Ditch the grocery store and take control of your food with these time-tested methods.
There was a time when people didn’t panic over empty grocery store shelves. They didn’t worry about skyrocketing food prices or mystery ingredients in their produce. Why? Because they grew their own food, preserved what they harvested, and passed down self-sufficiency like a family heirloom. It wasn’t a trendy hobby—it was survival.
Today, those old-school skills are making a comeback. With food costs rising and concerns over sustainability growing, more people are ditching the store-bought mindset and getting back to their roots—literally. You don’t need a farm or years of experience to do it. With a little patience and a few time-tested tricks, anyone can grow fresh, delicious food right at home.
Whether you have a backyard, a balcony, or just a sunny windowsill, these 12 methods will help you eat like a homegrown pro and never look at the grocery store the same way again.
1. Turn your windowsill into a mini grocery store with a kitchen garden.
Running to the store for a bunch of basil or a head of lettuce is a modern luxury—one your grandparents wouldn’t have wasted their time on. They grew what they needed right outside their door, keeping fresh ingredients within arm’s reach at all times.
A kitchen garden is the easiest way to start growing food at home. Herbs like basil, thyme, and chives thrive in pots on a sunny windowsill, while greens like lettuce and spinach grow effortlessly in raised beds. According Catherine Boeckmann for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, most kitchen garden plants thrive in at least six hours of sunlight and well-draining soil, making them easy to grow in small spaces. Once you get the hang of it, adding tomatoes, peppers, and root veggies to the mix is a no-brainer. Not only will your meals taste better, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of grabbing ingredients straight from your own garden instead of a plastic container.
2. Save your seeds like a pro and never buy another packet again.
Grandparents didn’t treat seeds like disposable items. They saved them, stored them, and replanted them year after year—because why waste money on something nature gives for free? Seed saving is surprisingly simple. Just let some of your best plants fully mature, collect their seeds, and store them in a cool, dry place.
Heirloom varieties, like beefsteak tomatoes, pole beans, and squash, are perfect for this because they grow true to type every season. Over time, saved seeds adapt to your local environment, making them hardier and better suited to your garden. Per Roberta Bailey for Mother Earth News, saving seeds can help gardeners save money, grow better crops, and become more self-reliant. Once you master seed saving, you’ll never need another overpriced seed packet again.
3. Stop throwing away gold—compost like your garden depends on it.
Before chemical fertilizers, people used what they had—kitchen scraps, manure, and yard waste—to create rich, nutrient-dense soil. Composting wasn’t just a way to get rid of food waste; it was a garden’s secret weapon. Instead of tossing veggie peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells in the trash, throw them in a compost bin. In a few months, you’ll have dark, crumbly compost ready to supercharge your plants.
As noted by the U.S. Composting Council, composting provides numerous benefits, including preventing soil erosion, assisting in stormwater management, promoting healthier plant growth, conserving water, and reducing waste. No chemicals, no synthetic fertilizers—just pure, organic matter that turns lackluster soil into a thriving ecosystem. A good compost pile keeps your plants happy, your wallet full, and your garbage can a little less smelly.
4. Pair up your plants and let nature do the pest control.
Your grandparents didn’t rely on chemical pesticides to keep their gardens thriving. Instead, they planted strategically, using a technique called companion planting to naturally protect crops, improve soil health, and increase yields. Certain plants thrive when grown together, providing mutual benefits that make the entire garden stronger.
For example, basil repels pests that love to feast on tomatoes, while carrots and onions help keep each other’s natural predators away. Marigolds act as a natural insect deterrent, keeping aphids and nematodes at bay. Legumes like beans and peas fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting neighboring plants that need rich nutrients.
Companion planting isn’t just about pest control—it’s about creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where plants work together. By learning which crops grow best side by side, you’ll build a healthier, more productive garden without the need for artificial sprays or chemical fertilizers. Your plants will thank you.
5. Don’t waste a single tomato—learn the lost art of food preservation.
Supermarkets have made it easy to forget that food has seasons. Your grandparents, however, didn’t take summer’s bounty for granted—they preserved it so they could eat well all year long. Canning, drying, and fermenting were staples of any self-sufficient household. Tomatoes became rich pasta sauce sealed in mason jars, apples turned into dried snacks, and cabbage transformed into probiotic-packed sauerkraut.
Not only does preserving food reduce waste, but it also keeps your pantry stocked with homegrown goodness long after the harvest ends. Forget freezer burn—old-school preservation methods are the key to eating fresh year-round.
6. Backyard chickens: The feathery freeloaders that give you fresh eggs and free fertilizer.
Why spend a fortune on eggs when a few clucking companions can handle it for you? Your grandparents knew that backyard chickens were more than just egg layers—they were natural pest control, compost makers, and garden fertilizers all rolled into one.
A small coop, some grain, and a bit of outdoor space are all it takes to get started. Chickens thrive on kitchen scraps, scratch up soil to keep it aerated, and provide golden-yolked eggs that put store-bought ones to shame. Plus, they’re surprisingly low maintenance. Once you have a few hens running the show, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
7. Stop wasting free water and start collecting rain like your grandparents did.
A good rainstorm meant one thing for past generations—free water for the garden. Instead of watching it wash away, they funneled it into barrels, keeping plants hydrated without ever touching a faucet. It was simple, effective, and saved money in the long run.
Setting up a rainwater collection system is easy. Place a barrel under a gutter downspout, add a mesh filter to keep out debris, and let nature do the rest. Plants prefer rainwater over chemically treated tap water anyway, and during dry spells, having a backup supply keeps your garden thriving.
8. You don’t need to till your soil when worms and microbes can do the work for you.
Not all traditions are worth keeping. While some farmers spent hours turning soil, your grandparents knew that nature does just fine without human interference. No-dig gardening builds rich, fertile earth by layering compost, mulch, and organic matter—no tilling required. Instead of disturbing the delicate ecosystem below the surface, this method lets worms and microbes do the work, breaking down materials naturally to enrich the soil. Beyond saving time and effort, no-dig gardening retains moisture, reduces weeds, and prevents soil erosion.
Healthy soil leads to thriving plants with better resistance to pests and disease. This approach works in gardens of all sizes, whether you have a backyard plot or a few raised beds. Less labor, healthier plants, and a more productive garden—it’s no wonder this method is gaining popularity again. When the goal is maximum results with minimal effort, letting nature take the lead is always the best choice.
9. Rotating crops each season will prevent pests, diseases, and nutrient depletion.
Growing the same crops in the same spot year after year seems convenient, but it can spell disaster for your garden. Soil gets stripped of essential nutrients, plant diseases spread, and pests return knowing exactly where their favorite meals will be. Your grandparents avoided these issues with crop rotation, a simple but highly effective gardening strategy. Rotating crops each season gives the soil time to recover and disrupts the life cycles of pests and pathogens. For example, legumes like beans and peas fix nitrogen in the soil, preparing it for nutrient-hungry crops like tomatoes and corn.
Root vegetables loosen compacted soil, improving its structure for leafy greens the following year. Even in small gardens, switching plant locations keeps everything balanced. Following a basic rotation plan ensures healthier plants, bigger harvests, and soil that stays rich year after year—just like the old-timers did.
10. Your kitchen scraps can turn into the best natural fertilizer for your garden.
Before chemical fertilizers lined store shelves, people relied on simple, natural ingredients to keep their soil fertile. Your grandparents used compost tea, wood ash, manure, and crushed eggshells to nourish their plants, and the results spoke for themselves. These natural fertilizers were cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and improved soil quality over time.
Kitchen scraps provide everything a garden needs. Banana peels offer potassium, coffee grounds add nitrogen, and eggshells boost calcium levels. Soaking compost in water creates a nutrient-rich “tea” that works wonders for plants. Not only do these methods enrich the soil, but they also reduce household waste. Feeding your garden without relying on store-bought chemicals makes your plants stronger, your food healthier, and your wallet heavier. If it worked for past generations, it’ll work for you too—no overpriced fertilizer required.
11. Planting fruit trees now will give you free, homegrown fruit for decades.
A grocery store apple can’t compete with one picked fresh from the backyard. Your grandparents understood the long game—fruit trees took time to establish, but once they did, they provided food for generations. Unlike annual crops that need to be replanted every season, fruit trees become permanent sources of nourishment with minimal upkeep. Dwarf fruit trees make it easy to grow apples, peaches, cherries, or lemons even in small spaces.
Many varieties thrive in pots or can be espaliered against fences. Once established, these trees require little effort beyond occasional pruning and feeding. The first few years require patience, but after that, they reward you with baskets of homegrown fruit year after year. Investing in fruit trees today means a lifetime of fresh, pesticide-free produce—and one less reason to rely on the grocery store.
12. A backyard food forest will provide a sustainable and low-maintenance food supply.
Your grandparents didn’t just plant neat rows of vegetables and call it a day—they embraced biodiversity. Food forests mimic nature, layering fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, and vegetables together in a way that maximizes production while minimizing effort. Once established, a food forest practically takes care of itself, reducing the need for watering, fertilizing, and pest control.
This method works by creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. Deep-rooted plants improve soil structure, berry bushes provide natural shade for delicate crops, and fallen leaves create free mulch. Instead of fighting against nature, a food forest works with it, creating an abundant harvest year after year. Whether you have a backyard or just a small space to work with, this method proves that a thriving garden doesn’t have to be high maintenance. More food, less effort, and a resilient, natural system—just the way your grandparents would have done it.