Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Planning
• Method 2 of 2: Growing
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Throughout its history, people have independently obtained their own food by hunting, fishing, gathering or farming. Nowadays, for most people, these methods of obtaining food have become just a hobby, since food in great abundance can always be purchased in the store. But self-food production can also be a source of health, safety and enjoyment for you and your family.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Planning

1. 1 Determine what crops can be grown in your area. The main determining factors are, of course, climate, soil, rainfall and available area. The easiest and fastest way to find out what crops can be grown in your area is to visit the nearest farm or vegetable garden.Here is a list of basic questions that should be answered if you are planning to start your own vegetable garden:
   • Climate. In some regions, the harvest period lasts a very short time, such as in Northern Europe and Africa. Therefore, they prefer fast-growing crops that can be harvested and stored in the winter. In other regions, where there are no harsh winters and the weather is warm all year round, vegetables and grains are harvested all year round.
   • The soil. Soil type is very important when choosing crops, as some crops can produce very rich crops while others are very scarce. Therefore, it is best to use those vegetables and grains that are best suited to your soil type as the main crop, and set aside a small area for crops that need special care and fertilization.
   • Precipitation. Few crops can be grown without constant watering and therefore most require constant watering or natural irrigation. When choosing crops, consider the average rainfall in your area and watering opportunities. If you live in an arid region, then you should consider setting up a rainwater harvesting system.
   • Territory. If you have a large plot of land at your disposal, then you can grow a large number of crops in the traditional way, if the area is limited, then for a large harvest you may have to look for alternatives such as hydroponics, growing crops in containers, rent farm land or vertical gardening.
2. 2 Understand how the growing season is organized. Growing food isn't just about sowing seeds and harvesting. Further, in the section Growing we will tell you about the main stages of growing a particular crop. The process of preparing crops for sowing is approximately the same, but it is important to consider that you will have to prepare each crop separately, however, importantly, you can plant as many crops as you want.
3. 3 Get to know different types of cultures. At the word vegetables you've probably imagined the vegetable section of a supermarket. To some extent, you are right, but if you decide to produce your food yourself, you will need to provide for your entire diet and here you will not be limited to one supermarket. Here is a rough list of the crops you are most likely to choose to grow.
   • Vegetables. This includes legumes, herbs, root vegetables, grains, and pumpkin seeds (courgettes, cucumbers, melons, and pumpkin). This food will be an excellent source of many nutrients and vitamins, such as:
     
     
     • Proteins. Legumes are very rich in protein.
     • Carbohydrates. Potatoes and beets are rich sources of complex carbohydrates and many minerals.
     • Vitamins and minerals. Greens such as cabbage, lettuce, spinach, etc., as well as pumpkin plants such as cucumbers and squash are rich in essential vitamins and minerals.
       
       
   • Fruits. Almost everyone knows that fruits are a valuable source of vitamin C, but they also add many other vitamins and minerals to your diet and add flavor. Fruit can be stored dried or canned, so you don't need a refrigerator to store your harvest for a long time.
   • Cereals. Of those who decide to grow their own food, few people think about growing cereals and in vain, since cereals are the basis of a healthy diet. They are rich in carbohydrates and fiber and can be stored for a long period of time. In many early civilizations, as well as in many modern countries, grains are the staple food of the population. This crop category includes:
     
     
     • Corn. Often consumed as a side dish and vegetable in meals, corn is a versatile food that is easy to store.Some varieties, after ripening, can be stored whole cobs, whole grains or ground, for further use in making bread or dishes such as hominy. Corn is very unpretentious and is especially easy to grow in latitudes with long day lengths. The easiest way to prepare corn for the winter is to freeze it.
     • Wheat. Most of you are, of course, familiar with wheat, which makes most of the flour that you use on a daily basis to make breads, pies, pastries, and more. Wheat keeps well after harvest, but the harvesting process itself is much more labor intensive than harvesting corn. To do this, the stalks of wheat are cut, folded into sheaves, then the grains are released from the ears and ground into flour.
     • Oats. Another commonly eaten grain that is just as laborious to process as wheat. However, this crop can also be considered as an option in areas where it does not require high costs to grow it.
     • Rice. For wet regions that are often flooded or prone to flooding, rice is the primary grain crop. Rice is grown in flooded soils and is as common as wheat.
     • Other grains include rye and barley, which are similar to oats and wheat.
4. 4 Choose crops and varieties that are appropriate for the climate in your area. It is not possible to provide detailed and accurate information for each specific region in this article. Therefore, we will consider only the basic requirements for growing various plants in accordance with the regions of their growing recommended by the US Department of Agriculture, which will allow you to roughly compare and evaluate the germination ability of certain crops in your region.
   • Beans, peas and other legumes. These crops are planted after frost retreat and frost risk. They take 75 to 90 days to produce their first crop and can, with proper care, continue to bear fruit until the fall cold.
   • Pumpkin. This group of plants includes squash, cucumber, melon and pumpkin. These plants are planted after the last frost and take 45 (cucumbers) to 130 days (pumpkins) to mature.
   • Tomatoes. This fruit (often referred to as a vegetable) can be planted in containers (provided it is in constant heat) and then transplanted into the soil after the threat of frost has passed. Tomatoes also bear fruit all season.
   • Cereals. Cultivation of grain crops is very different from vegetables, since there are several types of them - winter and spring crops, which are sown at different times of the year. Simply put, spring crops such as wheat and corn are sown at the end of winter, when freezing temperatures should only last a couple of weeks, then they need about 110 days to ripen and another 30-60 days to dry enough to subsequently collect and store as seeds for future sowing.
   • Fruit trees. Apple trees, pears, plums and peaches are considered perennials in most regions and do not require annual planting. These fruit trees require pruning and maintenance, and the first modest harvest can be obtained in 2-3 years. When the trees reach the fertile phase, the yield will increase every year and later, from mature trees, it will be possible to harvest several bushels (18 kg boxes) per year.
5. 5 Develop a planting plan for your area. When planning, you will need to consider many important details, such as: invasion of wild animals, which may require the installation of a fence or fence, open access to sunlight, since some crops require more than others, the amount of sunlight for good growth, and topography, because sowing on too contoured soils can lead to many troubles.
   • Make a list of all the crops that can be grown on your site. Your list should be varied and in line with the nutritional values ​​mentioned earlier. By talking to other farmers and learning from seed producers, you can roughly estimate the potential yield for each individual plant. Using your list and the planting plan you developed earlier, you can roughly estimate the number of seeds you need. If the area of ​​the site allows, sow additional seeds in case some of the main ones do not grow or the plants die due to improper care, because you are just starting out and are not yet sure of the results of your work.
   • If you have a small plot, then try to plan so that all the land is used rationally. In some regions, with the exception of regions with harsh winters, it is possible to grow and harvest spring, summer, fall and winter crops. This will allow you to enjoy fresh produce all year round. Beets, carrots, cauliflower, peas, cabbage, onions, turnips, mustard greens and many other crops prefer cool, but not frosty weather. In addition, winter varieties are much less susceptible to insect attack. If you are very limited in space, then consider alternatives (see Tips).
6. 6 Consider storage methods. If you are going to grow crops, you need barns that keep your crops dry and safe from insects and rodents. If you are going to produce food for your own consumption, then it is better to consider a combined system for storing and preserving your crop. So, the main ways of storing the crop:
   • Drying. This method is very useful and effective for storing fruits and some vegetables. Drying can be done in any warm and dry climate, without any high-tech gadgets.
   • Canning. This method requires a container (which, with the exception of lids that may deteriorate over time, is designed to be reusable), as well as careful preparation, cooking equipment and skills. Salting is also considered a preservation method, although, in fact, it is not.
   • Freezing. This method also requires careful preparation of the food, as well as a freezer and suitable containers.
   • Bursting. This method has not been previously mentioned, but it is very effective for storing root crops such as potatoes, beets, rutabagas, etc. The essence of the method is that the vegetables are folded in the form of a gable roof in trenches in layers on a straw bedding, and then covered with layers tightly combed hay.
   • On the ground: Many root vegetables and cabbages (like turnips and cabbage) can overwinter in the garden and the main thing here is not to let the ground freeze. In more temperate climates, this may only require a covering material, but in colder climates, you may need up to 30 cm of mulch and a protective film. This storage method will help you save space and keep food fresh.
7. 7 Compare costs and benefits. At the initial stage, you will have to make a significant investment, especially if you are starting from scratch and without any equipment. In addition, growing food also involves a lot of physical costs, which in turn can lead to financial costs if you leave your job in order to achieve your intended goal. Before investing a large amount of money and time, assess the profitability of your project, local climatic conditions, the available choice of crops and realistically assess your physical capabilities. Your main benefit will be wholesome food without herbicides, pesticides and other impurities, except for those that you choose to use.
8. 8 Start working in stages. If you have fertile land and good equipment at your disposal, then you can start large-scale production, but remember that until you have enough knowledge and skills, choosing the right crops suitable for your land and climate will be a game of cat and mouse. Often, communication with experienced people from your area is the best source of accurate information about which plants to choose and at what time to plant, and if you do not have this opportunity, then in the first year limit yourself to a trial planting of selected crops to see if they bear fruit well. Start small, planting a small percentage of your total food needs in order to estimate the possible yield and develop your skills.

Method 2 of 2: Growing

1. 1 Plow the land. If the land has already been cultivated, then it will be enough to loosen it and cultivate it with a plow attached to a traction animal or a tractor, and if the plot is smaller, then with a motor-cultivator. In a very small area or with limited financial resources, you will have to do everything the old fashioned way with a pick, shovel and hoe. It is best if someone will help you, as the process is long and laborious. Before you start plowing the soil, you need to clear it of stones, roots and branches, large shrubs and weeds.
2. 2 Dig up the beds. With modern agricultural equipment, this process depends on the type of crop being planted. Here we look at the general methods that would be used by a person without such equipment and experience. To prepare the beds, you first need to mark the area for planting, and then, using a hoe or plow, create low embankments from the loose soil along the width of the site. Then, using the tool of your choice, create shallow pits in the garden bed.
3. 3 Place the seeds in the hole to the depth indicated in the instructions. It may depend on the culture you choose. Typically, fleshy plants such as squash (beans and peas) and melons, squash and cucumber are planted 2-2.5 cm deep, and corn and potatoes are planted 6-9 cm deep. After you have placed the seeds into the hole, sprinkle them with earth and compact (lightly patting with your palm) so that the hole does not dry out too quickly. Continue this process until you have the planned number of beds.
   • Alternatively, you can start germinating the seeds at home, preparing the seedlings, or in the greenhouse, and then replanting them in the beds.
4. 4 Huddle your plants when the ground is compacted by irrigation or rain and weed out the weeds. Having planted plants in beds, you leave yourself the opportunity to move between them to perform these tasks (in the event that you do everything manually). You will need to be extremely careful in order to loosen the ground near the plant itself, without damaging its roots. You can use mulch to reduce or even eliminate weeds.
5. 5 Make sure insects and animals do not damage your crops. If you notice eaten leaves, you will need to identify the cause. Many animals prefer tender young shoots of the main vegetation, so you will need to protect your plantings from them, but insects are the main problem when growing food. If there are not many of them, then they can simply be removed from the shoots or destroyed, but if the problem is very acute, then you will most likely have to resort to the help of special chemical and biological types of protection (planting plants that repel insects in the neighborhood).
6. 6 Harvesting. You will need to seriously prepare and gain knowledge for harvesting. Many common garden vegetables are harvested as they ripen and, with proper care, continue to bear fruit throughout the season.But cereals are most often harvested when they are fully ripe and dry on the plant. Harvesting takes a lot of effort and with time and experience you will likely find that some crops will need to be cut back to keep up with harvesting.
7. 7 Preservation. There are several ways to keep the most common and common vegetables in the off-season. So, carrots, turnips and other root vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator or in the cellar in winter. Drying is a great way to preserve some fruits and vegetables for a long time, as well as seed plants such as legumes. Canning or freezing is also suitable for succulents and fruits. Vacuum processing of food before freezing significantly prolongs the shelf life of frozen vegetables and extends their shelf life.

Tips

• Even families who do not eat a lot of meat decide to have a few pets, such as chickens, to get their eggs. Chickens can be fed with garden waste, they also eat vegetable peels, dried bread, and many other waste that you can also use for compost. When the chickens stop laying, it's time to get ready for the chicken dinner.
• Invite your neighbors to cooperate. This will make it easier for you to care for your plantings, and perhaps together you can grow enough food to feed two families.
• Build a greenhouse. Thanks to the greenhouse, you can harvest all year round, even in colder climates.
• Consider external food sources. Fishing, picking berries and nuts, the edible plants found in your area, and even hunting can be great ways to supplement your family's diet.
• Don't stop growing your own vegetables in winter! During the cold winter season, you can grow seedlings and herbs in your kitchen. By growing broccoli, radishes, alfalfa, and clover, you can add fresh vegetables and herbs to your canned summer vegetables.
• Consider alternative options for growing food if you do not have a large area, and your desire or need for it is great. There are many highly productive and compact growing methods. Some of them are listed below, along with a short description and links where you can get more information:
  
  
  • Hydroponic gardening. a method of growing plants in a liquid medium, also known as soilless farming.
  • Vertical gardening. This method is more suitable for growing climbing plants that require a lot of space in order to produce a good harvest. The use of vertical structures and guides allows you to significantly increase the yield, while saving on the space used, because in this case the plants will not grow in breadth, but upward.
  • Container gardening. Some plants can be grown in literally anything (even in an old toilet, even though it is somewhat vulgar). Growing plants on windowsills is already a common and common thing, since it allows you to decorate and diversify the atmosphere in an apartment, but a similar technique can also be used for some vegetables with a small root system (peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, etc.).

Warnings

• Growing your own food is a time consuming and costly process that will take a lot of time, perseverance, and patience. Get ready to sweat. Wear sturdy, easy-to-clean shoes. Remember to protect yourself from insects (ticks and mosquitoes that carry life-threatening diseases) and the sun. Wash your hands and body frequently and thoroughly.
• Home canning requires good knowledge and skills, otherwise you may face botulism and other diseases.
• Be extremely careful when picking mushrooms. Collect only those mushrooms that you are sure of edibility. If you have any doubts, it is better to leave them and do not eat in any case.
• Don't give up, plant different crops, partner with other farmers and take risks. Growing your own business is rewarding, but do not forget that everything is in the hands of nature and pests and weather conditions can quickly destroy your entire crop.

What do you need

• Territory suitable for farming.
• Storage, inventory and space.
• Adequate access to sunlight and the amount of water
• Equipment Needed for Gardening
• Seeds and fertilizers