Inflation has increased the average price of food by 30% in the past three years. That is fifteen years worth of inflation in a “normal” timeframe. The Legislative Analyst’s Office of the state of California says inflation has only risen 18%, but when you could buy a bag of zucchini at Costco for four dollars in 2020 and in 2023 that same bag costs almost eight dollars… the math doesn’t always sync up. Some items went up. Some stayed the same. Some even went down in price, but every time you buy one-hundred dollars of groceries you only seem to walk out of the store with sixty-bucks worth.
Curbing inflation can happen in a few different ways, but one way to ensure you are getting food whether there are supply chain issues or another unforeseen spike in inflation is by planting your own. Creating a garden can be as expensive as you need it to be, and can help make food accessible for you and your family all year round.
So, if you have a yard, and are starting a garden from scratch here are a few ideas to prep your land for the winter to have your garden ready to plant in the spring.
The three most important parts of a garden are: Sun, Soil, and Water. So when you are picking the prime location to start your garden you want to make sure you have access to each.
SUN:
The basic rule of thumb is your plants will need six to eight hours of direct sun every day. (If you don’t have a yard that will accommodate that we will be discussing that in future articles). If you live anywhere other than the equator the sun’s angle will be different in the fall and winter than in the spring and summer, so make sure you plan on the potential for adjustment in placement if necessary in the warmer months. Some places might not show eight hours of light in the winter, but will do just fine in the summer.
SOIL:
The best average PH for a garden is just under 7. While some plants love a good alkaline soil (asparagus) and other plants love something acidic (like blueberries). There are several online sites that will explain which soil each plant tends to prefer, but the most important consideration you need for your soil is microbial activity. Dirt is dirt. Soil is dirt and microbes. Just like many plants, garden vegetables love to feed off the decaying carcases of other plant life. They are the true cannibals of the food world. If there is little microbial activity there will be little plant growth, little plant production, and what you do produce will have little nutritional value. Feeding your plants will feed you.
The best way to get proper microbial activity in your yard is also the cheapest way: Compost. You don’t need to be fancy. Some people can put together a compost yard that will create rich and amazing soils. That is wonderful, but when you are just starting out you can do something as easy as throw all your uncooked fruit and vegetable scraps in the garden. Raking leaves will also help (but as you learn more you will discover the potential complexities of nitrogen and other soil nutrient and mineral balances), but for the beginner, layering dead leaves that will get soggy in the winter will become a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria and microbial activity.
When it comes time to plant – make sure your soil is not compact and will collect water, if needed, or allow water to run off, if needed.
WATER:
Last, but not least, is the refreshing drink your plants will need. There are so many factors that are involved: local rain patterns, irrigation options, dry farming. Each and every option is possible, and each will require special care. If you live in a wet climate you may find yourself planting the seeds on the tops of the furrows. If you live in a very hot and dry area you may find yourself planting seed in the trenches. If you flood irrigate you will have to situate your plants differently than if you have irrigations, drip lines, or sprinklers. If you have no access to water and you are in a mildly arid place there can be options, but successful crops are less likely and you have to plant over a large swath of land to overcompensate for potential loss. If this is your only option I encourage you to look into “dry farming.” There are several crops that will survive with just 11-20 inches of rain a year.
If you find yourself dealing with unforeseen challenges – don’t be discouraged: every rough patch is a lesson learned, and if you don’t wait for desperation then you will have a little allowance to learn a few lessons without the panic of needing the nutrition right away.