By Valerie Villamán Martínez, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist at Triple-S
Do you dream of harvesting your own vegetables at home? Well, with our eternal sunshine and blessed rainfall, having a home garden in Puerto Rico could be easier than making arroz con gandules! Picture this: You in flip-flops harvesting juicy tomatoes, tender squash, and even papayas right from your balcony, patio, or rooftop garden. While you don’t need to be an expert farmer, you do need to have the desire to consume fresh food, save money, and nourish your body and soul.
First, choose a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Our tropical climate is perfect for that. If you live in an apartment, use planters or recycled containers, or even cut-up plastic bottles, as they will all work! Place these containers on your balcony or by a glass window. Fill it with fertile soil. You can make a cheap and effective compost mix by combining local soil with compost.
Now, what should you grow? Start with the easy stuff, like cilantro, cucumbers, green beans, and peppers. But don’t stop there! As time goes by, try growing more substantial crops, such as corn, eggplants, plantains, bananas, and pigeon peas. You could even grow fruit trees, like lemons or guavas. You can find the seeds at hardware stores, farmers markets, and supermarkets. Better yet, source your seeds directly from local farmers such as Desde mi Huerto or from the Agricultural Experiment Substation in your region, which have seeds adapted to our climate. Water sparingly—don’t overwater your plants, and don’t forget to fertilize them, as they need nutrients to grow.
Human beings obtain sustenance from agriculture. Puerto Rico relies heavily on imports. After experiencing hurricanes like Maria (2017), we learned that supermarkets clear out quickly. A home garden offers many benefits, including greater independence, the ability to grow your own food, cost savings on “expensive” vegetables, and healthier eating options. Say goodbye to wilted supermarket lettuce! According to the University of Puerto Rico’s Agricultural Extension Service (SEA), home gardens serve as “an alternative for family food security.” The SEA offers free and low-cost curriculum guides and courses on topics such as home gardening and self-watering cultivation, which are available at its local offices or online.
Growing your own food provides a vital source of energy. This may include anything from herbs to root vegetables like cassava or sweet potatoes. By caring for your plants, watching them grow, and harvesting them, you can connect to the earth, lower your stress levels, add beauty to your home, and feel proud of the fruit of your efforts. It is an act of resistance and self-love in this fast-paced world. The tomato you grow not only tastes better, but also embodies your hard work and brings you satisfaction. As you expand your garden and grow larger crops, you are not only ensuring your access to fresh food, you are also creating a sustainable system that provides you with the physical and mental strength to face any challenge. Ready to get started? Grab a planter and join the green revolution today. Your body and wallet will thank you, and Puerto Rico will too!