Rooted in Resilience
Potatoes, Poutine, and Prosperity
Grow Your Own: The Benefits of Farming Your Own Food (Plus a Healthier Poutine Recipe!)
Thomas Jefferson once believed that the heart of the American dream wasn’t in factories or financial markets—it was in farming. He saw growing your own food as a way to stay healthy, self-sufficient, and deeply connected to nature. Fast forward to today, with concerns over food shortages, rising costs, and even urban farms working to combat food deserts, the idea of homegrown food is more relevant than ever.
And since it’s National Poutine Day, what better way to celebrate than by growing our own potatoes and making a healthier version of poutine?
5 Benefits of Growing Your Own Food
1️⃣ Self-Sufficiency & Food Security
There’s a reason many farmers are strategizing their planting seasons to adapt to uncertain economic and environmental conditions. When you grow your own food, you’re less reliant on grocery stores and global supply chains. In times of crisis, those with gardens are less likely to panic.
🌱 Try This: If you have limited space, grow potatoes in a container or grow bag—they don’t need much room and can yield a lot!
2️⃣ Healthier, Fresher Food
Homegrown food is free from pesticides, preservatives, and unknown additives. Freshly harvested vegetables have more nutrients than store-bought produce that’s been sitting in storage. Plus, gardening gets you outside in the sun for Vitamin D!
🥔 Fun Fact: Potatoes are actually nutrient-dense when not deep-fried. They contain Vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and even protein!
3️⃣ Saving Money on Groceries
Food prices are skyrocketing, and even urban farms in places like St. Louis are stepping up to provide fresh produce to food-insecure areas. Growing your own can drastically cut grocery costs—especially if you focus on high-yield foods like potatoes, greens, tomatoes, and herbs.
💰 Pro Tip: A single potato plant can produce 5-10 potatoes, making it one of the best staple crops for food security.
4️⃣ Mental Health & Stress Relief
There’s something deeply therapeutic about digging in the dirt. Studies show that gardening reduces stress, anxiety, and even boosts mood. It’s also an act of resilience—a way to feel more in control in uncertain times.
🧘 Jefferson’s Wisdom: He believed that farming was healthier than factory work because it connected people to nature rather than keeping them in enclosed, industrial settings.
5️⃣ Builds Community & Food Resilience
Urban farms—like New Roots Urban Farm in St. Louis—are changing the way communities access food. They prove that even a small amount of land (less than 1/3 acre!) can feed a neighborhood. Their farm includes a greenhouse, outdoor kitchen, chickens, bees, and a shared food-growing space.
New Roots Urban Farm is an anti-profit collective dedicated to empowering communities by providing sustainable and locally grown food. They believe that each block or neighborhood should have its own localized food system, reducing dependence on large-scale farms and distant markets. By maintaining a farm site, greenhouse, outdoor kitchen, and livestock like chickens and bees, they offer a real-life model of how urban farming can transform communities and provide food security in areas often considered food deserts.
Their farm serves as a gathering space for people, ideas, and innovative agricultural methods, proving that even in an urban setting, communities can take control of their food supply and create a more sustainable future.
🌎 Get Inspired: Look into local community gardens or urban farms in your city to see how they’re making fresh food more accessible!
🥔 Healthier Homemade Poutine Recipe (Using Homegrown Potatoes!)
Traditional poutine is delicious, but it’s also deep-fried and heavy. This version keeps the crispy texture and rich flavors but with a healthier twist!
🥄 Ingredients:
✔ 2 large potatoes (homegrown, if possible!)
✔ 1 tbsp olive oil
✔ 1/2 tsp salt & pepper
✔ 1/2 cup cheese curds (or cubed fresh mozzarella)
✔ 1 cup homemade gravy (see below for a lighter version!)
✔ Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
🍟 Instructions:
1️⃣ Prep the Potatoes: Slice into fries (leave the skin for more nutrients!). Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
2️⃣ Bake Instead of Fry: Arrange on a baking sheet and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway.
3️⃣ Make a Healthier Gravy:
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
1 tbsp cornstarch (or whole wheat flour) mixed with 2 tbsp water
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (for umami flavor)
Simmer & whisk until thickened!
4️⃣ Assemble: Layer crispy potatoes, sprinkle cheese curds, and pour the warm gravy on top!
Final Thoughts: Growing Food = Growing Resilience
Growing your own food is one of the most powerful things you can do for your health, community, and peace of mind. Whether you have a backyard, a balcony, or just a windowsill, even a small effort makes a difference.
And if Thomas Jefferson was right, maybe gardening isn’t just about food—it’s about freedom.
Would you ever try growing your own potatoes? Let’s chat in the comments! 🥔✨
Bonus Video: Growing Potatoes with ChatGPT’s Help! 🎥
To go along with this post, I’m making a short video on how I used ChatGPT to give me a step-by-step guide on growing potatoes from sprouted ones I didn’t eat in time. Watch it here: https://youtube.com/shorts/ZDuhyFuWsqA🚀🌱
