Spring is in full swing, and whether you're relocating to Houston or you've lived here for years, you've surely noticed our glorious weather. Houston's climate is mild year-round, but in spring, especially, the warmth and sunlight is enough to make you wish you had the space to grow a garden. Well, as it turns out, you do! Even in an apartment, you can grow houseplants, herbs, flowers, and even a very respectable crop of vegetables. Yes, it is possible to grow food in an apartment!
We've already given advice for green-thumb novices on how to choose and keep houseplants in your Houston apartment. We've also told you how to get the most out of your balcony or patio, if you're a plant lover. But is it really possible to grow a significant amount of food without a yard?
Some great resources on the web say it is so. Where to begin? That depends on your reasons for wanting an indoor garden:
· If you care deeply about what you eat, and you want to know where your food comes from, start with this post from Backwoods Home Magazine. It gives simple advice on growing as much fresh, organic food as your space will allow. There's a simple earthworm composting method, plus advice on where to find the best varieties of vegetables, herbs, and even fruit trees to grow in containers in small spaces.
· If you want to save the planet, or at least make it a little greener, this post from Earth First is for you. Full of photos, videos, and links to other web pages for more information, this post starts with more possibilities for container gardening, including how to build raised beds for more space on a balcony, and a video tutorial for making a self-watering pot. The section on indoor gardening links to web sites with more advice on plant selection and advanced gardening techniques. Then the post explores other possibilities for apartment-dwelling gardeners, from the simple (finding space in a community garden) to the extreme (guerilla gardening—growing food on land that doesn't belong to you).
· If you simply love gardening, and want specific help tailoring your techniques and to the space you have now, traditional gardening sites can help. Both the Gardening Know How and the How to Garden Guide sites have specific posts full of ideas for vegetable gardening in apartments. Browse the rest of each site for more tips for gardens of any size.
Now that you have the know-how, do you still need a bit more motivation? Check out The Kitchn blog's slide show, “10 Inspiring Gardens for Growing Food in Small Spaces.” These images of veggies in many kinds of containers will show you how home-grown food can be done—even if your home is a small apartment.
Posted by Melanie Belasco Levy on 05/05/11
