Do a Little... Save a Lot!
Want to Garden but No Outdoor Space?
Sprouts are fast and simple to grow at home. Germinate bean sprouts, or other vegetables, in just a few days for a tasty addition to sandwiches, salads, and stir fry dishes. Purchase an inexpensive kit or get instructions [exit DNR] on making your own.
Potted herbs grow well on sunny windowsills. Chives, mint, parsley, and rosemary are great indoor choices and they really perk up dishes when used fresh. You can buy a whole packet of seeds that will grow many plants for the price of one fresh herb container in the grocery store. Download free windowsill herb garden instructions [exit DNR].
Grow lights [exit DNR] can help you have healthy plants even without access to direct sunlight. Herbs, salad greens, rhubarb, and small root vegetables can be grown indoors. If you are willing to use a paint brush to help with pollination, you can grow other veggies [exit DNR] like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers too. Of course, you’ll be spending some money and energy to run the lights but depending on the source of your produce you may still be saving money and emissions. Also, having plants inside might improve indoor air quality in addition to livening up your home.
Even if you don't have a sunny outdoor space for a garden, maybe one of your neighbors does and would be willing to let you use it for a small fee or some fresh veggies. It could be a win-win situation – a gardening opportunity for you and less lawn mowing for your neighbor!
Vegetable Gardener
In many cities and towns, you can rent plots in community gardens. Be sure to check what tasks the garden employees and volunteers complete (plot tilling, for example), if water or tools are available on-site, and what gardening inputs (such as herbicides) are permitted to help you decide on the best garden. Because community gardens draw groups of local people that value fresh produce, they are excellent places to meet like-minded folks from your community and to learn new gardening tricks. Search for a community garden in your area [exit DNR].
Photo courtesy of Community GroundWorks at Troy Gardens
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