My friend texted me the other day and she said “Is there such a thing as panic gardening? Because if there is, I’m guilty”. I told her I am guilty too.
But maybe you’ve heard the term “Victory Garden" used to describe gardening in response to moments of crisis. The term is taken from the gardens planted during both World Wars in response to food shortages. But, like so many things in our nation’s history, the story of Victory Gardens includes the story of racism and exclusion. In the case of WWII, that exclusion was made policy with the internment of Japanese Americans. I think it is critically important that we acknowledge this reality, especially as we grow new systems for ourselves and our communities.
That’s why I like the term “Co-op Garden” to describe the type of gardening I am doing right now. It speaks to the cooperation, community, and sharing that is at the core of it. I’ve definitely been gardening to share what I grow! Pandemic Victory Gardens are popping up in yards and neighborhoods across the country, as many Americans are experiencing food insecurity during the Covid-19 crisis. Everyone has had some trouble figuring out how to get food, and fresh produce is particularly tricky as grocery stores and delivery services are overwhelmed with requests. The pandemic is exposing the weaknesses in our large-scale industrial food system (and toilet paper production, and mask production, and…). Access to food is a right, not a privilege. More people than just a handful of huge food conglomerate corporations should have control over where our food comes from. So with that said, here’s some help for growing your own pandemic co-op garden, that I hope you will continue to enjoy even after the pandemic is over- whenever that is.
For Central Texas Gardeners the most important thing is making sure you are planting the right crop at the right time because our seasons are so unusual compared to any other place in the world. The Travis County Master Gardener Planting Guide is crucial to success. In my garden right now I am planting cushaw squash, peppers, melons, Egyptian Spinach (not on the list), black eye peas and peanuts and more summer greens like longevity spinach. Malabar spinach, New Zeland Spinach, Sweet Potatoes and Okra are other popular choices for this time of year.
There are basically three different types of vegetable gardens. In-ground, raised beds and container gardens. All are great methods and have their pros and cons. If you have at least 1 foot depth of soil in your yard that does not have standing water on it when it rains, then an in-ground garden is the most economical option. You can get a garden going by using the double digging method. If you have thin, rocky soil, soil that doesn't drain well, or you have trouble bending and doing heavy work, raised bed gardens are the best option for you. You can build a box out of wood, stone, cement blocks etc then fill with topsoil. Hugelkulture and keyhole gardens are more economical ways to start a raised bed. I’m building Hugelkulture beds in my yard in a spot where there used to be an above-ground pool and the soil was scraped away. Container gardening is growing food in pots. Nursery pots, grow bags, buckets and stock tanks are all good economical options for container gardening provided they have holes in the bottom so water can drain out of them. It is crucial to use potting soil or other media that drains well in the containers. Many dwarf varieties of veggies are available to grow in containers.
Happy gardening!