Many people think gardens can only be grown with lots of land. But it wasn't that long ago that most people kept some sort of garden, without much land. The idea faded out of popularity with the introduction of the current food supply, after World War II. But I feel it is important to start getting familiar with the idea of having your own small garden, regardless of where you live.
In the recent uptick in natural disasters, many Americans are waking up to the fact that the Just In Time food supply is fragile. Just consider what happens to food shelves when a hurricane is about to land. And while there is no way to fully prepare for a breakdown in this chain, there are a few simple things you can do to give you leg up. One of them is learning to grow some of your own food. During World War II this sort of self sufficiency was encouraged by the idea of Victory Gardens. The gardens helped people make up for the food shortages.
But lets face it, a lot of people today are renting or living in apartments, with very little room. They may feel that they cannot participate. But you to can start small...with herbs. If you are in a small dwelling, you can grow herbs year round, even without a balcony. Herbs are also a great starter if you are new to growing anything. They are easy to keep, so they can be a great confidence booster. They provide a lot of product in a small space. They also help purify your indoor air. In general, there are a few ways to do this. The most common is a flower box, or small individual pots. You can easily put the box on your windowsill or balcony. If you have a porch it's best to give them air, and unfiltered sunlight in the warmer weather, but they can be grown inside in colder climates as well. I also have an Aerogarden. This option is a bit more expensive, but I have found it to works very well. The plants grow in water so there is also no mess with soil. If you do go with this option, I strongly suggest the new LED lighting. It will cost you a little extra, but is worth it. The better lighting helps give you a better crop. If you are new to growing things, I'd suggest starting out with the actual plants vs seeds. These are easier to keep. Right now in the US, most hardware stores will have starter plants in their centers. Or if you are concerned about organic, go to a farmers market. Adding these plants to your cooking means that you can be sure you are getting fresh plants that are full of vitamins and minerals. Much of the seasoning we find in our local grocery has had the nutrients burned out of it by the drying process, and is full of preservatives. So growing your own has many benefits. Below are a few plants to help you get started.
Basil- This fragrant plant loves lots of light and lots of sun. Be sure to put it in the sunniest part of your dwelling and water it often. Basil makes awesome pesto, can be used on pizza., and a host of other recipes. This will be you biggest baby, the one that will need the most nurturing. When the plant starts to get ready to flower, it will start losing the leaves to save its energy. void it by pulling off the heads of the plant before they start to flower.
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Parsley-This plant is great for removing heavy metals from the body, a few the the leaves from this plant mixed in with your morning smoothie helps clean up metal buildup. Its also chock full of vitamins. Its also hardier then Basil,needs less upkeep. It also is an excellent source of protein.
Cilantro- If this herb doesn't taste like soap to you, you may consider growing it. Also good for removing heavy metals from the body. Also a pretty easy keeper, less fussy then the basil.
Mint- Basically a weed, grows in almost any situation. You can put this in drinks or use with cooking
There are a few varities for each plant. The best way to decide is to research the most versatile in regards to cooking. A lot of garden centers will offer a ton of varieties. Hope that helps, don't give up if you don't succeed at first. Learning a new skill takes time.
Additional Links:
http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/herb-thought-parsley/
https://bonnieplants.com/library/how-to-grow-herbs-indoors/
https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/10-herbs-to-grow-inside-all-year-long
Love your post! There are a lot of veggies that can be grown even in apartments. I may have enough land to grow a lot of my own food, but come winter I grow all kinds of salad greens, herbs, and potted peppers indoors. Then there are sprouts that are even easier to grow.
That's awesome news! I love hearing from people who have have found ways to grow year round.
I am trying to cut back on my work load (semi-retire) and then I can do some writing and photos on gardening, whether it be indoors or out doors. I also do some basic hydroponics especially with salad greens.