No Room to Garden? Think Again!

Raised flower box lettuce garden

Wouldn’t it be nice to experience the perks of homegrown fruits and vegetables in a fraction of the space and time?  I value the concept of gardening, but life in a condominium limits the possibilities…or does it?  I decided to find out.  This earth day I took the plunge and bought the materials for a small windowsill (indoor) and deck (outdoor) garden.  A month later, the plants are thriving and the results have provided unforeseen benefits…

Purchased lettuce plants in flower boxes

Seedlings growing after 5 weeks

1.  Gardening Saves Money – With a small initial investment, I saw savings quickly.  I purchased an herb window box for $20 including the container, soil, and 12 different herbs.  Of course, you could create your own by purchasing each item individually and assembling it yourself.  Herbs enliven recipes and meals with their incredible freshness.  Most varieties cost $2-$5 per bundle at grocery stores.  My window box is yielding so many fresh herbs, so rapidly, that I put them on everything from salads, to soup, to entrees.  I even include them in smoothies!  This would have easily cost me $10 a week, had I purchased fresh herbs in a store.  So, in two weeks time, I was already getting return on my investment.

I also purchased 2 large flower boxes, organic potting soil, brackets to attach the boxes to the deck, organic seeds, and several lettuce plants that were already growing (in case my seedlings didn’t grow) – all for about $60.  The lettuce plants (in one flowerbox) were edible immediately, so I have gotten about four salads worth of lettuce in a month’s time.  The seedlings (in the other flowerbox) are nearly grown, and should produce lettuces all summer long until I replant in the fall for winter harvest.  All told, I will have 10 varieties of leafy greens through the summer and some during the winter, which will provide a great return on my investment.

One of my favorite parts of having a lettuce garden is that I am able to supplement my food supply.  If I am low on lettuce and I have no plans to go to the store, I simply step out on my deck, cut, and wash the lettuce I need – which is sooo handy!

2.  Gardening Requires Little Space – If you have space issues, there are numerous options that provide decorative and functional solutions:

• If you’re not interested in permanently digging up your yard, or you have limited space available, consider an EarthBox for an easy above-the-ground garden option.
• Perhaps you don’t have a plot of yard, only a flowerbed.  You can plant lettuces among the flowers to add colorful vegetation while growing food!
• Maybe you only have a deck.  You can plant a variety of herbs and lettuces in a large flowerpot or EarthBox .
• OK, so you have a really, small deck like myself.  Plant your garden in flower boxes filled with soil and seedlings to grow an elevated garden.  This lifts the plants toward the sunlight while keeping the deck floor open.
• Consider hanging baskets, or a Topys Turvey upside down planter, which hangs from the ceiling and provides a place to grow tomatoes or strawberries .
• The possibilities are endless and there are many products available now to make gardening easier than ever.  Explore a garden center for more ideas.

3.  Gardening can Require Little Time – Keep it simple by:

• Planting in a good East location with sufficient sun
• Watering diligently every other day, or when soil is dry
• Beginning with low maintenance crops, such as rugged kale and hearty lettuces
• Trimming produce every couple days to encourage growth

4.  Gardening is Therapeutic - The small amount of time spent watering or trimming the fruits of your labor, provides a nice pause in a hectic day.  It inspires moments of fresh air, healthy sunshine, and a sense of well-being.

5.  Gardening Tastes AWESOME! – There is nothing like homegrown food, especially from your own garden!  The produce looks beautiful, and transforms meals with fresh, tender ingredients and complete satisfaction.

6.  Gardening Yields High Nutrients – When food is eaten within hours of picking, nutrient content is at its highest; hence the beautiful colors and flavors.

7.  Gardening provides inexpensive Organic Food – It’s much easier and affordable to enjoy the benefits of organic produce by growing your own organic food.  It’s more trustworthy too.  You can:

• Plant organic seeds, in organic potting soil
• Use water, sunlight, and compost (optional) to feed your plants
• Avoid exposure to pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified organisms, and bacteria like E.coli
• Obtain increased nutrients and improved flavors from naturally grown produce

8.  Gardening is Good for You.  And Me.  And Mother Nature. What is good for the environment is good for everyone.  Benefits include:

• The distance from your garden to your dinner table is much shorter than from Peru to your dinner table
• Small gardens require much fewer, resources (water, herbicides, pesticides) and energy (tractors, machines, gas) than massive agricultural farms
• No added chemicals preserves the soil, the water supply, the animals, the universe
• There is less waste because you only cut what you need as you need it
• Local crops = sustainable crops = sustainable local economy
• Gardening generates an understanding of agriculture, an appreciation of mother nature, and a deeper respect for the environment

9.  Gardening Teaches Survival Skills – If you were LOST on an island, would you be able to survive?  Basic gardening provides essential life skills, and yet how many people know how to properly plant a seed?  I certainly needed to refresh my knowledge on the subject.  This leads me to my next point…

10.  Gardening Instills Values in Our Children – What example do we want to set for our children?  Most kids know how to use the Internet, but have no idea where their food comes from.  Similarly, most kids know how to order fast food, or heat up a T.V dinner, but how many know how and where to obtain real food to nourish their growing bodies? ( See relevant blog post .) Children who are exposed to gardening:

• Recognize the difference between real food and packaged, processed, low nutrient “food” products
• Consume more produce and therefore more nutrients
• Establish good food habits by experiencing the process of growing and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables
• Have a deeper appreciation of the earth and its precious resources
• Are more likely to pass these valuable skills onto future generations

11. Gardening is Fun! – I have really enjoyed the process of watching my garden thrive and transform from a tiny seed into an edible plant!  My husband is enamored by the process, and loves the taste of our very own fresh produce. There is nothing quite like it.  Home grown produce is also a great way to feed company a quality meal made from scratch, or to garnish a gift basket with beautiful herbs and produce.

Herb window box

Gardening supports a healthy lifestyle and sustainable habits.  Even if you can’t commit to a small greenhouse in your backyard, there are other alternatives.

Start small, see how you do, and increase gradually as you feel more comfortable.  I have compiled gardening sites and resources to assist you in the process, because there is still time to plant a garden and reap the benefits this season.

If you still aren’t convinced that gardening is for you – that is okay too! Find a local co-op , where you can invest in a farm, and receive a share of their crops throughout the year.  It may cost about $35 a week for a generous portion of fresh, seasonal produce.  If you do nothing else, support your local farmer’s market to preserve your communities’ farms.

In the near future, I look forward to trying out, and sharing my experience with sprouting : a process that allows indoor growth of plants, beans, and nuts in a small space, for little cost, that supposedly yields lots of food!

As always, I’d love to hear your feedback.  Any comments, questions, or personal experiences are welcome.