Feng Shui In Your Vegetable Garden

Although Feng Shui is most often used in architecture for siting buildings, in cemeteries for grave placement, and in the home for furniture positioning, I've found that it can also be beneficial in your vegetable garden.

Let me state for the record that I am not a Feng Shui master. I learned everything I know about Feng Shui by following the principles laid out in the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life which is a very basic and easy to understand Feng Shui guide. I do follow many of the Feng Shui principles in my home and have had good results when bringing those basic priciples into my vegetable garden.

Feng Shui,(pronounced fung shway) the Chinese art of creating balance of yin and yang and a harmonious flow of chi, (life energy) is becoming more and more popular in the western world. In its most basic form when used in the home, the rules apply to a living space that is organized, clean, and uncluttered, allowing positive energy to flow freely in and throughout the house.

Vegetable gardens, like people, need a positive flow of life energy too in order to live and prosper. Sunshine, water and nutrition must be available to each and every plant in order for your seedlings to mature and fruit properly. Gardens that are cluttered with weeds and debris will soon become weak and sick.

The Feng Shui rules and art have been studied for centuries and there are far too many principles for me to go into here but by simply following a few of the basic directions your garden will become healthier and your harvest will be greatly improved.

Proper Feng Shui Garden Placement

Choose a sunny, open location for your vegetable garden.

Your garden should not be planted in the middle of frequently used pathways, but off to the side where it can be enjoyed without interrupting the flow of traffic in your yard without being trampled on.

Your vegetables should be planted in rows leaving plenty of space between individual plants and sections to allow for sunshine and water to flow freely between them.

Use companion planting when planning your vegetable garden to help each variety thrive.

Keep large growing plants away from smaller growing types.

Vining (horizontally growing) plants should be kept away from tall, vertical growing plants to keep the vines from choking out their neighbors.

Unclutter Your Vegetable Garden

Weeds need to be removed in order for your vegetable plants to receive enough nutrition from the soil to flourish.

Debris, such as fallen branches and leaves, or anything else that doesn't belong in your garden should be removed to keep the bug and pest population out and your garden chi flowing.

Dead and dying plants are big no-nos to have in your home when following feng shui principles. That applies doubly in your yard and garden. Remove all plants from your garden that aren't healthy or are past their prime in order to protect the others that are still growing well.

Vegetables should be picked when ripe and not left on your plants to deteriorate and rot.

Bring Feng Shui Balance to your Vegetable Garden

Large plants should not be planted near smaller growing plants or the little guys may not receive enough sunlight, food, and water.

Vegetables should be sectioned off by variety to improve their ability to grow and prosper and to give your garden a harmonious look and feel. Mixing everything up is bad for your vegetables, looks messy and unorganized, and also makes your gardening job much harder when it comes to watering and weeding.

Using basic Feng Shui rules and principles to create a well placed, uncluttered and balanced vegetable garden will produce happier plants in your garden and higher yields of crops for your family. Try it today!

Happy Vegetables photo appears courtesy of sbocaj and CreativeCommons.org.