Food fads are incredibly annoying. Haven't seen this one in Zurich yet, but in London, I felt like screaming every time I saw 'Artisan bread' on a menu! Grrrr.... And please stop putting lemongrass in everything. It's smells and tastes like cheap deoderant.
Personally, I don't believe the products available at Alnatura are much better than any given conventionally grown item.
E.g. the organic olive oil is a blend of various oils from Tunisia.
I'd rather have a non-blended one from Italy or Greece, with oil from just one farm.
They have an Italian version, that is - again - a blend of various Italian olive oils (hopefully) organic.
And then the "organic" stuff from China...
The prodcuts available at Egli et.al. do taste better, generally. But the markup is insane. Even more so if compared to prices in Germany.
The shops are very nicely done, though, so I still buy some stuff there.
But various seeds (sunflower e.g.) - and garlic.
Also, AFAIK, China is now one of the world largest producers of apple-juice (and apple-juice concentrate).
I almost fainted...
7p.m. each day you water the plants. Saturday evening you add a scoop of plant feed to the watering can. Job done! You'll have fresh garlic, chillies, onions, peppers, etc from June onwards and so many courgettes that you'll have to give the excess to friends.
That said, the idea itself is sound.
The worst thing is reading reviews on obi.de about the fact that a 200€ elevated flower bed comes with about 200 rivets - and the included riveting-pliers are too weak to fix all 200 of them, leading to the purchase of another pair of pliers (to the tune of 100€)...
You're best guides can be found online and in youtube videos , but the seed gyuide is here...
http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Vege...l#.VoZs4pdlTsY
I was recommended the Black Beauty variety because of it's hardiness and reliable crop. What I wasn't warned about was the stunning flowers, which you can deep fry and eat also.
The most crucial part is just before planting out. I used to put the plants outside whilst having my morning coffee before going to work, and bring them back inside as soon as I got home in the evening. If you do that for two weeks, you'll get the plant used to being outdoors. You will still loose a few seedlings at that stage, but nowhere near as many as if you don't take the time to accustomise them.
Good luck!
Growing yourself is fabulous- but do it well avoiding all the above- otherwise find local growers that do it well for you. As for meat- it's not just about price and taste, but about healthy feeds, no routine antibiotics, good husbandy and as humane as poss slaughter without long transport. And yes Richdog, it costs more and for all the very good reasons stated above.
I'm old school in my approach, having learned at my daddy's knee. Less is more and recycling what you have around the house saves a small fortune, but you always get people who throw money at a project where little is required. As previously posted, there are loads of good pots to be found at Brockis, cloches to cover the seedlings can be easily made from plastic water bottles, and feeding once a week is more than enough.
In England, I have a large garden and have done my share of digging in pig muck in my time (for my dad's rose garden), but have only had space for pots in the last 2 years, so adapted the methods I already knew. I strongly feel that growing your own gives you a better appreciation and understanding of what you're eating, as opposed to 'health food' shops who blind people with 'science'.
My dad said that "you can recognise a gardener because they will see a ladybird in the garden and move it to the plant they need it on."
Go to your nearest Kompostanlage/Compostage to fill them with local produced compost. Put in seeds, water regularly but not too much, enjoy.
And as Odile rightfully points out: If you have to buy compost from a garden center look that it states "Torffrei", "Ohne Torf". Or that Torf is not listed as an ingredient.
In the UK, our local Wivedale garden centre took back all pots and trays for recycling- but they won't here, nor in France where I buy all my plants (locally for me).... so if anyone wants pots of all sizes and trays for seedlings, I have a huge container full.
@Odile: We also make our own, what is your experience with dealing with bugs that come out of compost? They hide inside to stay warm during the winter and as soon as you take the compost to pot the plant, they all come out because it's warm inside.
@Blueangel I've never heard of accustoming plants before. Is it solely for temperature purposes? Thanks