If you're among the lucky, today is a bonus extension of the weekend, so use some of your extra time to be proactive and create. Using any outdoor space you have access to, take an hour or two to pot some plants. Ornamental gardening is nice, but if possible, planting some consumables is even better. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Even if you are just growing herbs in a terra cotta jar, there is something so much more rewarding when you add that taste to you dinner, knowing that you nurtured it with your own hands. City dwellers, you can do this too, provided you have even minimal access to some outside space--a porch, patio, rooftop or balcony. Tomatoes can be grown in large containers, though admittedly, they taste better when grown out of the ground. Hot peppers are definitely doable in a city garden. (Last year, I harvested so many scotch bonnets that I was giving them away to virtually anyone stupid enough visit my apartment. I ate them with every dinner, destroyed my tongue and couldn't pet my cats for weeks because the scorching heat stuck to my fingers for hours afterward, and usually into the next day, no matter how hard I scrubbed.) Even strawberries can be done in a super large window box. For those of you with no outdoor space to use, I have seen those hydroponic herb gardens flourish in many a dark, dank city apartment.
A garden will require some time each day for proper maintenance to ensure maximum yield. Especially if you are growing in containers, you will probably have to water twice a day, though it will take some time to figure out exact water levels for each of you plants. Remember to read the tag carefully for sun exposure and how large a container you need. If your plants need upkeep like deadheading or pruning, make sure that you keep on top of that. Proper drainage is key as well; a layer of stones can be used for pots without holes in the bottom. We would also encourage you to ask the nursery where you are buying your plants for their recommendations on soil additives like bonemeal, peat or manure and plant food. Though sometimes costly, they will significantly improve your harvest, both in terms of quality and quantity.
Numerous are the benefits of growing your own food. From a 75 cent plant, you can gather a significant amount of basil that you would have to buy at the supermarket. Pesto junkies, listen up, this is a serious monetary consideration. By growing your own produce, you also get control what goes into it. No more genetically engineered, wax and pesticide drenched veggies for you. Also, just as with buying from local farmer's markets, home grown food requires significantly less transportation, thereby reducing its carbon footprint.
Remember that this is supposed to be a fun project. If this is your first time gardening, start small. There is no point in overwhelming yourself with plants that you have difficulty maintaining or in taking on so many plants that you are stressed out. A few pots of pansies and a couple of herbs are an excellent way to test out your green thumb. Here are a few resources that you can use to help you along your way. Don't be intimidated by some of the amazing city gardens linked. Like any hobby, it takes years to be as proficient as some of these masters. Patience, grasshopper.
National Gardening Association
Better Homes and Gardens
New York City Garden
My City Garden (Jersey City)
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