How Do I Make My Property Self-Sufficient?

These are unprecedented times, and countless people around the world have taken the recent pandemic as a sign that some degree of self-sufficiency is a must. Throughout the pandemic, due to lockdowns and social distancing, many have found it difficult to get the things they need. With limited access to fresh food, it’s hard to imagine how many people’s health has been affected by this dependence on supermarkets and stores. Growing your own food can be as simple or complicated as you want, and there are countless resources available to guide you. Not only can this be helpful in pandemic and other socially-disruptive events, but it can also help prepare your home for the inevitable effects of the changing climate. As a provider of services like landscaping in Hill County TX, we know that this kind of work starts from the ground up.

Here is a look at how you can prepare your property so that you can provide for your family.

Identifying Usable Space

Before contacting us about landscaping in Hill County TX, it’s important to identify all usable space both indoors and outdoors on your property. This can help you to get an idea of exactly what you can plant before investing in seeds, dirt, and expensive equipment.

Indoor Space

Depending on the layout of your home, you may have space or a spare bedroom which may be suitable to host some plants. If you’re lucky enough to have a conservatory in your home, then you will find it very easy to grow a variety of plants indoors. Otherwise be sure that any indoor space you consider for plants gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day.

Outdoor Space

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need a lot of space outside to grow your own food. Even just a few square feet can be utilized efficiently to host a variety of different vegetables, herbs, spices, or fruit trees. When looking at your outdoor space be sure to utilize those areas which get the most prolonged sunlight during the day.

Landscaping Hill County – Land Clearing

If you’re lucky enough to have a large outdoor area in which you can grow food, you may need to clear or flatten certain areas to accommodate planter boxes or veggie patches. While this kind of work is achievable with basic tools and plenty of time, hiring landscapers can ensure it’s done efficiently and to the highest possible quality.

Assessing the Climate to Determine What to Grow

The growth of any plant is predominantly determined by environmental factors, especially the climatic conditions that it normally grows in. When it comes to growing your own food, you will need to look at the annual climate conditions of your area to determine what you can grow. As we are based in Texas, here is a list of fruit and vegetables which grow well in the state.

What are fruits and vegetables commonly grown in Texas?

While there are 8 unique climate zones in Texas, they can be split into two categories: arid and semiarid. This makes any plants which love sunlight a breeze to grow, although irrigation systems or a good watering schedule is necessary.

Here are some fruits and vegetables which grow well in Texas, and the time of year to harvest them:

• Apples (June through November) – Texan tree-ripened apples tend to be much sweeter
• Oranges (October through April)
• Grapefruit (October through May)
• Peaches (April through August)
• Pears (May through August)
• Carrots, green cabbage, and greenhouse tomatoes (all year round)
• Leafy greens (October through April)
• Russet, white, and red potatoes (April through September)
• Sweet bell peppers and hot peppers (May through December)

This is only a fraction of the many fruit and vegetables which can be grown both indoors and outdoors in the Texan climate. Check out this planting schedule for more information about the best time of year to plant in your state.

Finding helpful resources on self-sustainability

As stated in the beginning of this article, there are truly innumerable resources freely available online which can be relevant to your endeavors. Some of our favorites are:

• Foodprint – Growing your own food (website with articles)
• Shanna Smith – Grow Your Own Food (podcast)
• Self Sufficient Me (Youtube channel)

Otherwise pop into your local library to see what books they have on the matter, there are many useful guides out there with accurate information.

Looking for Landscaping in Hill County TX? Contact Wright Construction

Once you’ve planned all of the above details about your garden set up, and you’re ready to start work on your land, call our team at Wright Construction about our landscaping in Hill County TX. We have experience in helping people set up their veggie gardens and personal orchards, and look forward to hearing how we can help you too.