Grow Your Own Groceries: How to Feed Your Family from Your Own Back Garden

216 Pages·2009·1.69 MB·English

by  Linda Gray

Grow Your Own
Groceries
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Grow Your Own
Groceries
HOW TO FEED YOUR FAMILY
FROM YOUR OWN BACK GARDEN
Linda Gray
SPRING HILL
Published by How To Content,
A division of How To Books Ltd,
Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road,
Begbroke, Oxford, OX5 1RX, United Kingdom
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
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Publisher given in writing.

The right of Linda Gray to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in
accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

© 2009 Linda Gray

First edition 2009
First published in electronic form 2009

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978 1 84803 353 5

Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions, Tavistock
Typeset by TW Typesetting, Plymouth, Devon

NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and
no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular
circumstances on statements made in this book. Laws and regulations may be complex and
liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities
before making personal arrangements.
CONTENTS
Introduction ix
1 The Salad Bowl 1
Tomatoes 3
Lettuce 9
Cucumber 13
Peppers 18
Onions 23
2 Down to Roots 29
Carrots 30
Beetroot 35
Parsnips 40
Salsify 44
Potatoes 48
3 Everyday Veg 55
Peas 56
Beans 61
Broccoli 66
Asparagus 71
Courgettes 76
4 Herb Corner 82
Basil 84
Bay 86
Chives 88
Coriander 91
v
GROW YOUR OWN GROCERIES
Fennel 93
Garlic 96
Mint 98
Oregano 101
Parsley 103
Rosemary 106
Sage 108
Thyme 111
5 Fruity Treats 114
Strawberries 115
Blackberries 120
Blackcurrants 125
Raspberries 130
Lemons 134
6 Delicious Blooms 140
Dandelions 141
Marigolds 145
Nasturtiums 148
Roses 152
Violets 155
7 Eggstra Special 159
All about eggs 159
Keeping hens 160
Cooking with eggs 164
8 Around the House 173
From Chapter 1 – The Salad Bowl 173
From Chapter 2 – Down to Roots 175
From Chapter 3 – Everyday Veg 177
From Chapter 4 – Herb Corner 179
vi
CONTENTS
From Chapter 5 – Fruity Treats 182
From Chapter 6 – Delicious Blooms 183
9 The Store Cupboard 184
Bottling 184
Preserving 186
Freezing 186
Drying 187
10 Gardening Tips and Tricks 190
Planning 191
Tools 193
Soil preparation 195
Maintenance 197
Themes 198
Resources and Further Reading 201
Index 203
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INTRODUCTION
Producing your own food and other household groceries is not only extremely
rewarding but, in times of economic and environment changes, a must!
Gardening has, until recent years, been a way of life and a necessary
commitment if families were to survive and grow. Nature provides everything
the human body requires to survive, and cultivating some of those natural
products in our own back garden will not only produce the best food on the
planet for our loved ones, it is also economical and environmentally friendly.
Chemicals don’t have to be used to produce perfectly shaped strawberries,
petrol is not required to drive into your back garden to collect your food and,
not only that, as you are exercising and getting a dose of fresh air every day,
gym subscriptions and doctors visits will be a thing of the past.
Many crops can be produced in a relatively small space with a little
pre-planning and organising. And many of these crops can be employed in
different ways. Herbs are not only perfect for collecting brownie points for
your culinary skills, they can also treat minor ailments and prevent colds and
flu. Rather than getting a cold virus and passing it round and round the
household, refuse to allow it into the house in the first place, by keeping
healthy and strong. No more vitamin supplements or cold remedies to buy!
Grow Your Own Groceries provides all the information you need to keep your
family and friends healthy and enjoying life to the full. Gardening is more than
a hobby, it’s a way of life and needn’t mean back ache and boring garden
chores. Even without a garden, many plants can be grown in containers, on a
balcony and indoors.
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