A few months ago my friend who was going to be away mentioned that I should swing by to harvest some berries from her place so they wouldn’t go to waste. It just so happens that the cyclospora situation began the week before the berries were ready to be picked. The timing was providential because raspberries were at the top of the list of foods to avoid. The bushes were growing in neat rows in a space approximately 5 by 10 feet. You can pack a lot of plants in a space that size so there were a couple hundred berries available. I was able to pick some to eat fresh and some to freeze for future use.
I believe we’ve now entered a world in which growing some foods for each other might be necessary and this experience has shown me that we can have the best of both worlds in this situation. More community and more fresh food. If you don’t have space to grow raspberry plants, then try something more compact like greens in containers. Lettuce, kale, chard, bok choy, chinese cabbage and collards can grow very well in large quantities in a small space. If you don’t have outdoor space, then clear a little corner in your living for a vertical hydroponic system. Perhaps ask a friend or family member if they want to pool resources together to buy it. With a two or three tier system you can grow enough greens for up to three large salads per week for three people. If you have a semi sunny window you can grow containers of greens in water or soil or use indoor grow lights on shelves. There are so many ways to have fresh food available at home. If you can’t manage greens, then grow some herbs, which are the easiest and can produce substantial amounts at a time. (Currently, two of the cyclospora offenders are cilantro and basil.)
A good idea would be to assign one herb to each person in your circle if you want to start small. One person grows basil, another grows parsley and then someone else takes care of the cilantro. Then you swap herbs when you get together. Herbs for cooking can be dried or stored in the freezer until you are ready to use them or you can just clip them right before you cook. If you’re growing outside, putting a variety of herbs together is the best option for diversity, to feed pollinators and to keep pests at bay.
This may all seem like too much work, but once you get the hang of it, it’s well worth it. It will save you money as well as possible encounters with gut invaders. 🦠
If you want to learn more about how to easily grow a bit of produce at home follow along as I share what I’ve learned in the last five years of growing hydroponically and in containers.
