The longer we live on Earth, the more we recognize the need to learn the skills required to take care of our families and ourselves. With each passing year, we also increasingly want to take care of our communities, in times of certainty and uncertainty. Many of you have been doing this quietly for years, growing food, sustainably foraging wild foods, learning how to make and use herbal remedies, dreaming of – and sometimes even achieving – energy independence.
Perhaps you engage in these activities to live more lightly on the Earth, because truly, there’s nothing sustainable about papayas flown in from Peru in April, or in solely relying on tired, drought-prone areas in the United States to produce the bulk of our country’s food. Or, maybe rising prices and various shortages have you leaning into raising food yourself more than ever. The quality difference is significant as well. When you grow your own food and harvest it minutes rather than weeks before dinner, it nourishes in a way the plastic-wrapped, tastes-of-a-warehouse stuff simply can’t compete with. The simple acts of growing food, making medicines, and foraging in the woods are deeply satisfying. They’re good for us, and they keep our hands busy while giving our minds a break from our phones and the news.
With this in mind, we bring you our newest issue. “Is Gardening Worth It Financially?” will help you choose crops that are easy to grow and yield abundant harvests. It reminds us growers to get those perennial crops in now. They’re an upfront investment that’ll pay off many times over for years to come. Ask Our Experts lists vegetables that do well in raised beds, so even if you don’t have a garden yet or you live in the city, we hope this encourages you to start where you are and use what you have. One small pot of vegetables or herbs on an urban balcony is that much less you have to buy from the store.
“Herbs for Children’s Health” provides recipes for homemade teas, salves, and more to help the kids in your life stay healthy – plus, the recipes are adult-friendly too! “7 Foraged Foods” shares easy-to-identify, widely distributed, and healthy wild foods. We hope you can enjoy a couple of these forageables as the seasons unfold.
“The Micro-Microgrid” encourages us to consider ways to provide our own power when the utility companies can’t because of natural disasters. Gone Off-Grid outlines ways we can all reduce our power usage, whether we’re off-grid or not. Many of the tips in these articles are as good for the planet as they are for our wallets.
Finally, “Create a Thriving Local Food Scene” reminds us that we’re always stronger together. Check out your list of local farmers markets, pick-your-owns, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. As you’re able, commit some of your food budget to supporting them, in good times and in bad.
As you plan your garden, plant an extra row of potatoes for the food pantry, and some herbs or peppers to gift in your local giveaway group. (We’re planting extra ‘Jimmy Nardello’ sweet frying peppers, by the way; what are some of your favorites?) Reach across the fence to share a basket of rhubarb or herbs with a neighbor.
As spring and the growing season unfold, may you be filled with hope and action. Whatever the world brings our way, when we work to build our knowledge and learn new skills, and when we commit to supporting those around us, we’ll be stronger and healthier than we’ve ever been.
– Mother
