There has never been a better time to rely less on consumer goods and more on yourself. With prices rising due to inflation, everything costs more, including the food you eat.
So while you can forgo shopping for the latest trendy clothes or popular electronics, you can’t go without eating. That has caused people to do more to produce their own food and get as separated as possible from the food system.
There are several benefits to producing your own food. For one, it lowers your regular costs for buying groceries. What you spend on equipment and other items to produce food is what you will pay upfront, but then you won’t have to shell out every week or so for more. Growing and producing your own food also tends to be healthier.
If you are truly committed to it, then you will eat less processed and fast food in favor of food that comes from your property. It’s also better for the environment since you are cutting out the fuel for transportation from the manufacturer or grower to the store and from the store to your home.
That said, it’s not as easy as just putting some seeds in the ground and watching them grow. You want to have a balanced diet, which might mean not only having vegetables to eat. Plus, the soil has to be prepared, and you need the right equipment for harvesting what you’ve grown. Here is everything that you need to produce food independently.
Space
The first thing you need is the space to make it happen. It’s best to have room on your property to grow lots of food with space left for livestock. Some crops may need to be separated from others as well.
The most space you have, the more you can grow. Don’t worry if you don’t live in a house with a yard. Many communities also have community garden spaces that you can rent to grow your food. Even though you will have to invest, the cost of your rent for these types of spaces will be less than the value of what you grow.
Planning that space is very important. You will need sunlight and flat ground to turn it into a garden. You may not want to grow things near trees or roots. You should also test the soil before you start growing and submit it to a local lab. They will then recommend what nutrients to add to the soil to make it ideal for growing.
An ATV
If you are growing on your property, then an ATV can save you a lot of work. It can pull implements such as tilers, plows, and discs to help prepare the soil and keep it ready for planting. It can help you move equipment from spot to spot on your property and save you hours of time trying to do things by hand.
However, an ATV is not as powerful as a tractor, so while it is great for growing enough for your household, it is not appropriate if you grow in bulk. You will need something more robust that can attach to heavier tools and carry heavier items.
Chicken Coop
Unless you are a vegetarian or vegan, you will want to have some meat in your diet. Having a chicken coop can help with that. Many home growers choose a mobile chicken coop. This allows them to move throughout the yard so the chickens will always have a fresh patch to roam on.
In fact, you may not have to mow the lawn at all if you move it strategically enough since the chickens will chew it down for you. This also helps your chickens live in a cleaner space since you will move them from the ground they have already messed up to a clean patch.
Sprayer
You last want to have your food ruined by pests or weeds. This is especially true if you are counting on your crops to survive.
A sprayer will help to distribute herbicides and pesticides to keep your crops safe evenly. You must spread it evenly, as you don’t want too much on some spots and not enough on others. A sprayer is a perfect tool to do this. Of course, you will also need to purchase the appropriate chemicals to use with it.
Combination Tool
A combination tool performs several functions for a garden. It will have a blade to help dig and line up garden beds. It can also be used for weddings, and it can help with harvesting.
You can get several attachments that make it a great tool to use for every stage of the growing process. By using this one tool, you can save money and be more efficient with your space.
Time
Time is one of the most important things you can have for growing and producing your own food. Let’s face it, going to the grocery store is easy and convenient. However, producing your own food takes planning, skill, and dedication.
You can’t just plant your seeds or feed your chickens and assume everything will work out. It takes daily commitment and discipline. If you are not willing or able to spend the time, then producing your own food might not be a good option for you.
You can definitely get off of our food system and produce your own food independently. It just takes the right equipment along with some know-how. Remember, switching to producing your own food will take some sacrifices. For example, you may be unable to grow some of your favorites in your climate. However, producing your food can be rewarding, healthy, and better for your pocketbook.
