Grow & organize food

Lawn out; start a garden

• Cover parts of your lawn with newspaper or cardboard.
• Put compost or chips over that.
• Take out small pieces of lawn at a time and plant them in food.
• Use mulch to cut summer water use.
• Learn more about gardening.
• Learn what grows in the Willamette Valley.
• It takes practice to produce good food.

Learn permaculture gardening

• This integrated system makes a great planning tool for a yard or bigger area.
• Develop an edible yard.
• Plant more edible shrubs.
• Learn about tree guilds and food forests.
• Plant fruit, berries, & nuts.
• Learn pruning.
• Start composting: weeds, yard debris, kitchen waste, grass.
• Keep bees.
• Get chickens, rabbits, maybe a goat.
• Collect rainwater.
• Use your grey water.
• Save seeds.
• Build a greenhouse or cold frame.
• Learn canning & preserving.
• Consider a root cellar.

Support local agriculture

• Seek out local farmers & craftspeople.
• Support CSA.
• Buy local produce.
• Find local meat producers.
• Buy local & buy from small businesses.
• Store food.
• Learn new ways to cook.
• Use local coops.
• Support everything small and local.
• Don’t buy from the big box chain stores.