Is it possible to grow food in the city? Of course, you may not be able to have a massive garden that extends a 1/2 acre lot, but you can still grow some nutritious food. The idea of foodscaping for me is to transform the area where you would normally grow ornamentals into a space that is useful edible, and still beautiful. This can be done in any space no matter how small, with just a bit of imagination and a bit of courage to try.
Big City Foodscaping in Containers
Unless you live in a dungeon or basement (and even so, there are options you have to grow food, think hydroponics) you probably have some sort of window or balcony, or space by your front door to put a pot or container. You can grow food in super nutrient-packed and very small spaces by simply using your imagination.
I know what you're thinking...I want my landscaping to be aesthetically pleasing too, well it will be. You have to think outside of the box, have you ever seen Rainbow Chard, it is beautiful. But besides that I want you to grow food that you will eat, that is super nutritious, and that will give you a yield in a small space.
I'm sure you have all heard about growing herbs on your window sill, well why not do it, and use them? Herbs are super healthy and nutritious. I remember this was where I first began my gardening journey. I was very frugal, who am I kidding, I was a single mom who was working two jobs, and I didn't have time or money to buy fancy pots to put in my window. What I did have was an abundance of formula cans...(this was before I realized how important it was to breastfeed,) So, what I did was I poked a hole in the bottom of the cans and filled each one with soil. Then hung them on my curtain rod with some twine I had from my crafting days. I grew so many herbs I didn't know what to do with them all. I had no idea how to cook with them, but I grew them, and that's what's important.
If you have a flowerpot, fill it with soil (I would suggest buying good quality soil) and fill it with something. Here are some combinations that you can fit into a 12-inch pot. (yes they are planted close, but I like to push my limits and see how much I can fit into a small space.). Besides, have you ever seen those flower pots at the nursery with 45 plants smashed into one pot that looks so full, why can't you do that with vegetables and herbs, exactly!! You can and should try it!
Combo #1
Tomatoes and Basil
- Tomatoes: Choose a dwarf or cherry tomato variety.
- Basil: Basil and tomatoes are companion plants, meaning they benefit each other when grown together.
Combo #2
Lettuce and Radishes
-Lettuce: Choose a loose-leaf variety.
-Radishes: These can grow quickly, and help break up the soil for the lettuce.
Combo #3
Peppers and Oregano
-Peppers: A small variety of bell or hot peppers.
-Oregano: This herb can spread, but in a 12-inch pot, it will stay manageable and will even cascade over the side, which is super neat.
Combo #4
Spinach and Chives
- Spinach: You can choose a compact variety if you want, but any variety should work fine.
- Chives: Their tall, thin leaves won't crowd the spinach.
Combo #5
Carrots and Rosemary
- Carrots: Shorter varieties would work better so they don't run out of growing space.
- Rosemary: Its woody stems won't interfere with the carrots and what an amazing fragrance rosemary has.
Combo #6
Kale and Thyme
- Kale: You can always choose a dwarf variety, or just go for your favorite variety and harvest regularly
- Thyme: This is a low-growing herb that won’t compete for space, and also flows over the sides creating a cascade effect.
Combo #7
-Rainbow Chard- Swiss chard has colorful stems and beautiful leaves
-Nasturtiums- choose a convincing variety, and it will grow beautifully around the stems of the Swiss chard.
If you have a larger pot than a 12-inch, then add another plant, or 2 or 3. The idea is to find beauty and functionality in the space you have, and it's completely achievable. If you need more ideas of plants to start your foodscape, check out my blog "Transform Your Landscape into a "Foodscape": 18 Plants to Get You Started".
No outdoor Space in the City? Take it inside!
So, what if you do not have a space to grow outside? Fear not, there are still options for you to grow nutritious food. If you can grow a houseplant you can grow lettuce too! Try your hand at hydroponics, grow some herbs on your countertop, and let's not forget about microgreens!! There is always an option to grow some sort of food, and it just fills your heart when you grow something and can utilize these foods to enhance your nutrition.
Hydroponics
I will confess I am not an expert in hydroponics. I took care of a large hydroponic tower for a few seasons and I must say that it was simple to maintain the crops that I grew were amazing, the lettuce was crispy and the sugar snap peas were sweet and full of flavor. There are smaller hydroponic stations that fit on a small table, or you can go big and invest in a huge tower station that will give you an abundance.
The maintenance on the tower was very simple ( make sure you follow the instructions on the unit that you purchase) I would check the pH levels weekly and make sure the take was full of water, and that was the basics. I encourage you to at least purchase a small unit to try it out.
Countertop herbs
This is an amazing place to start and to be honest, this is exactly where I started, as I stated above.
Herbs are great plants to grow inside, they are super aromatic, and there is nothing better than pinching off a bunch of basil to create a delicious pesto, or a bit of oregano to enhance your pasta dishes. You won't regret trying your hand at countertop herb growing.
Microgreens
This is such a trending topic these days. There are so many microgreen growers out there, and I think it is amazing to help small growers, but that age-old saying still rings true, "Give a man a fish, and they will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and they will never go hungry. I completely agree with this, and that is why I do this, I hope to inspire all of you to become growers of your food and your health.
Most microgreen growers offer grow kits for you to grow at home, a friend of mine (Barefoot Microgreens) is a microgreen farmer and she offers a cute little kit that you can order that gives you a growing guide and instructional video.
Community Gardening in the City
If you decide that you just do not want to grow anything in your home, there are still options to get involved in the supply of your food. Check out your local communities to see if there is a community garden you can participate in. These gardens are popping up all over cities to help get healthy food into the hands of the community. If you can not find a community garden in your city you can get a few health-conscious friends together, find an empty lot that the owner is willing to lease out and create a community garden of your own. There are always options to grow your food, if you work for it and get the support to help you on this journey. If you need help with this process, I am happy to help you get started. See my plan options below, and let's get started growing your food for your health and wellness.
Get Started City Foodscaping
So there you have it. The options are endless, and the need to grow has never been more necessary because of the desire to consume the most nutritious food and know how your food is being grown. I hope this inspires you to be involved in foodscaping even in the city.
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