If you ever worry about the price of food or even where it comes from, now could be the time to be more proactive about it. The cost of food will continue to increase as Brexit takes hold. More of it will need to be sourced from the British Isles, but this could make some of our favourites harder to source off season. So what can you do about it? Why not have a go at growing your own?
When certain foods are out of season, powered greenhouses need to pick up the slack. This does increase the cost. The alternative is to import the produce. You could grow your own, which might prove a little costly on your time and energy. The alternative is to eat seasonally. If strawberries and oranges aren’t in season, pick apples that will be ready in late autumn and can be stored in the freezer. Frozen summer fruits could work quite well too. Buy them when they’re cheap, fill the freezer and enjoy all year round.
Growing at home requires good soil and regular weeding or pest control. This can become a fun hobby, and eating from your garden is wonderful. You will need to hone in on some seasonal recipes to enjoy your crops. Why not sell your excess produce to create a little income stream? When you’re cooking from your garden, be sure to give everything a thorough wash. And if you’re growing organically, it could all be much healthier too.
Some foods that are easier to grow at home can leave a bitter taste in your mouth. The British climate is great for root vegetables, but they can all become a bit samey. Some veggies that you can grow can be used to make fat-free sponge cakes. Courgettes and beets have become popular for that. You can sweeten with something like the miracle berry tablets to create healthy cakes that are low in fat and calories. And some of the ingredients could come straight from your garden!
It’s not always easy to find the time to prepare your garden for growing. Why not build a simple raised bed? You can then add good soil ready for growing. Once you have planted your vegetables and fruits, you will need to keep the slugs and snails away. They are quite adept at climbing up the raised beds. However, you can make it less appealing by sprinkling something coarse like sand around the base. Cover with netting to keep the birds away too.
Don’t forget, you can grow your favourite herbs at home too. Some people like pots on the window sill. Others have a little-sheltered area outside the back door. Lettuces can be grown in a similar way. And why not grow your strawberries from hanging baskets next to the door? Pick and eat as you come home from work (after washing, of course). The best thing about all this is you can get the kids in your family involved too. It’s a great activity to do with the children, and it’s a fun way to spend time together. Bon Appetite.