As that callous quip grew into a full borne controversy, critics pointed out how scientific and refined is modern agribusiness. It is much more refined than the crude characterization of subsistence farming.
At the same time, I have been educating myself about urban gardening techniques. I have quickly learned that there are a variety of gardening method: container gardening; permaculture; hydroculture, aquataculture, aeroculture et ali. These techniques range from being quite thrifty to rather pricey.
Before one begins, it helps to discern what are one’s objectives. I am not looking to get a photoshoot for Better Homes and Gardens. I have a small space, so I am not going to dig up all of my “postage stamp” of a back yard. In fact, I want to keep some grass. I do not plan to feed the world with my yield, but in most cases supplement my cuisine and have some strategic ornamentals.
Two other factors which dictate my druthers is that once the planting occurs, I hope to contain my daily drudgery to fifteen minutes a day. In addition, I need to start my gardening on a shoe-string budget.
I have pretty much discerned that it would be best for me to do container gardening. But even that choice has various permutations. I already have a sill planter which acted as a pepper pot. I have a planter with mint (aside from the mint which grows wild in the front yard). I have a container that has been growing stunted hops for five years, but perhaps it will do better now. The two Seedsheet containers (from Sharktank) did not produce much, but the planters could be useful.
While I do have southern exposure sunlight, much of that space is taken by sidewalk. With some reordering, I believe that I could have a green wall, accomplished by a converted door shoe organizer that would be great for herbs.
When a neighbor was renovating to flip the townhouse, I acquired a wrought iron security door, which I recognized would make for a good planter table, raised with some cinder blocks. Since that is heavy duty, I should be able to do some global buckets (wicked planters) and bucket planters on the eastern light end of the property.
The northern exposure side has hosted the compost pile and an improvised table for holding small planters.
My sitting area is the western exposure. Presuming that there is sufficient sunlight, that may be where hop trellises are situated. I am also toying with the notion of growing microgreens with a bag method.
If I were able to get my hands on a wood pallet, I would consider trying to convert it into a standing planter. The idea is intriguing but I am hesitant at how to get my hands on one, and my lack of handyman acumen at converting it. It’s wonderful to conceptually knowing how to do it, but having the tools and the skill set is another matter.
To better educate myself, I will attend a day long urban gardening seminar. The some of the topics seem interesting, but I bet that I’ll have to blend in wearing tie dye and “Imagining whirl peas” mindset. At least it will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and gauge if I am being overly ambitious with the methods of my madness.
