Happy First Week of Spring!
It’s official, we’ve made it through winter and as of yesterday are in Spring (whether or not that means more snow, who knows). With springtime on the brain, I’ve started planning what vegetables I want to grow in my gardens this year. What better way to make sure your get all your fruits and veggies than by having them grow right outside your front door?! You don’t have to live on a farm or have a lot of outdoor space to grow your own food, there are many options for small spaces out there. From raised beds to window box veggie gardens, there are options for anyone with a little bit of outdoor space.
I only have a little bit of outdoor space at my house that gets any sun, and that’s mostly on the porch. Size-wise, I found that my best option was planting veggies in large pots with proper drainage. I have a pot for salad greens, one for tomatoes, and one for herbs. I also rent a plot at a community garden in town for growing things that take up a little more space like broccoli, peas, zucchini, and carrots. Check out this link for more information about getting your own community garden plot if you don’t have much outdoor space: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/605/Community-Gardens
Now, don’t get me wrong, growing your own food is more work than buying it at the grocery store. There’s lifting, digging, squatting, and getting on your hands and knees on the ground. But that’s the good stuff too. As the saying goes “You move it or you lose it,” and nothing could be more true. Think about the last time you got down on the floor or ground, it might be longer ago than you realize! When we stop doing regular movements with our bodies, those movements become more and more difficult and can result in aches and pains.
Fresh food, a healthy amount of exercise and some good old fashioned vitamin D from the sun; what’s not to like? Give your own little veggie garden a try!
P.S. Your local greenhouse has already started veggie seedlings, which are super easy to transplant into your space!
