"Grow Your Own Soup"

Richard M. Romney, "Grow Your Own Soup", New Era, Apr. 1978, 41

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Church members, heeding President Spencer W. Kimball’s call to plant gardens,  may, in cultivating their gardens, discover a delightful secret—they can grow many of the ingredients of a hearty soup, including spices, right in their own backyards 

Whatever family members plan, they should keep one thing in mind: Gardening conditions vary widely. The best source of information will always be a local gardener who has had enough experience in the geographical area to know what will work and what won’t. Venture out to a local garden store, call a university extension service, maybe even visit a farm—it’s a fun way to meet new friends, and most vegetable lovers are glad to talk shop.

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There are some gardening tips, however, that are acceptable almost everywhere. 

1. To begin with, don’t overdo it. 
2. Most root vegetables can be grown fairly close together.
3. Another tip for a soup garden is to plant a crop with a short growing period as soon as possible, followed by another crop when the first one is harvested, such as peas followed by beans or beets. 

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Spices and herbs are fairly easy to cultivate, and they will add zest to any soup. 

• Red and green peppers thrive in many areas. 
• Parsley is a colorful garnish and grows almost anywhere.
• Sage endures once it gets established and boasts an attractive flower. 
• Chives grow successfully, even in an indoor pot, and can be trimmed repeatedly and still grow back. 
• Garlic sprouts only from its own cloves and should be planted early, because it requires 120 days to mature. 
• Thyme, anise, sweet marjoram, and basil are usually available on well-stocked seed racks, but oregano is hard to find. 

     UAdd a Note  Here are a few other general reminders:

—Vegetables need at least six hours of sunlight a day. 

—The garden site should be relatively level.

—Just about any soil will benefit from the addition of organic matter, such as manure, peat moss, or dead leaves. 

—Be careful with fertilizer. 

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—The simplest way to eliminate plant pests is to remove insects, worms, or eggs by hand. 

—Give seeds a chance.

As the first vegetables begin to ripen, the rewards of all the hoeing and weed pulling start to manifest themselves. Mom’s potato soup may include spuds grown just outside the kitchen door, with a few onions chopped up and stirred into the cream to perk up the taste. Or perhaps the tomato soup will be made from scratch, using the fruits of some industrious deacon’s own vines. 

Sound appetizing? Start planting now, then. Remember, though, that all the vegetables may not be ready at the same time.  

Link to the complete article for these recipes.   Grow Your Own Soup

• Peruvian Stew

• Pot-Au-Feu

• Minestrone

• Zucchini Soup