The Grow Your Own Food Handbook

Learning to grow food was a milestone in the development of the human race. As hunters and gatherers learned to cultivate food, they began to develop societies. Many of the Native Americans were expert food growers and taught the pilgrims to grow native foods such as corn, beans, and squash, thus sustaining the struggling settlements. A community food garden was the norm as these settlements grew. As the pioneers worked their way across the country, a food garden was a necessity for survival. In days past, every farm had a big garden, and even those in the cities with big backyards grew their own food. These days a much smaller number of people grow their own food, while most depend on the grocery-store shelves to provide their nutrition.