How to Start a Vegetable Garden

Food sustainability is a big priority for Sus Living Soc. After all, the food industry contributes to over 25% of global greenhouse emissions. Being more sustainable with your general food consumption can have lasting effects on the environment. Also see our blog post on Veganism to learn more.

This blog post isn’t specifically about going vegan, but more about creating more sustainable food habits through growing your own food.

Perhaps you’ve stopped shopping at chain retail grocers, started composting, and made the switch to local produce and bulk shops. But now you want to take it one step further. Why not start your own vegetable patch? It’s not only a fun project but also a way to become way more circular in your eating and consumption patterns. Plus, those compost bins will be put to great use on your own food, providing you juicier and more nutrient-rich produce.

Step 1: Find the Ideal Spot

Location, Location, Location. Isn’t that what they say in Real Estate? It’s no different for your new garden. Finding the ideal spot will ensure maximum harvestability and longevity of your plants. There are three main factors to finding your ideal spot: Sunlight, Mulch/Soil quality, and pest control. Meaning…you need to find a very sunny spot, as most fruits and vegetables require full sunlight to grow, soil that is naturally high in nutrients and that will take well to added compost and a location away from pests that could do potential damage to your plants. Once you have found your ideal spot, it’s time to get planning. Also, good to consider if you are raising your garden, keeping it on the ground, or left in pots in a greenhouse. Check out this guide to building a raised garden bed.

Step 2: Plan Your Garden

The next step is to plan. What do you want to grow, what plants live well together and when will the plants you want to be ready to harvest? These are all questions you must ask before diving in. Start with question one. What do you want to grow, will this garden be exclusively vegetables, or will you include herbs and fruits? It’s all up to you. Next, it is important to note which plants can be placed in close proximity to one another and how far each plant should be spaced out as to not overcrowd. It is also important to know how long each plant takes to mature and what time of year is the typical harvest. If you are planting in the spring…what product will you have by the end of summer? Finally, once you have decided on which plants to grow, it is helpful to grid out their planting location either on paper or with your garden. There are dozens of great guides out there to help you plan out your garden:

Check out this amazing garden cheat sheet!

Step 3: Plant

Finally, let’s get to planting. Deciding whether you are going to start from scratch with seeds or with seedlings is crucial. Either way, you’ll likely visit a garden centre to pick out the fruits, vegetables, and herbs you decided on. Seedlings are slightly hardier and are a great option for a beginner because there is less room for error. The sustainable living soc recommends Newlands and Urban Plant Life if you live in Dublin.

Step 4: TLC

Maintaining your garden can be just as labor-intensive as setting it up. Grooming, water and tend to your plants each day for the best results. Also, check out this infographic on Pesticide-free gardening. If you keep all these tips in mind, you will be so happy with the results. And don’t forget to use any plant scraps in your compost to then use back in your garden.

Know you know how to start a vegetable garden, go do it! Having fresh produce every day from your own personal garden is so rewarding! Make delicious meals with all your own vegetables and contribute to your own circular composting system. Good luck and stay sustainable!

Thanks for reading!! We are TCD Sustainable living society, here to unite and elicit positive change in the world. Together we can learn a thing or two about environmentally friendly living and strive to make an impact with smart sustainable choices. If you enjoy what you read or have suggestions on topics you’d like to discuss next, leave us a comment! If you haven’t joined already, sign up to the Sustainable Living Society HERE. We look forward to creating a community of like-minded eco-warriors together! If you enjoyed what you read or learned something new, why not sign up for our weekly newsletter!