More and more people are acknowledging the side effects of mass production. They feel the lack of taste and nutritious value in vegetables because of the genetically modified plants that are used to provide quantity instead of quality foods. For this reason, urban gardening is becoming more and more popular as time goes by.
City dwellers are constantly coming up with innovative and new ways to use the little outdoor space they have to grow organic foods. And there are businesses dedicated to helping people who want to pick up urban gardening. With the help of these businesses and a little bit of planning, you too can have a beautiful little garden on your balcony or back yard with very limited space, and start an easy to manage productive garden, using various techniques.
The first thing you need to do is take a look at your home and figure out the best strategy. If you have a balcony or patio, a container garden can be great. Containers can be easily customized and are also easily portable. However, if you have no outdoor space, you can create a hanging garden on the windows, or use plastic self-watering planters.
Gardening your own organic food has many benefits for the health. It’s about planting organic seeds that have remained the same for over 40 years, that have a high nutritious value and are kept the way they are by organic farmers to preserve their original looks and taste. By engaging in urban gardening, you also change your lifestyle in many ways. You compose and recycle all year round and are connected to your garden throughout the entire year. Recycling is great for the environment, and you can make use of the cans and bins in your garden as well, by using them as markers, starting containers and so on.
Moreover, growing your own food will reduce the distance your food travels from the farm to you, reducing the effects of petroleum-run equipment, fertilizers, packaging, storage and transport. Plus, you will know where all the food you eat comes from. Take all of these things in consideration and you will see that the pros far outweigh the cons. Look for plants that do well together so you can use your available space to its full potential. Also, know what your budget is, what kind of plants you want and start planting! There are many books and online sources that can help you develop the urban garden you always wanted, and remember – have fun while doing it!
