Gardening in urban spaces

SASHA ROCHON

Many of us feel like we couldn’t grow anything more productive than an herb garden with success in Vancouver, with a large percentage of us living in condos, apartments or rental spaces that don’t allow us to dive our fingers deep into the dirt. But, thanks to the creative pioneers of urban farming, things have changed – you can indeed grow your own food in the city, even without a yard.

Of course, some things are essential, like sun and soil, but that’s about it. As long as you can get sunlight, you should be able to find some vegetable, herb or edible flower that will grow for you. When gardening in anything other than the earth, sterilized soil and proper fertilizing become very important, so don’t just buy what’s cheap or easily available. Gardening in containers allows for more fungus and bacteria to take hold of your plants, causing disease, and you don’t want all your hard work failing because you wanted to save a few bucks.

Many vegetables lend themselves to creative gardening. Almost any plant that has shallow roots will flourish as long as it gets attention and love from the sun. Some common vegetables used in “unconventional” planting include salad greens, strawberries, tomatoes, chard, kale, peppers and summer squash, just to name a few. With any container deeper than 12 inches, you can also start growing small root vegetables, such as beets and radishes.

To maximize space in an urban setting, it’s essential to use every bit of space that gets some sunshine. If you only have a fence or a wall that gets sun, then try nailing to them a recycled eaves trough or two. This provides a sturdy row, or rows, of dirt in an area that would otherwise be left bare. I have seen some successful plants come from this simple technique, which also can be done with small pots or even pop bottles cut in half to serve as planters. As long as the container has some way of draining itself, you should have some happy plants – and you can poke holes in almost anything!

Having a balcony that gets sun offers a few more options. Using levels to create more space for your no-garden garden will allow you to grow a few larger-sized plants. Try using common items such as an old dresser, a filing cabinet, chairs or benches. Constructing levels will allow all the plants to get some light and makes any concrete Vancouver condo look a little more alive. Train some of your plants on trellises to put growth that would usually take up space on the ground traveling up. Strawberries, cucumbers and summer squashes can all be trained to travel vertically.

Rooftops are starting to become greener spaces these days, with people realizing their potential as fantastic gardening spaces. There are fully functioning farms in Vancouver that use rooftops as their source of real estate. Be careful though, as these relatively underused spaces usually get sun the full day, so you must work to ensure that your plants don’t dry out. Make sure that any rooftop activity is properly secured.

Herbs and salad greens do great in almost any season, most can last until the late fall or even through winter. Many plants, like Swiss chard, spinach and kale, can be planted in the spring and again in late summer, allowing gardeners to harvest year round. Check your seed packets or ask for assistance when buying your seeds to make the most of your urban farm.

Being creative with how you garden, as well as with what you garden, will allow you to add some flare to your growing space. Plant in burlap sacks, olive oil tins, wooden wine boxes or even pillowcases – the possibilities are endless. There is no reason to feel restricted to the typical wood or plastic planter anymore. As long as the roots are kept in the dark and the container can efficiently drain, you’re set to grow.

Portable gardens are ideal if you’re unsure of how long you’re going to stay in your place. After all, what’s the point in putting in all that effort if you aren’t around for the harvest?

Growing food not only helps you save money at the grocery store but also helps keep your carbon footprint down. Many of us don’t realize how many miles food has traveled by the time it makes it to our mouths. To make it worth your effort, grow what you know you’d end up buying at the market. If you’re more eco-conscious, choose plants that you know travel a long way to get to the table. If you’re more focused on the dollar, grow what will save you money. Seeds are cheap and you can get some interesting varieties of vegetables that you wouldn’t see in your typical grocery store or farmers market.

Sasha Rochon is a freelance writer and blogger living in the Vancouver area. Growing up amid the nature and wildlife of northern British Columbia has influenced the way she lives in the “big city.” She enjoys sharing her gardening knowledge and skills and learning from other homesteading enthusiasts.

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