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The next growing point you can take on board is the world of tomatoes . It is completely possible to grow all the tomatoes you will need from August to November . Try varieties like ‘ Red Alert ’, sown indoors in early March . Kept warm , they will produce a wonderful early crop . This last year we have had ‘ Pomadoro ’ coming out of our ears !
Onions are another group of easy plants to grow . They are such a staple that the idea of growing enough onions for a meal a day seems to be a little silly . But you can have a jolly good go at it !
For a start , if you grow onions in the ground ( as opposed to in containers ) you can get 15 plants in a ten foot row . You can get 6 or 7 rows of onions in a ten foot square , giving you 90 ish onions . But the thing about onions is they don ’ t last all year , you grow Japanese onions from August to May and summer onions from January to July ( Or August if you don ’ t cover them with a cloche in March ).
If you don ’ t grow onions you can use alternatives . Try leeks in pots or , if you have no room at all , grow chives . They are wonderfully oniony , and will do for the flavour – especially if you are making a casserole .
Garlic is a dream to grow . You can push corms into rich compost anywhere in the garden , and don ’ t forget , a clove a day keeps the doctor away ! You can easily grow the 40 or so plants you would need for complete self-sufficiency .
What about eggs and meat ?
There are difficulties , red tape difficulties , when it comes to keeping livestock . It is difficult to keep pigs in a garden ; goats are more a possibility . This is because you have to have a holding number . There are issues about taking pigs to slaughter and so on , but never let it be said that Di and I dissuade you from keeping livestock . Poultry and ducks , however , are eminently possible and should be encouraged . We , in inner city Manchester , have only two hens . We have had many more in the past – possibly too many . But in our current circumstances two is enough . But from these two birds we get an egg a day ( each ) and I suppose this would count as a meal a week ! But , cheating apart , there is no end to the wonderful things you can make with a brilliant fresh egg .
Bake your own bread
I know . It ’ s not possible to grow wheat in the garden . Well , actually it is , but I won ’ t push that particular point for now . The point is that if you make your own bread , you are first of all making the very best food there can be had . And , as good old John Seymour used to say , home made bread is a meal in itself – much more wonderful than bought bread . And if I had my way I ’ d go round the country destroying bread making machines ( please send your letters of complaint to Ruth at the office ). Bread is beautiful , made in a bowl and an ordinary oven .
Why save the planet ?
The point of 52 meals is to get people to grow enough food for a single meal every week . That means 5 % of your food comes from your own garden or allotment . Imagine the benefit to the planet of 5 % less fuel being used to transport the equivalent of your meal to the shops . The packaging , the advertising , the shelving , the processing and washing , the bags to carry the food home .
I always remember John Seymour ’ s battle cry : “ I am only one . I can do what one can do . But What one can do , that will I do .”
But then there the benefits to you and your family . Making your own is all about feeding yourselves . All the research that points to the future of food states that in the next 20 years we will have to be growing our own food – not just in the UK countryside , but in Manchester , Oxford – every town and city in the country . We will have to be growing in our gardens , allotments , parks and even the back entries between houses .
But one thing we can gain from this somewhat depressing forecast is at least we will be eating real food , local food which will have flavour and health . So why not get used to it right now ?
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