Fresh organically grown food provides more nutrients and more importantly, it does not contain toxic pesticides and herbicides that are used for growing and drying crops that you simply cannot wash off.

I started growing my own food as a child with my family, and I’ve continued it all my life. I really encourage everyone to do this, because it not only allows you to be in control of the quality of your food, but it makes it easier and less expensive to obtain healthy fresh food that has ripened naturally on the vine or tree.  It also decreases the amount of pesticides you and your family consume, and using less pesticides helps protect the environment in which we all live.

Food picked fresh in its vine-ripened state also has solvestrols in it. Solvestrols have natural cancer and disease-fighting components in them that are not present in foods picked green before they are ripe.

It is not that hard to start growing your own food at home, whether it’s sprouts in a small container in the kitchen, or leafy greens in a pot on the balcony or porch, or vegetables in a larger garden out in your yard.

I suggest starting by deciding what you wish to grow. What do you like to eat? With this lock-in, it is a good time to start something, even with just a single plant or two. Don’t worry if things aren’t exactly right. It can be fun and you will learn along the way.

Organic gardening means you don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. There are many safe and less toxic ways to prevent bugs, slugs, and snails, or to handle weeds.  I will list some resources at the end of this article.

Organically grown fruits, vegetables and mushrooms deliver much higher amounts of the essential vitamins, micronutrients, and probiotics than those grown in toxic herbicide-doused soils. You want to start with rich organic soil, compost, high-quality water, and a good amount of sunshine.

You might consider testing your soil for heavy metals or an imbalance, but that isn’t essential. You can buy soil test kits through some gardening supply stores, which I will list below.

You can begin with the simplest garden (and the closest thing to instant gratification), by starting a window box containing a basic organic soil mix. You can find window boxes at most garden centers or order on-line.

I prefer small, reputable garden centers that are dedicated to carrying only approved organic soil amendments, as well as organic disease and pest management materials.

Place your window box, pots of soil, or garden in a sunny location. Next plant your seeds as directed on the seed package. I have found that herbs and salad greens are quick and easy to grow and full of flavor and vitality.

You can purchase seeds in bulk or in small packets. Simply make sure they are “Organic” and “Non-GMO.” I like to buy a couple of different varieties of my favorite vegetables or fruits.

I like to do this because frequently one will thrive more than the other, and it’s good to know which type can flourish in my soil and location. I also like to experiment with different flavors of the plants. This always makes it fun and you can make this a game with your children.

The quickest plants to reach harvestability belong to the cruciferous vegetable family or radish family. Radish varieties are vast. Be sure to find a good source for bulk, non¬treated, non¬GMO seeds. These are some of my favorite sprouts to grow for sprinkling on sandwiches, salads, etc.

Microgreens are a good choice of plants to grow, because they have 40% more nutrients in them than the full grown plant, so they are an easy way to get an amazing amount of intense nutrition in the diet.

Mints, oregano, and malibar spinach are good crops to grow in a container, because if you plant any of them in a garden, they can be very hard to manage and they can take over.

My children and I loved to grow our favorite herbs in little pots in the kitchen window, as they were so easy to cut and use in our recipes. One of the first things my son did when he got his apartment at law school, was to purchase some small pots of his favorite herbs for his kitchen window.

Fresh herbs and plants in a recipe can really make the flavor of a recipe pop. Using fresh herbs, leafy greens, sprouts, vegetables, mushrooms and fruits is one of the best ways to enhance the flavor of a dish.

I believe in getting children involved. They love gardening. The statistics show that children who garden have higher science and math scores. I have also found that they are much more likely to try eating the foods they have grown personally, than ones bought at a store.

I also recommend growing a few plants that attract pollinators and butterflies, like marigolds, zinnias and crocuses. You can grow herbs like lavender, sage, parsley and dill. Butterflies love dill for butterfly caterpillars to eat as food. I have some of the most beautiful Monarch butterfly caterpillars in my garden when I plant dill amongst my flowers. I love to watch them, so I always plant extra.

I have to warn and show the caterpillars and butterfly cocoons to my gardening helpers, so they do not kill them by thinking they are pests. You may want to put out a little sign, saying butterfly garden, please protect the caterpillars and cocoons.

The pollinators are struggling. They add such beauty to our environment, as well as helping to pollinate our food. I enjoy my garden so much more when I plant these flowers and butterfly-friendly foods in my garden. They make it more fun and interesting. I also feel like I am helping the environment and helping with their survival by doing this.

I made a short video on organic gardening. Click here to see the video.

Here are a list of my favorite gardening supply websites.

1. Organic Pest and Gardening Supply, Austin Arbico Organics
2. Sustainable Seeds has organic & non-GMO seeds
3. My Patriot Supply has organic seeds
4. Gardener’s Supply is another great resource for a variety of things for gardening.
5. If you don’t want to grow everything yourself, and you would like to order some freshly grown sprouts or microgreens, I buy mine from the Indoor Organic Gardens Of Poughkeepsie.

They can even overnight them to you, so they are incredibly fresh.

The broccoli powder doesn’t have much taste, so you can add this powder to all your foods before serving.  Don’t destroy the live broccoli sprout enzymes by getting them too hot, so add the broccoli powder after you have prepared the food, but before serving.

You will get that raw, organic broccoli sprout powder nutrition.

Here is their website link: www.iogopk.com If you put “Nancy” in the discount code box, you will get a discount on your order.

Being able to grow your own food can be empowering and in these times, it can provide a multitude of benefits you may not even imagine. Growing your own organic food can be an extremely enriching experience, as well as good for your health.

Love to you all, Nancy

copyright@nancyaddison2020

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