November 1st marked the beginning of nationwide
cuts in food stamp benefits. If you are one of over 47 million affected by
these cuts, now is the time to start finding new ways to stretch those dollars
even further. There is no point in waiting on the boys and girls of the Beltway
to figure out whether you deserve help or not. Help yourself! One way you can stretch
your food stamp dollars and increase your food supply is to start growing. Yes,
that’s right. Grow your own food!
There are many vegetables you can grow, even without a
garden plot and even during the winter, which is fast approaching here in the
northern states! Herbs, cucumbers, lettuces, peppers of all shapes and sizes
and tomatoes are just a few of the veggies that lend well to indoor container
planting. Here are the things you’ll need to start growing your own food
indoors this winter:
- Containers (planting containers, at least 12” to 16” in circumference)
- Potting soil (store brands work just as well as brand-name varieties)
- Seeds or starter plants (which may be nearly impossible to find locally this time of year)
Contain Yourself
Containers don’t have to be fancy, in fact they don’t even
have to LOOK like your typical pot. They just have to be able to hold soil and
have some holes at the bottom for good drainage. Two-liter bottles and milk jug
or cartons, cut in half, make excellent planting containers. You can also check
out garage sales, flea markets, swap meets or local trade paper for cheap or
even free containers.
Playing in the Dirt
Potting soil. I’m sure there’s lots of controversy out there
about the “best” potting soils. All I can tell you, from personal experience,
is that I've used brand name and generic soils with much the same success. Right about now, you might be able to find it really cheap at local garden
stores or check out bargain stores, like Dollar General, Family Dollar, Big
Lots or whatever discount stores populate your area. Most potting soils have
added nutrients already so you won’t have to mess around with adding plant
foods or fertilizers right away. Bonus, right?
Sowing the Seeds
Seeds and plants, according to the USDA, are eligble items
under the SNAP program. You may still be able to find them in local big box
stores (Meijer, Kroger, Wal Mart, etc. ). They might be tucked away in a
clearance aisle. However, if you can’t find them in a store that takes food
stamps, there are resources for finding free seeds. Seed exchanges, locally or
online, local cooperative extension agencies and gardening clubs are good
places to contact about getting seeds.
So, now is the time to start hunting down the things you’ll
need to start your indoor food supply. I know this latest cut in food stamp
benefits is going to be rough, but I also know that necessity is, indeed, the
mother of invention. Inventing (well, re-inventing) your own food supply will
help you keep calm, carry on and eat better in the long run!
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