Today, as I walked around my vegetable garden during the lull between heavy showers and gale-force winds to inspect the damage inflicted by Storm Martinho, I wondered how many of us–if push came to shove–could grow our own fruit and vegetables. A random question. Maybe not. With the world teetering on the brink of war as the ‘powers that be’ postulate and flex their respective muscles in terms of trade, weapons, etc., it occurred to me that I should grow more food, not less, this year. I had the same thought during COVID-19 when my brain went into overdrive, and I bought and planted seeds like they were going out of fashion. An investment for the future, I reasoned. I even considered getting chickens. Our family in France were hatching eggs in an incubator (obviously ‘special eggs’). Um… No, maybe it was better to buy full-sized chickens to lay eggs. But live chickens during COVID were as rare as hens’ teeth.
After last year’s drought, I considered not growing vegetables this year. I’ve changed my mind.
Hypothetically, looking forward, not back, how much food could you grow, whether on your apartment balcony, in your urban garden, on your allotment, or on your land?
Methinks, maybe it’s time to visit the local market.
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Piglet in Portugal 
I believe it is wise to grow as much as you can! That is what I’m going to do. I am going to grow some extra staples as well (cabbages and kale.) Best of luck with your garden!
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Your veg look amazing, Maria. I hope you have a good growing season.
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I know what I get when I eat my own crop. My body show me everyday how much it loves it. After the pandemic I realised how important it is for me to be more independent.
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Hi Anna, yes, the pandemic also made me more focused on growing more of my own produce as shopping was a challenge. You can also really taste the difference between shop bought and homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers etc.
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I live on the edge of the woods, which means there is lots of shade. I grow a few things, but not much. Plus I like flowers. 😉
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Hi Laurie, yes shade is a challenge. I am coming around to more flowers.
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I only grow a few herbs but I am all for home fruit & veg gardens/allotments.
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Homegrown herbs are great, Lana. Have you ever considered growing your own tomatoes in pots?
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No I haven’t but that is a good idea – if not too hard?!
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Hi Lana, no it’s not. And you can even get tomato grow bags. 🙂
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I will see if Franc is up for that. We both love toms 😀
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I grow a ton of food; half is processed, and the other half frozen. I made borscht for 15 people, and the only purchased ingredient was the onions. I usually run out of onions by Nov. I will admit it’s a lot of work but I find it so rewarding not to mention tasty. We have limited water and so some things are a challenge.
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Hi Bernie, what method do you use to process your veg? I had to look up borscht, it looks/sounds delicious! I find it quite rewarding to cook using home grwon ingredients. It makes all the hard work worthwhile
https://www.thekitchn.com/borscht-recipe-23591176
We also had limited water during the summer last year. Yes, it can be a challenge when you have to treat every drop of water as if were liquid gold
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We are surrounded by great farms and farmers markets so I like to pick up my produce there. But I do grow my own herbs (basil, dill, oregano, mint, sage, parsley) if that counts! ❤
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Hi Donna, herbs most definitely count. Farmers markets are great for bio produce.
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I prefer the farmers’ markets because we’re never home long enough to tend to any type of garden.
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Yes, that’s true. Growing your own is a lot in terms of time investment.
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I try to up my veg production every year. Some I am now self sufficient: Squash, runner beans, onions, chard etc and lettuce, others I still haven’t got the hang of.
I wish I could also grow fruit but this is currently pegged at lemons, bitter orange, a few strawberries and some Cape Gooseberries.
I have recently acquired four cooking apple saplings that have settled nicely in pots, but it will be a few years before we get any fruit.
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With the world as it is in terms of trade and tariffs you are wise, Ark. But are you guys affected in SA? Half of me wishes I had more growing space. We have a huge boundary hedge which sucks ALL the moisture and nutrients out of the soil so anything I grow now needs to be grown in the raised beds or pots.
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I have not noticed or heard anything about these tariffs etc affecting us down here that Monsieur le Trump is dishing out.
We have a large privet on the west side of our property and a fair number of trees. I don’t know if these affect our water/moisture that much. And we have a borehole which helps a lot. And there is the pond – our converted swimming pool.
I’ll bet that as there are only the two of you, with enough pots you could grow an awful lot more food than you might think.
Look up Tony O’Neil on YouTube, if you haven’t already. He’ll show you how to grow oodles of potatoes in pots.
There is also a bloke called Huw Richards who has an amazing small kitchen garden that he grows loads and loads of stuff.
I have learned quite a lot from people like these.
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Thanks Ark, I will take a look at these recommendations. As for Trumpet I think his Tariffs will backfire.
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I think the blow back has already begun.
Portugal has recently canceled an order for F-35 fighter jets and it looks as if Canada will follow suit.
These orders alone are worth billions.
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