Whole foods. We've heard about them in the news, and we know we should eat more of them, but what does that really mean? For me it means less boxes, cans and prepared foods and more whole ingredients. It also means growing my own food and having the satisfaction of knowing where it comes from and how it got on my plate.
This meant I needed to be a little creative in finding space to plant my garden. With only a small back deck and no access to creating in-ground beds, my garden looks less than typical. Check out the following ideas for creating your own small space garden on a budget with a few tools.
1. Planter pots
All you need is a pot, some planting soil and a few good seeds or seedling. They can sit on your deck, stairs, driveway or anywhere warm with some sunshine
2. Hanging pots
Perfect for patios or decks. Planters can be upright with smaller vegetables such as herbs, lettuce or spinach. Planters can also be upside down allowing larger plants such tomatoes to grow while hanging. This planter was purchased, but an upside down tomato planter could easily be made from a recycled 4 L milk jug.
3. Container gardens
This is my bucket container garden. It started as a typical tote into which I drilled a few holes for planting and drainage. I planted cucumber and zucchini vines by inserting the roots into the opening and then covering gradually with layers of soil. Beans will be sprouting out the top shortly. Simply add a plastic cover and you have a greenhouse!
My hanging container garden is made from an old shoe organizer. Each pocket contains an individual plant. The top two rows are salad greens, followed in descending order by spinach, basil, and beans. This is particularly good for patios and can easily be done in an apartment.
I just finished planting today so hopefully all those empty spots will soon be filled with little sprouts. Check back later to see how they are growing!
