ones. You will be able to better control the quality of your food and will reduce the amount of fuel being used to transport the food that you eat. Every time you buy food that has been shipped across the country, you are supporting an industry that uses large trucks and trains, which contribute emissions to the atmosphere and use oil and gasoline. By utilizing resources like the A & M Farm and Garden Center, you will lessen your family's dependence on food that may carry diseases and whose production is not necessarily sustainable for the environment. This is all in addition to the fun you'll have spending quality time with your family in the great outdoors!
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