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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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