Get serious about gardening 

Mark Bailey [Photo courtesy UF/IFAS Extension]

Do you need motivation to begin growing your own food?  

If so, let’s first consider where the vast majority of our food comes from. America’s food system is one of the most productive and efficient in the world. Our national food system produces such a surplus that we are one of the largest net food exporters to much of the world. This is a good thing for large American farms to have a global market to sell to, but with the good comes the bad. Domestic food prices are greatly affected by global agricultural commodity prices like corn, soybean and wheat. In other words, we live within a global food system.   

As a consequence of America’s exposure to the global food system, the inputs, such as fertilizers, needed to grow crops are also greatly affected. The same is true for most other countries’ exposure to both commodity prices and the costs of agricultural inputs.   

Global events, such as economic depressions or conflicts, can significantly affect the global food system. For example, the ongoing conflicts between Israel, America and Iran, as well as Ukraine and Russia, have affected fertilizer production and global grain exports. This has led to increased concerns about global food security, especially among net food-importing countries. These conflicts have already increased the costs of inputs and will likely translate into increased food prices globally. This means you and everyone else should expect to pay more for food in the foreseeable future. Increased costs of food may be concerning, yet the actual availability of food could be an even greater concern. 

Within the American food system, there are many steps between growing crops and reaching the grocery store. However, within the local food system, there are far fewer steps between farm and fork. A local food system involves crop production, processing, transportation and consumption within the local region. Much of what contributes to the local food system are small, family-run farms. These farms commonly emphasize sustainability and quality as they are more responsive to the local consumer’s preferences. You can support your local food system by simply buying from them. North Central Florida has many local farms that provide high-quality fresh produce and a wide range of products that you can readily find at local farmers’ markets.  

The most direct source of food could, in fact, be the food you grow yourself. There are many benefits to growing your own food, too. You get to choose what crops you plant, how the crops are grown, when they are harvested and how they are prepared. All of which are based upon your own preferences and there is no intermediary. 

It all begins with the motivation to take those first steps. If you want garden-fresh foods, you need a few key ingredients: sunlight, soil, water and nutrients. Start by selecting a good location for a garden. Choose a location with full sun and well-drained soil. Take a soil test to determine the soil pH and available nutrients. The soil sample results will tell you what you should amend the soil with to maximize crop production. Once your crops have been planted, keeping consistent soil moisture is essential and one of the most important aspects of gardening.  

There are many crops to choose from, so consider those that offer the highest food value for the least effort. A few crops fit well within these criteria: sweet potatoes, white potatoes, cassava, legumes and dark leafy greens such as kale and broccoli. Sweet potatoes, cassava and most legumes are generally warm-season crops, while white potatoes and leafy greens are cool-season crops. These crops not only provide a tremendous amount of nutrients but are also well adapted to Florida’s conditions. Be sure to use the University of Florida’s recommended varieties and gardening guides. If you are interested in gardening classes, the UF/IFAS Marion County Extension office hosts many gardening classes annually.  

A garden may not steer the course of global events, but your garden can provide you with some food when you need it. There is no time like the present to begin your garden, so get serious about gardening.

Mark Bailey is a sustainable agriculture and food systems agent II with UF/IFAS Extension Marion County. To learn more, go to sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/marion or call (352) 671-8400.