HEALTHY YOU

Survival Wellness

tips on backyard gardening and finding alternative resources for baby formula

Since the pandemic began many of us have experienced circumstances we thought our civilized and developed country would never face. Food shortages are at the top of the list. Now more than ever, you are your best advocate for your well-being and healthcare. In March, I started noticing aisles of empty shelves in local grocery stores. Last week, I saw two posts from friends here in Memphis reporting no produce in Kroger, one of our country’s largest grocery chains. Living a self-sustaining life is as important today as it was in the days before grocery stores and mass-produced foods. The first step toward becoming self-sustaining is growing your own food. You do not have to live in the country to have a self-sustaining homestead; you can turn your backyard into a mini farm with simple methods and light work. I have been backyard gardening for almost seven years. You do not need a lot of space to yield a significant amount of food. Did you know one tomato plant can yield as much as 30 pounds of tomatoes?

How to get started: Identify a spot in your yard that gets a minimum of six hours of sunlight a day. 1. Build a 4x4x2-foot raised garden bed.

STORY MICHELLE JOHNS

MA, LPC-MHSP (TEMP), NCC, 200 HR E-RTY, 500 HR RYT

2. Fill your bed with a combination of topsoil (60%), potting soil (30%), and compost (10%). 3. Mark or grid your box with 12x12-inch squares. 4. Plant with transplants or start plants from seeds. You only need one plant, or three to five seeds, per square foot. All your garden will need is a little weeding here and there, sunlight and water. As the seasons change you will need to change out the plants. Below I share some resources to help you further.

In addition to growing your own food, you may consider growing your community of likeminded people. Collaborating with your friends and neighbors to create a self-sustaining system can be a great way to ensure you have enough resources to weather shortages and expand your supplies. In many parts of the country baby formula is currently difficult to find and when in stock, available for purchase only in limited quantities, leaving mothers worrying how they will feed their little ones.

In a recent conversation with my dad he told me that his younger sister needed an alternative to breast milk and formula, so my Grandaddy bought a goat as a milk source for his baby girl. The baby formula shortage has created great concerns for parents across the country. Mothers who are struggling to find formula could consider alternatives including breast milk from a breast milk bank or goat milk.

While there may be some concerns over alternative resources, they could still be viable options and are worth considering. Parents should do their own research and decide what is best for their family. Below is a short list of resources to facilitate research.

In addition to growing food and sourcing alternative resources, the following wellness tips are equally important to prepare for any future pandemic surges and food shortages. Regular exercise: Engage in some form of exercise every day. Get your heart rate up at least five times a week with cardio exercise for at least 30 minutes.

Spiritual practice: Every day set aside breaks for time alone with soft music, complete silence, breathing exercises—whatever works for you for a time of mindfulness. If you struggle to disconnect and slow the everyday thoughts, start with 10-minute increments.

Social Interaction: Dan Buettner, National Geographic reporter, discovered that those who live in the five places on the earth where people have Backyard gardening resources: • squarefootgardening.org • backyardgardener.com Baby formula alternatives: • msmilkbank.org • milkbanktn.org • onlythebreast.com • mamanatural.com/best-baby-formula/ • organicformulashop.com/collections/holleorganic-goat-milk-formula

Note: The contents of this documentation are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. Readers should seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with questions regarding a medical condition and lifestyle changes. Resources for the content of this piece are available upon request.

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