Photo: Anna Pusack

In a previous article, I discussed the importance of sustainable cuisine. Originally inspired by Bill McKibben’s Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future, I have begun to teach my son, Reid, of the importance of sustainable living. Even though he’s only three, I would like to believe that he is listening to what I teach him, and learning what he is able to.

This past summer, I embarked on a bit of an experiment. I was inspired by the Dervaes family, fellow Californians who have utilized every inch of space that they have to grow edibles (what they don’t eat, they sell to local restaurants). While I do not have the time to devote to a project as expansive as theirs, Reid and I decided to grow our own vegetable garden and enjoy fresh, homegrown veggies. Here’s how we did it.

Plan Your Space
The Dervaes family has proven that you don’t have to have acres of land to make urban farming a reality. There are several methods for gardening in a confined area. Choosing the right technique depends on space, variety of vegetables to be grown, and the amount of effort you are willing to put into planting your garden. I tried my hand at square foot gardening, both because my aunt had had success with this method, and because I felt I would be able to best utilize my space in this way.

Plan (and Plant) Your Harvest
This requires a little research on your part, mostly to learn which vegetables are seasonal for your climate, and how best to plant them. Much of this information can be found on the backs of the seed packets or on the Internet. Reid and I decided to plant beets, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, habaneros, jalapeños, tomatoes, and various herbs. I adapted my harvest to a square foot garden plan I found on the Internet. It should be noted that I opted out of building raised beds (maybe next year!), instead placing boards between the plots.

Maintain (Or, Weed Your Little Heart Out)
Having never gardened before, I mistakenly thought that it would simply involve pulling up dandelions every few weeks or so. Boy was I wrong! I was hesitant to pull anything up for the first few weeks, for fear that I would pull up a budding vegetable, and by the time I started making it a weekly chore, some of the weeds had gone to seed. After looking up weeding tips, I went out and bought some mulch, and spread it around my garden. I also edged, which prevented the grass from spreading into the garden. In addition to weeding, gardens need approximately 1 inch of of water every week. I bought a little watering can, and let Reid water our harvest while I weeded.

Now, this is an extremely simplified explanation of how I made my urban garden work for me and Reid. After several weeks, I started noticing beautiful vegetables hiding beneath leaves, and we had more than enough for the two of us. I ended up giving a lot of veggies to my mother and our neighbor. This year was such a success that I plan on trying my hand at it again next year, and I am flirting with the idea of adding chickens to the mix. I have cousins in New Mexico who garden, and raise chickens and goats, and they are already sending tips my way for how to expand my enterprise.

If you’re anything like me, money’s tight and the bills just keep rolling in. Even if you’re always on the lookout for deals, coupons and sales, the growing cost of groceries can be staggering. However, with a little creativity and elbow grease, you can grow your own, thus saving you money and making the earth a better place to live!