Free organic seeds for your garden. Need I say more? This year, as part of their Sowing Millions Project, Seeds of Change is giving away 25 packets of seeds to Food Renegade readers. What’s so special about these seeds? Glad you asked.
7 Reasons To Garden
Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or the boondocks, you may be like me — in need of a kick in the pants when it comes to gardening. If so, I’ve compiled 7 reasons to garden to provide said kick.
HOAs vs. Your Garden
Imagine growing a lush, organic garden full of fruit trees and raised beds featuring edible flowers and vegetables. It’s beautiful. And it’s in your backyard. Your slice of heaven. Your respite. The place where you can get your hands dirty growing wholesome, nourishing foods for you and your family.
One day you stroll out to your mailbox to find a letter from your HOA telling you your garden is in violation of HOA rules. According to your deed restrictions, all fruit trees and edible plants should be grown inside a screened in patio. You face $100/day fines for each day that you refuse to tear up your fruit trees and remove your raised beds.
That’s just what happened to Amy Becerra of Florida. And she’s determined to fight.
Inside The White House Garden: A Video
When Michelle Obama decided to plant an organic garden on the White House lawn back in March, Big Ag shot her a quick letter saying they were disappointed she didn’t “recognize the role conventional agriculture plays in the US.” Despite industry opposition, Mrs. Obama plowed ahead.
Now there’s a new 7 minute video telling the story of the White House garden. Of course, the word “organic” is mysteriously missing from the video, despite the garden being 100% organic. But, who cares? The video tells a noble tale: that of children being empowered to grow and eat their food, families choosing to eliminate processed foods and refined sugars from their diets in favor of fresh fruits and vegetables, and people choosing to sit down around their kitchen table at night rather than eating out.
Will Allen’s Growing Power
Meet Will Allen, a 60 year old giant in urban farming. Allen runs an inner city farm in the heart of Milwaukee, creating an oasis in the middle of a food desert.
He calls his program “Growing Power,” and it’s huge. On a mere two acres of land surrounded by housing projects and fast food joints, Will Allen grows a quarter of a million dollars worth of food, feeding more than 10,000 urbanites.
Fats! Desserts! Weight Loss! Backyard Homesteads!
Time for another wrap up of links from around the web. Want the definitive proof that yellow seed oils cause heart disease? How about two new delicious dairy free dessert recipes (one of them without any sweetener at all!)? Or, perhaps I could whet your appetite by inviting you to consider how you can produce almost all your food needs on just a quarter of an acre.
Creating Front Yard Gardens
I’ve always wanted a front yard garden. My shaded backyard is ideal for raising animals (and exuberant young boys), but not much food can grow there. Instead of food, I planted a trampoline, hammock, treehouse, slide, swing, fish pond, and sandbox.