Peak Moment 87: In summer 2006 Judy Alexander embarked on an experiment to see how much food she could grow, and how many neighbors could benefit, from the garden around her house. Check out her homegrown rainwater collection and irrigation system – watering her 60+ edible crops. Meet the bees, the chickens and the worms. And catch her joy in producing so much food for so little effort.
Duration : 0:27:52
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Popular Questions
How much food can I realistically grow around my house?
A small yard can produce a meaningful supply of herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, peppers, and other compact crops. The total depends on sunlight, growing space, soil quality, climate, and how intensively you plant. Measure the available area, note which sections receive at least six hours of sun, and choose crops suited to those conditions.
How much food can I grow around my house in a small garden?
Even a small garden can provide regular harvests when you use succession planting and vertical supports. Fast-growing greens and radishes can be replanted several times, while trellises allow cucumbers, beans, and small melons to grow upward. Containers can add productive space on patios, balconies, and sunny steps.
What determines how much food I can grow around my house?
Available sunlight is one of the biggest limits, followed by water access, soil fertility, plant spacing, and the length of your growing season. A sunny, well-maintained area can produce far more than the same-sized space with shade or compacted soil. Track harvest weights and planting dates so you can improve yields and select the most productive crops each year.
How can I grow more food around my house without adding a larger garden?
Increase production by growing vertically, choosing compact varieties, and planting crops with different harvest times in the same space. Use containers for herbs and vegetables, add compost to improve soil, and replant empty areas as soon as an early crop finishes. Regular harvesting also encourages many plants to keep producing throughout the season.
