Grow Raw Food

Even if you only have a balcony or patio, you can Grow Raw Food in pots and containers, or hydroponically. But an organic garden allows you more scope and variety. You'll need a few things to get started.

For tools, you'll need a pointed tip spade, a hand trowel, a hose or watering can, some gardening gloves, and a rake. For your first garden, it will also be helpful to have four wood stakes, a measuring tape, some newspaper, some organic grass clippings or old dead leaves, a hammer, and some string.

Pick an area that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight. Stake out your first garden plot by measuring out a rectangular area 4 feet by 8 to ten feet, a good starter bed for a beginner. Hint- use the watering can to dampen the ground at the corners if it's dry to make it easier to hammer in the stakes. Use the string strung from stake to stake around the rectangle's edge. Now flatten the weeds or grass inside the plot you've staked out, and then cover over top of whatever weeds or grass is there with the newspaper, then spread the grass clippings or leaf mulch over top of the newspaper with the rake. This should be the last time you'll step foot into the staked out area of your garden plot. Wet it all down with your watering can or hose. If it's windy you might need to weight it down with rocks or boards. Do this a week or two before you're going to plant.

Plants need plenty of sunshine, moisture, and food to grow. If you picked your plot right, you already have the sunshine taken care of. Plants such as tomatoes and peppers need lots of sun, the greens such as spinach, chard, beets and lettuce can thrive with somewhat less sun, so keep that in mind when planting. Make sure to water your garden during times when it's dry.

Since the most nutritious raw food is grown organically, you'll want to start an organic compost bin to recycle your green waste. Compost is rotted or otherwise decomposed green matter, which will nourish the soil and feed your plants. When the compost is ready, spread it somewhat sparingly over your newspaper and grass/leaf mulch periodically.

The best way to keep the bugs away is companion planting. Plant some yellow, orange and red flowers, preferably nasturtiums and marigolds, within sight of, but not adjacent to, your raw food garden. They'll attract the bugs away from your food plants.

If you don't have a yard, you can still grow your own raw food. Using containers and growing food hydroponically are two ways you can take advantage of patio, balcony or window space to grow your own food without a garden.

You can also sprout wheatgrass, mung bean or alfalfa seeds and grow your own sprouts to use on salads, in stir fry or in soups.

Herbs are especially wonderful to grow in windowboxes. There is nothing better than using fresh herbs you've grown yourself when you're cooking.