The first day of spring officially past back on March 20th, and with it came warmer weather and melting snow. Soon enough the ground will be fully thawed and the planting season will begin, both in rural and urban circles. So, if you were looking for a hobby to take up this summer as you hopefully get somewhat of a breather from studies, growing your own garden might be in your cards.
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There are various benefits associated directly or indirectly with growing your own produce. The source of the food is well known as any pesticides, fertilizers, or any other details are left up to your own discretion. In the same breath, if you’re concerned about buying organic products for whatever reason this is a potentially cheaper way to eat organic without paying grocery store prices. Organic seeds can be purchased at stores like Canadian Tire or The Green Spot. Additionally, when growing your own vegetables you’ll have easier access to them and they’ll end up on your plate more often than not, plus some leftovers you may have can be cut up and frozen to have ready. It can help out with any definitely-not-abandoned New Years resolutions that were made to amp up your health.
Assuming like most university students there’s no large garden readily at your disposal, it is possible to grow some vegetables and herbs indoors. Things to consider first are the amount of sunlight and the types of containers you’d be working with. Some produce, like certain types of carrots, require deep soil in order to grow so any containers that are used have to be able to provide the necessary room. Vegetables in general need a lot of sunlight and warmth, so figure out what window is going to provide the best of each- if they’re too high up consider finding a stool or small table that can be propped underneath them in order to reach the height. Vine tomatoes that can be purchased in pots with cages to grow up would work well depending on your space. Looking for something that takes up a little less space? Spinach can be easily grown in pots and some can withstand a little bit of shade. Really, any vegetables (maybe not full sized corn) can be grown indoors, simply type it into your internet browser and there will be plenty of different instructions available to guide you on your indoor gardening adventure. There’s even specific potting soil that can be bought.
Another option if you’re low on space would be growing some herbs. Generally, they require smaller containers to grown, and anything from mint, parsley, to chives can be grown in small little containers. Pro tip though, don’t use old soup or bean containers. They’ve got a really nice aesthetic, but rust is unfortunately a factor. Apparently, among their many uses mason jars can also be used to grow a herb garden, stones simply need to be placed at the bottom to make up for any drainage issues.
Happy Spring!