What is the basis for good health and wellness? According to the latest longevity research, it’s what you put in your body every day.1 Growing your own food at home empowers you to consume the freshest, most nutrient-dense produce, provides a buffer for disruptions like pandemics and disasters, and allows you to reclaim control over your long-term well-being. So, what does it take?
Design. Designing your backyard vegetable garden can be as simple or as curated as you wish, from a few raised beds to an environmentally designed plot. The very first step is selecting the optimal location, which should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Next, you’ll decide between elevated raised beds or ground-level beds, which can be installed over rock, sand, grass or even a concrete patio. Cedar raised beds are ideal as they resist pests, age beautifully and naturally and are safe for food production.
Nourish. Next comes the soil—and this is the heart of your garden. Soil quality dictates how nutrient-dense your food will be. Studies show that healthy, microbially active soil correlates with greater micronutrient uptake in plants.2 Look for organic soils that have a blend of organic ingredients and beneficial microorganisms that work together to improve soil health and nutrient absorption. Microbes and mycorrhizal fungi help with enhanced nutrient uptake and improved root development, and can offer disease resistance. Ideal organic amendments include earthworm castings, potent natural fertilizer like Bat guano, and aged forest products. Once your beds are filled with rich soil, you get to choose what to grow.
Plant. Here in the Coachella Valley, we successfully enjoy two growing seasons. The first begins mid-September and extends through November; the second begins in February and runs through April. In fall, plant your cool-season favorites: lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale, broccoli and cabbage. You can also sow carrots and radishes. Now is the ideal time to start your herbs too—then, when holiday dinner comes around, you only need to step outside, walk to your garden bed and snip to truly elevate
your meal.
Growing your own food organically is one of the foundations of long mental and physical health. Plant-rich diets have also been linked to reduced chronic disease and greater longevity3; many of the world’s longest-lived populations share diets high in plants. Having an organic vegetable garden is a simple and direct path toward that diet—and a resilient, grounded lifestyle.
For help on your project, contact local master gardeners, organic gardening consultants or agricultural extension services in your area. The most important thing to do is start now! Your taste buds will thank you, your body will show the proof and your garden will become your greatest ally in health and resilience.
Natalie Meyerhoff is a University of California Master Gardener and founder of Thyme & Space Gardens. She can be reached at hello@thymeandspacegardens.com and (760) 896.1446. Visit www.thymeandspacegardens.com.
References available upon request.
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