Container Gardening: Small Spaces + Green Goodness

A couple of months ago, I posted about about how Robbie and I randomly bought a little organic basil seed kit on a whim while out running errands, and about how this kit lit within us some sort of massive gardening flame.  The "kit" cost $1, and contained just a packet of seeds, some dehydrated dirt, and a tiny pot.

We didn't think much of it, as neither of us had ever really possessed the desire to garden before (nor a yard in which to plant even if we had).  But when those seeds turned to sprouts and poked their little bits of green goodness through that black soil, we were suddenly urban farmers with glowing green thumbs, ready to grow all sorts of food and lovely-to-look-at plants on our deck/terrace for summer.

Both of us are notorious for killing even the most impossible-to-kill plants, and with only the tiny deck and space below it to work, we didn't have the highest expectations despite our excitement.   Somehow, however, we've managed to (organically) grow that basil into a real, edible plant, along with red and yellow tomatoes, sunflowers, and lots of pretty plants that will bring some green cheer into our place when winter arrives.

We've also learned a lot about container gardening and urban farming over the past few months.  There's an amazing potential to produce fresh, healthy food and visually beautiful plants and flowers, regardless of how small or unconventional the space.  And with farmland dwindling, urban sprawl increasing, and new signs of environmental destruction popping up everyday, the concept of small-space gardening might be more important for our future than we're aware. 

Do any of you have container gardens?  If so, what are you growing, and do you have any tips or tricks?