DIY Home Gardening Tips
Okay, well as long as where you live is somewhere on planet Earth...and somewhere with at least occasional sunshine.
We’re officially into spring 2021, and considering the past 12 months we’ve all had, we could use some new life. So whether you’re in an apartment, tiny house, or even a van, we’ve compiled some easy DIY garden tips if you feel so inclined to grow some of your very own food. For those of us in homes with a little more space, like a backyard or patio, the options are endless when it comes to home-growing groceries!
Source: Photo by Skitterphoto from Pexels
For us urban dwellers or tiny home experts, here are some fine tips for gardening that use little space with high reward:
Herbs are a great place to start! If you have any spare jars, or even some empty tin cans, you have space to grow herbs. The key is to allow proper drainage to avoid over-watering, and we can do this in jars or cans by adding pebbles and charcoal to the bottoms before we add our plants. With about a 1-2 inch layer of pebbles first, this will also help us observe when to water. The charcoal layer between the pebbles and the soil will absorb any excess H2O.
Add to your sunniest window, and water when the pebble area looks dry. Be aware that some herbs prefer drier soil like thyme or oregano, and others that prefer a really moist living space like basil. If your space is kept at a livable temperature for a human, your herbs are sure to thrive!
**When growing plants in a semi-moving vehicle, be sure your herbs are tucked somewhere safe or tied up, they don’t love flying from your back door to the front seat so much!
For a slightly bigger space, hanging gardens are an easy way to get some greens, and who doesn’t love more green!? Simple terracotta pots placed in slats or wood, tied with macrame or other rope from the ceiling, means amplifying the amount of food growing possibilities in very small spaces. You could also turn any old bookshelf with open walls into a tiered garden.
South facing windows are best for growing your at-home grocery store, but West can be super great, too. Carrots, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, lettuce, and other veggies can really thrive indoors. Be sure to get pots with adequate drainage, or drill holes through your plastic or metal ones.
Let’s say you have some more room, like even 5 ft x 5ft. If you really want to flex your green thumb, raised garden beds are so for you. Now, we have to plan with the position of the sun again, and know that most veggies need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. **Most of gardening is in the preparation.**
If you’re planting on top of existing soil, plan out where you want your garden bed and throw some cardboard down after you clear the grass and any other plant material. This keeps weeds away and still allows proper drainage. Some home or landscaping companies sell pre-made garden boxes, or you can find easy DIY templates online for whatever size fits your needs. You can even use concrete blocks if that’s your backyard style.
Next, add organic bed mix soil, with an option to mix in compost, and your seedlings. Likely, your neighborhood has some pests, so consider trying small chicken-wire fencing or butterfly nets, easily made into a protective “cage” with pvc pipe, wood, or anything you can find that works!
Source: Photo by Matteo Badini from Pexels
Next-level gardening may include digging beds in your backyard, or tiered garden boxes for maximum growing surface capacity. Your garden is really a creative space in the most literal way possible - you are CREATING your own food system!
Some things you want to consider when starting your own garden:
Check what is seasonal in your area, you’ll have the best success with growing herbs or veggies that already love the climate you live in. This website is a great place to start in checking the best times to start from seed.
Be sure to start with organic seeds and soil to ensure the healthiest and purest forms of food from your backyard, and to support organic farmers.
Compost is that amazing garden magic we talked about in an earlier post, and can be made easily at home with kitchen scraps (we love a two-birds-one-stone winner!). Add compost into garden boxes or small pots to give your plants that extra punch of nutrients to thrive. LA Compost and Compostable are great orgs to give your kitchen scraps to if you have too much for your home garden.
Cover your garden boxes or beds with mulch to avoid drying out. While you’re at it, try to water in the mornings - this is the happy medium time before drying out and getting too much moisture at night that could lead to mold!
If a container can hold soil, it can hold life. Before tossing an old box or even a distressed dresser out, try drilling some holes in it for drainage and plop some seeds and VOILA! You have a new garden box.
Source: Recycled Crafts
Remember, gardening is a trial and error practice, and there is so much to learn from our plant family! Growing food can be the most fulfilling and rewarding experience, and it certainly teaches us to be patient with the process. With a little creativity, any space can become a garden. Imagine a world where everyone has the ability to grow their own food, to eat from their own gardens. In the renaissance that is springtime, we are feeling so inspired to get our hands in the soil and we know that our dream world is not so far away!