Gardening, the process of cultivating crops on a relatively small parcel of land at home or growing lawns which can be ornamental plants to beautify the environment, it's a profitable venture.
The use of the knowledge about growing and keeping a garden has both domestic and economic values.
When taken as a key activity, domestic gardening could be a very good project that can contribute to addressing the Sustainable Development Goal 2 which seeks to create a world free of hunger by 2030. It would also reduce expenditure on chemically prone groceries at supermarkets. It would create home management for the use of land.
People should not use all their plot of land for pavement, concretes and tiles. Some part of the land should be reserved for growing crops such as vegetables that can support most of the family’s needs and save money.
The size of the plot may depend on the size of the compound or land at your disposal. Some people may suggest a 800 square feet plot of land for larger families and others may go for a 200 square feet size plot of land for small families.
In developing the land, one may prefer to use weedicide to spray the land and kill the weeds before planting the crops, however this approach might not be the best practice. One could also weed the land manually with hoe or cutlass and burn the weeds before planting. Whichever way, the application of chemicals should be limited to protect the crop and health consumers. It is important to stress that pests control is essential.
Organic method of gardening is very important. One should practice mulching, apply animal manure to improve the fertility of the soil and irrigate the soil to support the crop’s life and ultimately the consumers.
Hard chemicals can affect the crop’s nutrients and its life span. Good practices of domestic gardening preserves the food’s lifespan when harvested. Therefore, in planning your domestic garden, you should consider the health and risk factors.
Domestic gardening can be one of mixed cropping approach, consisting of selected varieties of crops. The common example of crops can be garden eggs, pepper, okro, tomatoes, carrot, potato, cabbage, beans, onion, cassava and others on different beds on the same land. Some too can choose to practice monocropping which can be one type of crop of interest. But a family should do mixed cropping which can produce a variety of crops for food.
Domestic gardening is a need in this current dispensation of food crisis and global economic challenges. Do pest control with trusted chemical or weed as a form of exercise and keep yourself busy during holidays.
Domestic gardening is the future now. Save money and keep the family safe from poisonous foods.
By: Ignatius Awuah Tanoe Blay