I have often wondered how vegans source their vegetables as a lot of those that you find in the supermarket have actually been fertilised with animal products, or been sprayed with chemicals toxic to wildlife.
I actually do vegan gardening, but it is more by accident and trying to save money, than by design. Here are some of the ways I garden that fall in with vegan principles.
- I don’t use manure or fish blood and bone (or any other animal products.
- You can buy vegan fertilisers but they are expensive. I make my own from comfrey, seaweed or nettles.
- I use natural pest control. This includes companion planting, regular slug and snail hunts, scarers, having lots of bushes in the boundary to encourage birds and hedgehogs who are natural predators, having sacrifial plants and wild areas for wild life, flowers amongst the crops for pollination, use water and garlic spray and herbs to keep pests away, and I rotate crops to stop disease.
- I grow in containers or use a no dig method (soil is an eco system destroyed by digging).
- I make my own compost.
- I grow organically, only using natural products and methods.
- I use organic seeds or seeds I have collected as much as possible.
- By growing at home I have reduced my carbon footprint.
- I try to water using rain water, if possible and mulch to slow down evaporation of moisture.
Vegan gardening was only really recognised in 2018, and many people are surprised when I mention it. Growing your own food using these methods is a great way to make sure that your food is actually vegan.
