WAKE UP PEOPLE
What smart choices
can we make for our bodies?
URBAN GARDENING
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COUNTRY GIRL VENTURES INTO THE CITY?
The illustrations above are from a charming children's book called The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. David Small's illustrations are colored with a Depression-era setting. You can't help but fall in love with the winsome young heroine, Lydia Grace, who goes into the city to stay with her ornery uncle and transforms his rooftop into a garden of delight.
Caldecott Honor Award.
The illustrations above are from a charming children's book called The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. David Small's illustrations are colored with a Depression-era setting. You can't help but fall in love with the winsome young heroine, Lydia Grace, who goes into the city to stay with her ornery uncle and transforms his rooftop into a garden of delight.
Caldecott Honor Award.
Where in the city do you find a corner of sun to grow a garden? Up on the rooftop! All that's required is access, some pots, maybe an old tub, a good soil mixture, seeds or baby plants, fresh water, and organic fertilizer.
What can you grow? Herbs, tomatoes, beans. The children's book Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots has more suggestions of easy to grow plants and projects.
For more book suggestions, click here.
What can you grow? Herbs, tomatoes, beans. The children's book Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots has more suggestions of easy to grow plants and projects.
For more book suggestions, click here.
Imagine growing an edible centerpiece such as this one by Shartner Farms for the RI Healthy Schools Coalition Breakfast
What kind of seeds do you use?
Mesclun, Mustard, Swiss Chard, Turnip, and/or assorted herbs. The seeds of heirloom varieties can be harvested from dried blooms that have been polinated to grow new plants the following year; you can not do this with hybrid seeds. You can order heirloom seeds online from Heirloom Seeds, Survival Seed Bank, and Botanical Interests.
You can purchase heirloom plants from local garden shops, farmstands, and some farmers markets. Robin Hollow farm in North Kingstown offers a variety of heirloom tomato plants at their annual Spring Sale in mid-May.
Can you create a garden in a tiny yard?
If your yard gets full sun, google "square foot gardening" to find out how to maximize your garden's yield. If you don't have a yard, try Garden in a Bucket, container gardening that's easy, compact and portable. The vegetables are chosen for their high vitamin and nutritional content - only $49.95.
