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What is Freedom Farming?

See also Are you a Freedom Farmer? (video version) from as voiced by Linda Borghi on Vimeo.

(Article by Marsha Howe, video voiced and produced by Linda Borghi)

For me, growing some of my own food is a simple yet revolutionary action.

I take seriously my personal responsibility to grow some of my food supply.  This spells “freedom” in so may ways. 🙂

I guess you could describe me as some sort of gypsy, micro farmer. I travel around from plot to plot, designing, practicing, permaculture principles, managing small projects in public & private spaces in the urban settting with minimal tools (I always want to minimize the heavy lifting!)

I just love seeing people discover the personal transformation that happens when they begin to spend a little time outside cultivating something to eat…caring for the earth that cares for all of us. Anyone can be a freedom farmer!

It doesn’t have to take a lot of time. But FYI… you will enjoy it so much that you will want to spend more time!  🙂

I love to find ways to grow with less effort.  That’s where being mindful and observant with some thoughtful planning can go a long way in making your efforts count. (BUT no matter what happens, you will ALWAYS learn something!  The best way for beginners to get started is to start small.

The important thing is to just get started!!

Find ways to grow in some unlikely places.  I grow on a public walking bridge that spans way above a road way.  It has big cement planters extending the length of the bridge.  I have been practicing permaculture principles and have been able to grow quite a variety of edible plants that do well without having to water them.  There is no water source at this location. I just depend of the rain, Biodynamic/BioEnergetic practices and a healthy amount of wood mulch to hold the moisture.

I also plant according to the Stella Natura Calendar guide, which helps me to organize my planting schedule.

I keep one separate calendar just for all my gardens and their activities and have a simple coding system to keep notes.  My permaculture plots usually only need a visit every 10-14 days because most of what is planted there are perennial plants (they re-seed themselves and once established only need some weeding) .

I know an awesome freedom farmer couple in southern California who just began plugging in some edible plants in their front yard  and it has opened up so many possibilities for personal and community wellness.   There are many physical, emotional, spiritual, and potential financial benefits.

What is so remarkable, is the gradual transformation that took place in their yard by planting organically grow food into their local, very micro ecosystem. When you start nurturing your space you invite a diversity of living seen and unseen organisms…. insects, birds…etc. to inhabit and contribute vitality, which moves everything toward a more balanced, environment.  They became a host for amazing visitors and new residents, including a pair of humming birds, right outside their front door!

There is another really important benefit of “freedom farming”…

Freedom farming nurtures much more than the biology of the space. In this high tech age…we need more opportunity to “unplug”. We can all benefit from breaking free from demanding technology by scheduling some tech free time in the garden.

Would you like to become a “freedom farmer”?

I would challenge everyone to exercise their freedom, grow some of their own food and develop a habit of  unplugging from technology at least for a small time each day and to “plug in” to nature and get recharged!

Are you a freedom farmer?  Farm-A-Yard is a movement, have ya heard?  Join us! Get on our mailing list. 🙂

 

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Breaking the Spell of the Cursed Black Thumb- Grow the Best Garden of Your Life

I definitely wondered if I was under the spell of the “black thumb”.

My very first garden, at 18 years old, was about a square foot in size in my side yard….Flop #1…  Did I have a black thumb?

Years later, I tried again….but there was too much shade in my backyard. Flop #2…   Tried again… Flop # 3.  Each time I learned a little  🙂 ….but I just thought I must not have a green thumb.

Then again I had a garden in the backyard where previous renters had a garden plot….I suspected that the soil was better because we had some success but I still knew very little about what I was doing.  I just thought you put a seed in the ground and it should grow. Right?  Or maybe, just maybe, I had the infamous “Black Thumb?”

Since then, I have learned that our soil is in a state of emergency. Commercial fertilizer doesn’t do anything to improve the soil and pesticides and herbicides kill all the microbiol life.  BTW…there is no “Miracle” in Miracle Gro.  

I tried several gardens since and because I didn’t want to use the harmful products so I just started composting but it’s such a slow process with still mediocre results.

I meet people all the time who say that they have a “black thumb” and can’t grow anything.  They are convinced that they are cursed.

Well, I am now convinced that it is important to know what to plant and when, and also to make sure the plot or pot has enough sun and water.  But if it fails, the failure has something to do with the soil, NOT your thumb!  

Okay, but how can you get your soil right without spending tons of time and money on guessing what to do about it?  The million dollar question!

So, what is a person to do?

That’s when I met the Soil Doctor, Evan Folds.  This soil wizard made the complex simple for me and the spell is broken and the curse has lifted!!  If it happened to me, it can happen for you!

You can also get on the mailing list and we will send you the Free Farm-A-Yard e-Book.  🙂    www.farm-a-yard.com

We know that you can be successful in growing vibrant, nutrient food for your family and/or to make a sustainable income.

Check it out!  Break the Spell!  Grow the best garden of your life.

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“Politics Divide…Food Brings People Together”

Thank  you, Wendell Berry, for telling it like it is.

Did you know that we need 100 million yard farmers by 2030 in our neighborhoods nationwide? What a great opportunity to bring some healing to the political situation, as well as, bring real food security and access of the freshest, affordable food possible!

Some people are beginning to take action to truly solve, not only our food security crisis, but growing food is having an impact to  boost depressed local economies, literally at the GRASSROOTS level. (pun intended!)

That’s why we’re excited about Farm-A-Yard that is helping people help themselves to personal food security and income opportunity.   

The entrepreneurial opportunity with Farm-A-Yard for small scale neighborhood yard farms, has so many benefits to help build healthier, resilient communities where people are connected to where their food comes from.

You can learn how to grow your own food intensively in your yard to feed your family and/or you can learn how to start a profitable neighborhood-based,  micro-farming enterprise.   

We all have the power to help make our community food secure by voting with our dollars, supporting local small farmers and learning to grow and preserve some food for ourselves and to share with others.  

ALL GREAT CHANGE IN AMERICA BEGINS AT THE DINNER TABLE

Food brings people together to solve problems.  Growing food also helps neighbors to know one another again, to grow, cook and share healthy meals together around the kitchen table.  

“Kitchen table wisdom” is how the world has solved problems for centuries.  This is the grassroots way to heal a world, one “Plot to Plate” at a time.

 

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Do you have the courage to walk out your door and rip up your lawn? Make a plan!

Just because you are on this website is evidence enough that you’ve got what it takes to grow you’re own food.

It’s a smart brave move on your part to take control of your food and where it comes from.  To know that it’s safe and truly nutritious.

Join the ranks of the grassroots garden renegades that are popping up everywhere!  When we grow food, we are making an impact on our health, the community, the environment and helping to localize our food system for food security. AND yard farming can be a real income generator.

If you are serious about growing food, this is the place!  It pays to get started learning everything you can so that you can have the success you’re looking for sooner than later.

WARNING….once you get started you’ll be hooked.

Record numbers of people are growing food in pots in the window, on the patio, plots in the backyard, front yard, curb sites, public parks, schools, businesses…food can grow almost anywhere!

Where do you want to grow?

Here’s what you need first:  Make a Plan and Get Organized

  • Evaluate your life and what time you can make available for the project.
  • Plan for the size garden you can realistically manage.
  • Assess your growing space options.  Make sure you consider:
    • Do you have permission to use the space? Short or Long Term?
    • Does the area have at least 6-8 hrs. of sunlight daily? Make a sun map (google “sun mapping”)
    • Does it have a safe, convenient  water source?
    • Will it need fencing to minimized wild life distrubance?
    • Get a calendar to use just for the garden to schedule your plan.
    • Get a folder or large manila envelope so you can attach receipts for all your garden seed, tools, investments. You can record and date each oneon the outside of the envelope.  Data is important and will help you get the most from your garden adventure with less waste and cost.  Attach pages that keep track of garden notes, like: Garden map plan, yields, pest problems, budget…

    Equipped with the right information you can get to your goal much faster than most.  This planning can help you save money too!

    We’re with you every step of the way, so get on the Farm-A-Yard email list so that you don’t miss the announcement of our next FREE course. (check your spam folder too to make sure out emails are not getting lost!)

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