Tips on growing, buying, and eating local, in-season, organic produce.

It is great when we can grow some of our own vegetables and fruits, however for most us it is impossible to grow everything we need so here are some tips to help you choose the healthiest freshest food for your family.

• Grow your own vegetable garden and learn how to preserve, can, and store the vegetables and fruits you have grown. Take a gardening class, get books from the library or check out vegetable gardening tips or my book "The Everything Grow Your Own Vegetables Book" for more information.

• If you have fruit trees in your backyard take care of the trees, then pick and use the fruit. Share with your neighbors or food bank if you have more than you need. If you do not have time or cannot pick the fruit, check to see if there are any fruit tree projects (who will pick and distribute the fruit) in your area or hire a local student to pick for you. It is such a shame to have good fruit go to waste due to lack of time.

• Visit your local farmers markets for fresh local produce. It is important to support local farmers, this helps to keep money in your community as well as helps to keep our planet healthier as our carbon footprint is less. Most communities now have farmers markets at least during the summer months check with your local farmers or local papers for locations.

• Join a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) or a organic delivery service to supplement what you can grow in your own garden.

• If you are still unsure of why to buy organic , or want to support a friend for family member to do so search the Internet for more information on reasons to eat local and organic products.

• If you do not have a freezer, get one. Plan to grow extra veggies or fruit for preserving or buy bulk produce in-season and freeze it. This way you have great nutritious food all winter long. Berries, plums, peas, beans, corn, and broccoli are great for freezing. Check out my new book “Everything about Root Cellaring Book”
  

• Research new recipes to prepare common fruits and vegetables that are plentiful in-season; that way you have a variety of ways to use them. Check out local book stores, garage sales, or thrift stores for used recipe books. Our site has some great veggie recipes.
  

• Plan ahead. Take the time each week to plan your weekly menus and buy the groceries for those meals. This will reduce the habit of eating processed or fast foods when you are busy.

• This is the season to enjoy growing your own food garden so keep sowing seeds and setting out transplants so you can be harvesting some of your own food all summer and into the fall.
  

  Vegetable gardening books written by Catherine Abbott, Your Vegetable Gardening Helper.
  

  • 2011 Planning Guide
  • Vegetable Garden Plans for Square foot Gardens
    
  • Vegetable Garden Plans for your Rasised Beds
    
  • Vegetable Garden Plans for Row Gardening
    
  • My 2011 Vegetable Garden Journal
    
  • The Everything Grow Your Own Vegetables Book
    
  • The Everything Root Cellaring Book
  
  Please contact me with your comments and suggestions.

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  Welcome to the world of vegetable gardening!

  Catherine
  your-vegetable-gardening-helper