Growing food without a garden
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Welcome to the May Carnival of Natural Parenting: Growing in the Outdoors
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared how they encourage their children to connect with nature and dig in the dirt. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
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For this month’s carnival we were asked to celebrate Growing in the outdoors.
We were asked “How do you encourage your children to produce the food they eat or the natural elements they enjoy?”
What struck me as I read this was the amount of people who don’t have a large enough space to grow food. Traditionally food for the family was grown on a big allotment, but how many of us with modern houses have that much room?
My challenge to you is to accept that you don’t need a garden to grow food and today I want to share six ways to make the most of your space.
Patio gardening
On a patio you can grow all sorts of food in containers. This year we’re growing peas, carrots, kale, beet, French beans, runner beans, tomatoes and herbs in containers, raised beds and planters.
Balcony or roof top gardening
On a balcony, providing the structure can take the weight, you can grow plenty of food in containers. If you need inspiration, check out Mike who grows his food on a fire escape in New York or Fern who blogs about her life on the balcony.
Apartment gardening
If you live in an apartment, windowboxes are your friend. You can grow herbs, cut and come again salad leaves, raddish and baby vegetables.
Terraced housing
If you live in terraced housing then it’s time for hanging baskets and wall planters. In hanging baskets you can grow tumbling tomatoes, strawberries, herbs and edible flowers such as nasutriatms.
The indoor garden
If there is no outdoor space available to you, bring your garden indoors. Sprout seeds, grow salad leaves and plant herbs in pots on your kitchen windowsill.
Conservatories
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A conservatory can be used just like a greenhouse! In a small conservatory you can grow peppers, tomatoes, chillies and other plants that like a lot of heat.
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I went for YEARS growing plants in containers. Any container worked – big cans, milk cartons with the tops cut off, even boxes lined with plastic grocery bags. I even ‘borrowed’ some good, black dirt from a nearby woody area because my husband found it stupid to buy dirt (ok, he was right – it does sound stupid to pay for something that’d just about everywhere. LOL)
People seem so afraid to try gardening in pots because of the cost of supplies or they’re afraid they’ll kill their food. That’s why there are so many seeds in the packet! You can’t learn without actually doing it.
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
@Alicia C.: Sounds like you have some fantastic experience Alicia; loving how you didn’t let anything stop you 🙂
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
Some great suggestions there!
I have done my share of growing herbs on the balcony or the kitchen window in the past. No matter where you grow it, food that you grow yourself always tastes better 🙂
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
Great post! I love the way you make it look easy and inviting to grow food anywhere. The idea of growing food even on a fire escape is pretty awesome!
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
I love this article — so helpful and encouraging for those of us without a yard! I second all your suggestions, heartily. 🙂 (You’ll see if you read my post!) I’m glad you’re letting people know it can be done.
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
Wonderful post! It reminds me that all things are possible if we really want them!
You are a genius 🙂 What awesome ideas for gardening in small spaces! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.
We used to live in a loft with a “fire escape” balcony. I had my portion full of tasty plants and herbs! Little tables, ladders, hanging all crowded and full of veggys and such with buckets here and there to catch rain water. I have a much better system now with a community garden and flower bed in front of my home, but truth be told I miss my balcony garden!!! Great post!
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
These are some really great suggestions! Most of our garden is in containers, since we live in a rental town home with a landscaped area our front that’s not very friendly for gardening. (Though that hasn’t stopped me from planting things and having a compost pile out there.) Another great space for urban gardening without a yard is in the parking strip (that patch of grass that’s sometimes between the sidewalk and street). I’ve planted acorn squash and zucchini in ours for two years now, and I see many neighbors utilizing that space for their vegetables, too!
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
what a great resource of ideas! I love all these small vegetable garden ideas… and what’s even better about them is that it gives a small scale experience that might unleash a passion. I think even if you have an extensive vegetable patch like we have, you should still keep a few things nearby, just because they’re lovely
@Amy: ahhh, great suggestions – thanks Amy. I love the thought of all those veggies growing on the parking strip.
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
I grew up on a 60 acre farm and I must confess that this makes me feel a little clostrophobic! 🙂 But seriously, I love these tips. It’s so true that you don’t need tons of space to grow your own food! Even a teeny tiny windowsill can grow some peas 🙂
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever a distance of your plot, she shows we how. […]
This is SO cool – I wish I would have known about all these opportunities when I lived in smaller spaces!
I’m going to be focusing on my straw bales this year, but as our yard is still pretty small I think I’m going to try some of these ideas on the deck next year – I’d love to have an even bigger crop of veggies. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever a distance of your plot, she shows we how. […]
Oh … great suggestions, Mrs. Green! I’ve lived in apartments for years and have always grown food in containers. It’s actually amazing how much one can grow in a small space … and truly, I think herbs, fruits & veggies are just as pretty as flowers. There’s also an added benefit … most container gardening is less bothered by “critters” (slugs, etc.) and, since the containers can be placed on tables, blocks, etc., one doesn’t necessarily have to bend over to tend their plants (no more back-breaking work). 🙂
By the way … this post ties in nicely with our next Change The World Wednesday challenge so I’m going to hang onto it for the Honor Society. Of course, if you wish to write another post … it’ll be honored as well!
I will definitely be using these guidelines when we get our little balcony garden going! I’m thinking herbs of some kind.
Thanks Mrs. Green!!!
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever a distance of your plot, she shows we how. […]
Great approach to the topic – I think you’re absolutely right,a lot of people feel limited due to living in rented or urban accomodation without a big garden… my motto applies “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!”
Great tips for the carnival.Thanks!
@Jessica | Cloth Diapering Mama: You’re welcome Jessica – enjoy your little space 🙂
@Lucy @ dreamingaloudnet: LOVE your motto; such a powerful one for anything in life
@Isil: You’re welcome Isil; thanks for stopping by.
@tartankiwi: Great that you have utilised some tiny spaces!
@Deb @ Living Montessori Now: There are some amazing people growing food in small spaces; they totally inspire me!
@Lauren @ Hobo Mama: Thanks Lauren; I will be sure to check your post out too 😀
@MJ: Absolutely – it’s a kind of metaphor for life I guess 😉
@Dionna @ Code Name: Mama: thanks Dionna; not a genius; just experienced and optimistic 😉
@Bethy: Sounds wonderful Bethany; I bet you inspired so many people with your tiny, flourishing space.
@mamapoekie: Couldn’t agree more; although I love having lots of space sometimes it would be nice to be able to really focus and nurture a smaller area.
@Abbie: what a gorgeous big space you grew up in. We’re space junkies too 😉
@Kelly: You’re welcome Kelly; I absolutely LOVE your straw bale garden; can’t wait to see what happens for you.
@Small Footprints: thanks hon; I’m going unplugged for a few days so do please list this post in your CTWW; I’d be honoured 🙂
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever a distance of your plot, she shows we how. […]
This post epitomizes how our veggies and herbs will “bloom where they are planted.” 🙂 Nice thinking outside the box here!
I LOVE your zucchini photo!!
Thanks for stopping by Carrie 🙂
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]
[…] Growing Food Without a Garden — Don’t have a garden? “You can still grow food!” says Mrs Green of Little Green Blog. Whatever the size of your plot, she shows you how. […]