Balancing Mind & Body… Let’s Get Back to Gardening
Let’s get back into gardening like our grandparents used to. I’ve always loved the idea of growing my own food but I’ve never lived in a house that would easily allow me to pursue this hobby as an adult. Not having a house meant no grass, which in my mind equated to no possibility of having a garden. Thankfully, I later learned that I was wrong in thinking that it was necessary to have a yard in order to grow my own food. Overtime, I eventually become pretty good at growing potted patio gardens through the journey of trial and error.
It all started when my friend, Rachel, told me about how her garden was producing more food than she could eat. She lived in Madison, Wisconsin and invited me to her home for dinner. During that visit I practically grocery shopped out of her garden so much so that I managed to fill two full bags with produce from such a small patch without even putting a dent into it. At that moment I knew that it was time for me to get creative so I began practicing my own green thumb.
I learned how to successfully start seedlings after accidentally letting them dry out a few times (aka killing them). Once they were mature enough I transported them into containers and placed them on my balcony. In Chicago, it can still snow in April so after a freezing cold night, unfortunately my baby crops died. Instead, I now just purchase young crops from nurseries in mid to late May. One day I will return to seeds but for now if you really want to have a garden I have found that it’s easier to just buy the plants.
When it comes to potted gardens, drainage is essential. If a plant can’t drain properly, the soggy mud creates rotted roots which ultimately can kill your plant. It can also aide in the growth of infections and infestations. Don’t over or under water your plants as the leaves will either turn yellow or they’ll start to dry out. Additionally, having fertilized soil and knowing where your sunlight lands will benefit your garden.
Starting with herbs is a great way to add freshness to almost any meal or beverage. Google and YouTube are great resources to discover which plants complement each other. For instance, lavender, thyme, rosemary, and oregano all like dry soil and can be planted together. Note that mint needs to be grown alone because it grows like a weed and will have a hostile takeover if others are planted with it.
After you master herbs, it’ll be time to upgrade to crops like tomatoes, peppers, peas, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, and anything else you like to eat, depending on your region. Fruits are semi simple to grow which is why I get strawberry plants every season. I have a dwarf Meyer lemon tree that is two years old and I can’t wait to see the fruits and scents of my labor!
Gardening is a great way to ensure that your food is organic and without the tricks used when shipping commercial produce that has been prematurely picked. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to care more about what we put into our bodies. Not only will gardening feed the body but nourish the heart and soul as well.