Indoor Growing

​SECURING YOUR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

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​Introduction

​Extreme weather is beginning to negatively impact food production and it is time to think about climate change adaptations. We have illustrated that the areas we source for fruit and vegetables, during the winter, are experiencing difficulties in growing quality and quantity of produce.  This will result in increased food prices and the question is now, how can we mitigate or lessen these effects?

​Indoor Growing

​When you think about it, your house provides you with a stable climate where humidity and temperature are already controlled.  Why not change your lifestyle a tiny bit by growing inside.  This can be accomplished by utilizing a southward facing window along with grow LED lights, especially during the winter.  Once you have a place set aside for growing, the question remains how and what to grow.

Container Growing

​Container growing can be a simple as a potted plant or more serious as a polypropylene grow bag.  This depends on your ability to manage the plant that you are growing.  If your abilities are hampered by disability, you can grow in containers that can fit within a small space.  Plants like herbs or salad greens can be a good place to start from.   When you begin to get more confident about growing you can progress to other plant species such as peppers, beans, or determinate tomatoes.  This article provides information on growing indoors with useful information.

​Fast and Nutritious Alternatives

Container growing is something that we may be used to but there are alternate forms of growing which can be as fun and more nutritious.

Micro-green cultivation is an option where nutritiously dense, fast growing plants can supplement the food you eat.  Most often you can harvest after two weeks and incorporated into meals, smoothies, or salads. 

If you really want to get fancy and get the full range of minerals and vitamins you might want to consider food algae, specifically Spirulina.  Grown in a tank of water, it can double in volume under ideal conditions. It is tasteless and can be incorporated into any meal or smoothie.  Also, it can be a vegan substitute for protein, as it is almost 60-70 percent protein.

​Takeaway

When you start to grow your own food, you will feel a sense of achievement and hopefully, this will move you to be more active in growing your own food.  When you grow your own food you will be more food secure and increase your food sovereignty.  

Food sovereignty according to Food Secure Canada, “...is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems."  Simply by the act of growing your own food that is relevant to you, you increase the food sovereignty and food security of  you and your own family.  This is how you prepare for the coming food shocks.


Resource Links:

Food Sovereignty
https://foodsecurecanada.org/who-we-are/what-food-sovereignty

Spirulina Growing
http://www.spirulinaacademy.com/grow-your-own-spirulina/

Microgreen Cultivation
https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-microgreens-101/

Container Growing Indoors
https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/urban-gardening-with-vegetables/5491.html