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Vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet, but can be expensive. For this year’s Nutrition Month, Équiterre is sharing ways to take control of what you eat and stop being at the mercy of fluctuating prices. Did you know that taking a few minutes a week to grow food at home could result in substantial savings?
Here’s a tip for starters: Vegetables only need a little water and natural light to keep growing. In return, they’ll provide you with a steady supply of fresh food. Preserving vegetables this way is even better than storing it in the fridge.
INDOOR GARDEN
As well as being a learning experience for kids, an indoor garden is a cost-effective way of eating vegetables free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. You know exactly where they come from and are putting your health and the planet’s first! Start your indoor garden with local vegetables and eat local and responsibly grown food all year round!
How to grow food at home:
Growing vegetables from kitchen scraps
Scallions (green onions) are the most amazing vegetable. If you cut them at the base, where the white part meets the green, and put them in a glass of water, they’ll grow back in under two weeks! Plant them in soil, and with a minimum of care, they’ll keep regenerating. You won’t need to keep buying them and you’ll cut down on kitchen waste!
Celery, leeks, potatoes, garlic, lettuce, onions and ginger can also be regrown from kitchen scraps.
Oyster mushrooms can be regrown on coffee grounds and straw!
Other ways to grow mushrooms at home.
Potted plants
Gone are the days of waiting for spring to sow and summer to harvest. Most vegetables can be grown in pots all year round from seeds or kitchen scraps and will be very happy near a window. Add variety to your garden without overcrowding the window space by growing vegetables that prefer dark, humid environments, like ginger and mushrooms, in the cupboard under the sink.
When choosing seeds, opt for productive vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, snow peas, peppers, cucumbers, rocket (arugula), radishes, turnips or green beans to maximize your benefits. Leafy vegetables like chard, spinach and most types of lettuce take up little space and time, as they have few roots and require minimal maintenance.
Herbs also thrive in pots and find their way into most recipes:
– Basil
– Oregano
– Parsley
– Rosemary
– Chives
– Catnip
– Thyme
– Sage
– Tarragon
– Mint
Short on window space? Create a windowfarm and grow up to 25 plants in one window.
For more information on growing vegetables in pots:
How to start your indoor garden from seeds
Tips for growing vegetables in containers
A complete guide on indoor garden
How to grow vegetables and save money
