To me, living in the suburbs seems like a cookie cutter way to live. Every house looking the same: same lawns, same colors, same…everything! While the lawns and manicured look is appealing for the aesthetics, it’s hard for me to see much beyond lost potential. Every single one of those lawns could be a micro farming gold mine!
Of course, it’s easy to sit and dream about it and quite another to actually do the work. There are all sorts of challenges that many people would have to overcome before they even break ground on a new garden! Home Owner’s Associations (HOAs) tend to have very strict rules against anything that would show individualism on the block, let alone changing your manicured lawn into something that produces food. Most of them even have bans on clotheslines for drying clothes in the sunshine! Once you’ve overcome the logistics of that though….it’s game on!!
Other than local restrictions, many people never take the plunge because it can be overwhelming. They have no idea how to start or it may seem cost prohibitive (it’s not!) or any other number of reasons not to. Don’t toss in the rake yet! There’s hope for you, dear Suburbanite!
Enter Amy Stross, author of the very informative (and fun to read) “The Suburban Micro Farm.” In her funny and uplifting writing style that matches her personality, Amy has put together a book that can help you realize your micro farm dreams! You could be harvesting from your own, truly organic and fresh produce aisle – all of a few feet from your table. From the author:
“The suburbs are ripe with food-growing potential. The Suburban Micro-Farm will show you how to grow healthy food for your table in only 15 minutes a day, proving that you can have a garden even on a limited schedule. With tips for creating an edible and ecologically friendly landscape, learn how to garden while maintaining aesthetics. You’ll find simple tricks for growing food even in the worst yards. Worried about follow-through? This book is a gold mine of life hacks, guides, and tools to help you reap a harvest as well as a sense of accomplishment for your efforts.”
They are right! Think, for just a moment, how much money would be saved if people converted even half their lawn into a vegetable growing machine!? What about the improved health, better tasting food? Don’t forget a reconnection with neighbors as you plan out what you will grow and trade at harvest time! It’s amazing what can happen with some seeds – I am proof of that myself! This site would NOT be here if I hadn’t decided to start a garden.
This book truly gives you the knowledge you need to transform your lawn into something more beautiful and productive than just growing grass and weeds~you make your own produce section!
I have read this book, cover to cover. Then I went back and re-read several sections: Chapter 2 – Managing Expectations (very important) and Chapter 11 – Permaculture and Micro-Farming. I really want to have some permaculture in my garden! I dream of chives and other herbs growing year after year with little maintenance from me. Truthfully, once you get the garden set up, there isn’t much to it. A few minutes a day or a little longer every other day should cover the needs your garden has. Of course, once it’s harvest time, you’ll be busy again.
Harvesting never really seemed like work to me – it was so much fun to reap the rewards of my efforts (and eat them, too)! I highly recommend this book to newbies and veteran gardeners alike! Reclaim some control over your food source, save money on truly organic veggies, regain control from Big Agra, and beautify your space more than a plain old lawn ever could!