Growing for Health and Community:

How I’m Working to Make Fresh, Nutritious Food Accessible for All

I firmly believe that the food I grow and consume plays a vital role in my health and well-being. By practicing what I preach, I’ve made a commitment to not only nourish my own body but also share what I’ve learned with others. Whether it’s through growing my own food or offering alternatives to traditional meal programs, my goal is simple: to provide fresh, nutritious options that support health, recovery, and wellness for everyone.

The Power of Plants in My Daily Diet

Each plant I grow offers its own unique set of benefits, which I regularly incorporate into my meals. One of my favourite ways to enjoy these plants is in a vibrant salad that I’ve carefully crafted to deliver flavour, nutrition, and healing properties. This salad includes:

• Lettuce: Hydrating and full of fibre.
• Garlic: A powerful antioxidant that supports heart health and immunity.
• Arugula: Known for its detoxifying effects.
• Basil: Not only delicious but also packed with anti-inflammatory properties.
• Curly Dock: Rich in iron and vitamins.
• Plantain: A versatile plant that aids digestion and supports healthy skin.
• Dandelion: A detoxifying powerhouse, beneficial for liver health.

I often share details about these plants, including their individual benefits, through links on my site. For example, I even add plantain, dandelion, and basil to my dog’s food each week to support his health and well-being! Incorporating these plants regularly into my diet is not just about flavour—it’s a way of maintaining and enhancing my health through the natural world around me.

Growing for Health, Growing for Others

My journey toward health has also shaped my efforts to help others. After experiencing the impact of my own health struggles, including a stroke and open-heart surgery, I realized that food is a crucial factor in recovery. Doctors emphasized the importance of avoiding high-sodium, processed foods, a reality that many people facing food insecurity also struggle with.

Food banks and prepared meals often come with high levels of sodium, a serious issue for individuals with health conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease. Finding healthy, fresh food can be nearly impossible, and that’s where my mission comes in. I am working toward creating a sustainable model that allows me to grow fresh, nutrient-dense food in small spaces and share it with those in need.

In my own apartment, where I started growing plants indoors, I learned that it’s possible to create a productive garden in even the smallest spaces. After facing challenges with pesticides and herbicides in outdoor gardens, I turned to hydroponic growing methods, particularly the Kratky Method, which allows me to grow plants without soil. This method has allowed me to grow everything from leafy greens to tomatoes, beans, and carrots year-round, despite the challenges posed by limited space and environmental factors.

The Not Just A Food Program:

Aiming to Provide Fresh, Healthy Options

One of my main goals is to develop the Not Just A Food Program, which will provide free, fresh salads to those in need. This initiative is designed to support individuals who are struggling with food insecurities, especially those who follow vegetarian or vegan diets or have food allergies. Often, free meal programs do not cater to these specific needs, and there’s a gap in nutritious, healthy options for these individuals.

My vision is to offer more than just the typical high-sodium meals; I want to provide meals that truly nourish the body. As I continue to develop this program, I’m focused on providing fresh, homegrown salads made with ingredients from my own hydroponic garden. These salads will not only help people feel full but also give them the essential nutrients needed for recovery, health, and overall wellness.

Overcoming Challenges:

From Indoor Gardening to Hydroponics

My journey has not been without its challenges. After my stroke, I realized that my ability to care for plants using traditional methods—such as watering by hand—was no longer practical. This led me to experiment with different hydroponic techniques, which have allowed me to increase my productivity and grow healthier plants with less effort.

Hydroponics also opened up new possibilities for growing root vegetables and leafy greens without soil, making it a perfect solution for my indoor growing goals. Over the years, I’ve learned how to optimize my setup to grow more than 17 different types of plants, experimenting with containers, nutrients, and lighting to find what works best. Each new method I discover brings me closer to my goal of offering year-round fresh salad options for the Not Just A Food Program.

Sharing What I Learn:

FIFE and the ILFJL Collective

Throughout my journey, I’ve been documenting my successes and failures through the FIFE - Food Is For Everyone platform. This space allows me to share my experiences, challenges, and learnings with others who are also passionate about growing their own food or providing healthy options to those in need. The goal of FIFE is not just to provide food but to build a community of like-minded individuals who support one another in our efforts to make fresh, nutritious food accessible to everyone.

As part of this initiative, I’ve also connected with the ILFJL Collective, a group focused on learning, growing, and sharing resources to support the goal of food security for all. Together, we’re exploring new ways to increase food production, build sustainable models, and work collaboratively to make healthy food options available to more people.

A Vision for the Future:

LIFE - Love Is For Everyone

At the heart of everything I do is the belief that LIFE - Love Is For Everyone. This philosophy drives my efforts to not only grow food but also build community, foster collaboration, and share the love that comes from nourishing the body and soul.

By focusing on healthy, homegrown food, I hope to inspire others to take control of their own health and well-being, and to offer support to those who need it most. I believe that, together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future where nutritious food is available to all, regardless of their circumstances.

As I continue to work on these goals and refine the details, I remain committed to helping those in need and creating a future where fresh, nutritious food is accessible, affordable, and grown with love.