"Grow Your Own Pharmacy"
There are a number of vitamins and minerals we need on a daily basis to keep us healthy. Strictly speaking we should be able to get all we need from nature, but when you see those irresistible bottles and jars of 'extra vitamin' supplements, it's almost criminal not to give them a try. However, it seems that a) most of them get left in the back of a cupboard or b) we didn't actually need them in the first place. Sometimes both 'a' and 'b' apply! There are nine main vitamins we can find in everyday food crops and all of them can be grown at home. Vitamins D and B12 are absorbed through sunlight, and in meat and dairy products, so unless you are keeping your own hens, some vitamins will have to be 'bought' in - although that still doesn't mean hitting the pill bottles... buy organic fresh produce as far as possible and grow the rest of the vitamins you and your family need: Grow Your Own Pharmacy by vitamins......  Probably the most talked about vitamin, but we often cook out a lot of the goodness from vegetables, apart from tomatoes. They are one of the rare foods that hold their vitamin C during cooking, so grow lots! Other garden produce high in vitamin C includes blackcurrants, peppers and strawberries. Peppers need to be planted every year, but strawberries and blackcurrants need a permanent patch and will produce fruit for a number of years with just a little TLC. Find out more about growing peppers, hot or sweet :-) on this page: Growing Peppers  Well, yes apparently carrots really do help you see in the dark! One medium carrot can provide all the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, which helps vision, and also acts as an antioxidant in the body to help fight off free radicals. Pumpkin is another good source of vitamin A, as well as winter kale, so remember to plant some before the summer's out. Fresh green veg in the winter will help ward off colds and flu as well. More about carrots in all colours here:Growing Carrots  Vitamin B1: Vitamin B1 converts carbs and fats into energy so for a boost of daily energy, keep up with the B1. Foods rich in this vitamin are broad beans ( which can be grown twice a year ), sweet corn, hazelnuts and garlic. Garlic is easy to grow in a small space and will add that touch of 'je ne sais quoi' to your cooking! Sweetcorn and hazelnuts need a bit more space, but are simple to grow and are popular and nutritious family foods. Find out more about growing nuts at home here: Growing Nuts  Although vitamin B2 can be found in spinach and is easy to grow in the home garden, we could diversify a little here and go for different tastes. Mushrooms are a good source of B2 and can be grown in kit form indoors. Salsify is a vegetable that many of us have forgotten about. It used to be called the oyster vegetable and is a great root crop as long as you have a good depth of soil in the veggie patch. ( You can have fun with food while you grow your own pharmacy! ) There are some amazing varieties of mushrooms you can grow at home. More fungi info here: Growing Mushrooms  Vitamin B6: This is where we can hit the good old fashioned staples. Potatoes and onions are a good source of vitamin B6. If you worry about potatoes being a weight gaining food, a fresh potato straight from the ground doesn't need any additional butter, cheese or other toppings to make it tasty! (Oh, and And onions, if stored well, will last for months.) Buy a specially designed potato barrel to save space - and digging! This one can be found in the UK - I think this is great! Vitamin E: Asparagus and raspberries have often been considered to be 'luxury' crops - maybe because they are so expensive in the shops?! They are both perfect for the home-grower. Both crops will thrive for years with very little attention. Asparagus is cropped during the 'hungry gap' - after the winter crops have finished and before the spring crops begin. And raspberries turn up in early summer usually. More about growing asparagus here: Growing Asparagus and raspberries here: Growing Raspberries  Folate isn't made by the body so must come from a good source. Luckily it is found in everyday veggies we can grow at home. Beetroot and green beans are good sources of folate. Another source, that we often don't realise, is parsley. Chop parsley finely and sprinkle over your food, rather than leave it on the side of the plate as an inedible garnish - it is really packed full of goodness. More about growing parsley at home here: Growing Parsley  Niacin (B3) is one of the most active vitamins in the body and breaks down fats and sugars. It is generally found in protein rich foods such as meat, fish and pulses. Courgettes (zucchini) are a good source of niacin and can crop right through the summer and autumn months. Peas are also high in niacin and can be started off early in the year. Peas are a good vegetable to grow in the home vegetable patch as they can replace nitrogen in the soil. Growing peas in your home veggie patch: Garden Peas  Another of the B vitamins, this one is needed to produce B12 which helps maintain cell structure in the blood. Avocados are a good source of B5 as well as broccoli and parsnips. Parsnips are best left in the ground until after the first frost so are a great early winter vegetable. They also store well. Try growing different types of broccoli; dwarf varieties are ideal for container growing. Grow some superfoods at home! Growing Broccoli  Don't forget that all of these crops mentioned have other vitamins and minerals apart from the ones listed above, and the best way to feed yourself and your family is to grow an assortment of fruit and vegetables, and remember to eat them! Find out more in my book 'Grow Your Own Pharmacy' available everywhere!  Happy Gardening!
 • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions. ("Grow your own pharmacy for the winter months with this wonderful book!")  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Gardening Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growyourownpharmacy.html |
Peppers 
Tomatoes 
Carrots
Onions 
Sweetcorn 
Beans