On today’s podcast episode, I give my thoughts on a few popular food growing methods that seem to be the hot topics in homesteading today. Are these methods something you should be doing or are they just a shiny object that looks good on the surface but have no place on your homestead?
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If you’re like me, you probably spend a lot of time researching cool ways to grow your own food. The internet is full of ideas, and sometimes it can be tough to figure out what actually works. You see buzzwords like “hugelkultur” or “aquaponics” flying around, but how do they really stack up? Well, let’s break it down!
Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on a few popular food-growing techniques to help you decide what might work best for your homestead, no matter its size.
Hugelkultur: Growing With Decaying Biomass
Have you ever heard of hugelkultur? It’s one of those methods that sounds super fancy but is actually pretty simple. Hugelkultur is a way of gardening that involves using rotting logs, wood, and other biomass as a base, which helps with soil fertility and water retention. You basically dig a trench, toss in some wood, cover it with soil, and voila! Over time, the logs break down, providing nutrients and retaining moisture for your plants.
I’ve tried a twist on this by using wood at the bottom of my raised beds instead of digging trenches. It works! But, one thing to keep in mind is the type of wood you use. Super hard wood like black locust can take ages to break down, while really soft wood might disappear too fast. A good mix of both could give you short-term and long-term benefits.
Food Forests: Your Backyard Jungle
Ever dream of wandering through your backyard, picking fruit and nuts like you’re in the wild? That’s the idea behind a food forest. It’s a sustainable, low-maintenance way of growing food by mimicking a woodland ecosystem. You layer plants—tall trees, shorter shrubs, and ground-level herbs or veggies—so that every inch of space is used.
You don’t need acres of land to try this, though! Even small urban spaces can benefit from a mini food forest. It’s a great way to get a variety of food with minimal effort once it’s all set up. This method isn’t overhyped—it’s an amazing way to grow food, and it really works.
Aquaponics: Fish + Plants = Food
Now let’s talk about aquaponics. It sounds futuristic, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. This system combines raising fish (aquaculture) with growing plants in water (hydroponics). The fish produce waste, which becomes food for the plants. In return, the plants clean the water, which is cycled back to the fish tank. Cool, right?
While aquaponics is fascinating, it’s not for everyone. It can be a lot of work to maintain, and you need the right setup for it to be successful. But, if you’ve got limited soil or space and like the idea of growing food fast, it’s worth trying.
Tower Gardens: Vertical Growing Power
Living in the city or have a small yard? Tower gardens might be your new best friend. These vertical systems let you grow a ton of food in a tiny space by stacking planting layers on top of each other. You can grow everything from herbs to veggies in a space as small as three square feet!
These are great for urban homesteaders or anyone short on space. You can even find DIY versions if you don’t want to spend the money on a fancy setup. I think they’re awesome, especially for people with limited room but big gardening dreams.
Wicking Beds: Efficient Watering
If you’re tired of watering your garden every day, wicking beds might be the solution for you. These are garden beds with a water reservoir at the bottom. The water slowly “wicks” upward, keeping your plants hydrated without constant watering.
Wicking beds are super efficient and help conserve water. I’m planning to build one in my greenhouse this year and pump water from my pond into it. It’s a method I’m really excited to try!
Straw Bale Gardening: Growing in Bales
Straw bale gardening is exactly what it sounds like—you grow plants directly in straw bales. It’s kind of like container gardening, but your container is a bale of straw. As the straw decomposes, it becomes rich in nutrients, making a great growing medium.
The biggest challenge here is making sure you get clean, chemical-free straw. Some straw is treated with herbicides that can harm your plants. But if you get the right stuff, it’s an easy and fun way to grow food, especially if you have poor soil. I haven’t done it yet, but I’m thinking of trying it in my greenhouse this year!
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Gutter Gardens: Space-Saving on a Budget
Ever seen pictures of people growing strawberries or lettuce in rain gutters? That’s called a gutter garden! It’s a clever way to use vertical space along fences or walls. The downside? Gutters are shallow, so they dry out quickly and only work for plants with shallow roots.
Still, if you’re short on ground space but have a sunny wall, this could be a great way to grow small plants like lettuce or herbs. You just have to keep them well-watered, especially if you’re using regular soil.
Deep Mulch Gardening: A Simple but Effective Method
Deep mulch gardening, also known as the Back to Eden method, involves covering your garden beds with thick layers of mulch. This helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add organic matter to the soil as the mulch breaks down.
I still use this method in some of my garden beds, especially where I get a lot of sun and need to keep the soil cool. However, I found it unnecessary in my raised beds, where weeds aren’t much of a problem. It’s definitely a good technique for certain areas, though.
Herb Spirals: Grow More in Less Space
Lastly, let’s talk about herb spirals. These are spirals of raised beds that allow you to grow a variety of herbs in a small space. The spiral shape creates different microclimates, so you can grow plants with different needs close together. For example, you can plant herbs that like it dry and sunny at the top and those that prefer more moisture at the bottom.
Herb spirals are great for compact spaces and look pretty cool, too. If you like having fresh herbs close to the kitchen, this could be a fun project for your homestead.
Final Thoughts: Find What Works for You!
No matter how much (or how little) space you have, there’s always a way to grow your own food. Whether you’re experimenting with hugelkultur or setting up a tower garden on your balcony, there’s a method out there that fits your needs. So don’t be afraid to try new things, and remember—gardening is all about having fun and learning as you go!
