by Angela Lundmark

Grow Your Own

First, I need to make a bit of a disclaimer. I love plants- all plants. I could do without the Poison Ivy but I am certain that it has a place in the natural order of things. Plants that we do not currently have a use for deserve more study. I also realize that there is value in growing things simply because they are pretty. My favorite place on earth is my mother’s flower garden and the flowers are seldom used for anything but eye candy. However, my column is about gardening efficiently, which is why I have chosen to write this article.

Before I became involved in LED grow lights, I was studying herbs. My goal being to eventually take locals on tours of the Rocky Mountains to show them the herbal remedies and food that is available in their backyard. The result of my studies was a respect for the limited natural resources of our environment. I decided that showing groups how and what to gather might encourage over-harvesting of the areas I had come to love. The solution for me was to show people how to grow their own in the most efficient manner possible.

I would like to think that my readers will never be put in a position that requires them to rely on their flower bed to sustain themselves, but in the spirit of efficiency, shouldn‘t we use what we grow? There are many plants that we know to contain medicinal and nutritional value that can also make for a beautiful garden.  Below is a list of both beautiful and useful plants. Only my favorites are listed. With a bit of investigation, you may find that your current selection is full of uses as well.  This requires one more disclaimer. I am not a doctor. You should consult your physician before utilizing any herbal remedy. Plants are powerful- respect them.

Unless you live in the tropics, Kale is a fabulous plant to add some green.  It grows in almost any soil and is highly resistant to pests .  Kale stays green year-round in most climates and actually becomes sweeter when exposed to frost.  Kale is high in antioxidants with large doses of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and iron to name a few.

For the indoor gardener… micro greens can fill empty spaces in a matter of days. Micro greens are simply the baby (cotyledon) of an edible green. You can use lettuce, spinach, kale, anything with an edible sprout. Under 9 watts of LED grow lights, using seeds that have been pre-sprouted, I can grow my own micro green salad in a standard propagation tray every 3-7 days depending on the species. Micro greens contain higher concentrations of nutrients than the mature versions and the flavor is more intense. You can conceivably grow your own salad with the leftover space of newly potted houseplants.

If you prefer flowers…Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowers that have been used for generations as a safe insecticide. They have been proven to improve air quality indoors (this is true for most plants but NASA happened to study Chrysanthemums). Yarrow can be used for treating the common cold, hypertension, and menstrual cramps as well as being rich in Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorous, Vitamin C, Potassium, and Niacin.  Rosemary is a culinary delight as well as a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Maybe you love trees… Not to be too obvious, but a tree that provides shade as well as fruit seems to be the best choice if it is efficiency you are looking for. Sassafras not only makes a great root beer, but because of its water resistance and light weight- it makes a great boat or a fence post. Who’s to say when that might be handy?

My point? Gardening requires resources. From an efficiency standpoint growing with a purpose is favorable.  Your purpose may be to bring a touch of joy to people who pass by. I wouldn’t consider this a waste of resources. I do think that the ideal garden would not only bring joy but offer sustenance on some level. With a small amount of planning, your garden can become an oasis to those in need as well as a security blanket for your family. This is efficiency.

Angela Lundmark, CEO of LED Grow Master Global. She may be contacted by calling 866.414.7244 or visiting www.led-grow-master.com.