Get Involved

Activist Toolkit

How to Grow Your Own Food Without Chemicals, Blood, Bones,
or Manure

English Poet Abraham Cowley once wrote, “I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large Garden.”

For those of us who have had our own experience tending a garden, the sentiment is not hard to understand. It is immensely satisfying to see something so tiny as a seed turn into a basket of squash or tomatoes or peas. And there is a kind of peace one can find in gardening that makes it a rival to any yoga practice – although, gardening yogis would probably argue that gardening is yoga. As animal activists, we all could use something like that from time to time. But gardening has a more worldly benefit as well in that it can provide food for our tables. (Which isn’t to say we shouldn’t practice yoga!)

So how should our gardens grow? Veganically, of course!

Veganic gardening is like organic gardening in that it avoids chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that are pretty much bad for everyone. But a veganic garden is even better than a just-plain-organic one because it also avoids the use of manure, blood meal and bone meal, and other by-products of the animal agriculture and slaughter industries that are commonly used to fertilize organic crops. Instead, veganic gardens are fertilized with vegetable compost, green manures and “liquid feeds,” among other things.

Here are some tips to get you started on your veganic gardening adventure by making your own liquid feed:

• Find a watertight container with a spigot on the bottom.
• Fill this container with non-sprayed weeds and other leafy plant matter, then add water until the container is full.
• Let it sit for a couple of weeks and presto! You now have a very rich fertilizer that you can pour on your happy vegetables.
• In fact, it is so rich that you will want to dilute it; three parts plain water for one part “weed tea.”
• Warning: Most people find that liquid feed has an unpleasant odor, so use caution when preparing or using it indoors.

For more information on how to get your veganic garden going, check out these helpful resources:

Veganic Agriculture Network
Vegan Society
Vegan Organic Network

Tips for Urbanites

• Of course, not everyone has a yard in which to plant a garden, but apartment dwellers and city slickers need not despair! All you need to exercise your green thumb is a sunny patio or fire escape to start a container garden, which can be used for a wide variety of vegetable growing applications. (Important Safety Note: make sure your container garden does not interfere with the first function of your fire escape – saving your life in case of a fire!)
• Vegan compost makes a good potting mix for container gardens, but it can be hard to find in some areas, so consider making your own. Yes, there are compost systems that will even work indoors, ranging from home-made and low-tech, to high-tech.
• Another good alternative for the urban gardener is the community garden. Check with the American Community Garden Association to see if there is a community garden near you, or start your own!
• Oftentimes you can have your own plot in the garden where you can ensure that plants are grown veganically. If you share a plot with others, consider it a perfect opportunity to plant some seeds of vegan awareness. Discuss your concerns about the use of non-veganic methods with your fellow gardeners, and politely ask them to consider your alternatives.

If you approach it in the right way, you may soon find yourself creating not just veganic gardeners, but full-on vegan gardeners!