12 Ways to Get Your Greens

Greens in My Garden 04/10

Are you growing your own green vegetables? What about meeting the challenge of eating your daily quota?

Most of us don’t grow enough for 100% of our vegetable needs. We simply don’t have the garden capacity or know how (yet). Eating locally grown vegetables, no matter the source, can inspire and inform your green gardening.

12 Ways to Go Green and Local

Fortunately there’s plenty of choice when it comes to getting hold of locally grown green vegetables to munch on. I’ve tried a number of routes, including the garden ones (of course). What about you? Below are twelve ways I know of getting local greens. I’d be interested to hear of any other ways to add to the list.

3 Ways to Grow at Home

Experienced gardeners, and adventurous sorts, will want to grow as much as they can at home. What could be better than having fresh greens just a step away? Get digging and learning and involve the whole family.

1. In your own back garden – whether you use containers, raised beds, or plant into the ground, this is a great way to get at least some of your greens.
2. Garden coaching – when you are new to gardening you might need the boost of having someone help you get set up. A growing number of garden coaches across the country are helping homeowners get started by working with them and planting for them.
3. Indoor growing – indoor container gardens can be used to grow greens, tomatoes (if you have enough light) and herbs. Beans, grasses (some kinds only), and seeds can be sprouted for a fresh, green addition to your diet.

A Green Neighborhood

Gardening is a great way to bring people together. Whether you are lacking space in your own garden, or you just relish the company of others who want to grow, here are two community ways to grow greens.

1. Into the neighborhood – there’s a recent trend to move out of your own back garden and set up gardening relationships with neighbors. If a neighbor has space and you need more room to grow, this option is worth exploring.
2. Allotments and community gardens – allotments and community gardens are not only a way to get space to grow your own vegetables, they’re a way to build community. Nonprofits, community centers, schools, cities and even employers have been known to provide space for vegetable growing. Find out what is happening near you.

Greens from the Farm

You might have heard of community supported agriculture – it’s one of the ways to get green vegetables direct from the farm. There are four ways that I know of. Kids love to meet farmers and pick out fresh food for the family.

1. Community supported agriculture (CSA) – with a CSA you purchase a share in the farm for the growing season and in return you receive a weekly bag or box of produce during the growing season.
2. On the farm – some farms will allow you to visit and pick your own, pick up your CSA box, or simply purchase. This is not as common as you’d think, largely because farmers are often too busy to be around for visitors.
3. Farm Co-ops – distinct from CSA because a farm co-op combines produce from a number of farms. I’ve been part of a farm co-op and I loved the arrangement: lower deposit than with a CSA; higher variety; weekly choice of items; less liable to crop failure (the farms were spread out enough to remove localized weather problems from the equation).
4. Farmers markets – your local farmer’s market may have a great selection of seasonal vegetables, provided you get there early. It’s a wonderful place to meet, chat, and learn about growing and growers in your area and the place to get your questions answered.

Three More Ways

Let’s face it, working men and women may just not have the time they’d like to have to shop around for green vegetables. There’s a growing market to cater to busy professionals and serve up local farm veggies for their convenience.

1. Locally labeled produce – to meet consumer demand grocery stores are beginning to label locally grown food. I’m finding this increasingly at my local Hyvee during the growing season.
2. In-store farmers markets and co-ops – in the last year I’ve heard of both Hen House and Price Chopper offering opportunities for fresh, local, farm produce within their stores. I’ve not looked into the details, but I’ve seen something beyond the usual produce display advertised in their literature.
3. Door-to-Door delivery – I recently discovered Door-to-Door Organics who will deliver you a weekly box of organic fruit, vegetables, or both, to your door. Kansas doesn’t grow anything like enough fruit for it’s own population – I’ve been buying my fruit through this service. It’s working well.

How are you getting your greens? Are you happy with what you’re doing? What would you like to do different?

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Related posts:

1. CSA – Community Supported Agriculture
2. Spring Greens Growing
3. Local Thanksgiving, Kansas Style – part 2