January in the Garden Part 2

Let's say you don't have a space for a garden. You live in an apartment and don't have dirt.

I have a few ideas for you. There are so many options.

When I lived in an apartment, I found that the city I lived in has a community Garden. For $20 a year...yes, that's right, I had a plot that was 16 ft X 16 ft. I still have a plot there. I started with just digging rows 16 ft long and planting whatever was in season. It was pretty successful. I then went to the Raised Bed method and was even more successful.

Many communities have them and they are a good way to meet like minded people, make new friends and share gardening tips.

Another option, if your apartment has some sun on the balcony, is to use several planter boxes. You can grow so much in container gardens....anything from herbs to tomatoes. They can be the wooden box planters or the plastic hanging baskets, or the ones you attach to your balcony railing. Get some good organic garden compost and plant away. I suggest checking out online how to do each veggie in that they all need a little different care. You can even plant potatoes in containers. I have mine planted in wire baskets out in the garden. They seem to produce more that way.

Check out those upside down planters. They work well, too

If you have limited space, you can get herb planters with grow lights for in your kitchen, living room...where ever. There are kits you can buy, or make your own.

If you do plant on a balcony or in your kitchen, you have a larger selection to start with in January. Grow lettuce and spinach, chard and kale on your porch. Plant from seed and they will spring up in no time. They like cold weather. You can put some onions into a larger planter. As they grow tall, thin them out and eat the scallions. They are easy and grow fast.

Inside, plant a tomato in your upside down planter. You will have fruit to eat by March. Herbs plants are available in many nurseries now. Get the ones you will use, like basil, oregano, thyme and chives. There are thousands of ideas for small space planting. This is one of my favorites.

The best food is the food you grow yourself. There isn't a greater thrill than eating that home grown tomato right off the vine.

SO go for it!

3.....The Salad Bar Theory

My father-in-law is a vegetarian. He occasionally eats fish, but for the most part, he eats fruits and veggies.  His dinner ritual is the salad bar he creates in his kitchen. I thought it was such a good idea, that it has become a ritual for us. It has made eating veggies so simple.

My father-in-law and his wife cut up the veggies of their choice and store them in containers in the fridge. They use recycled glass jars.  I use plastic boxes as they store better in the fridge. (I am attempting to get rid of the plastic stuff in my house, but step by step)

He then pulls all the containers out at dinner. He has usually cut enough for a few days. What ever is missing on their list of goodies, is chopped right then. He lines them up on the kitchen counter, then fills his bowl much as you would at any salad bar. He makes his own dressing, to boot. Then he easily puts everything back in the fridge for the next night. 

Our salad bar consists of the following....our favorites.

Spring Mix salad greens

baby leaf spinach

Sun flower sprouts (a farmers market purchase...I haven't mastered sunflower sprouts)

Alphafa sprouts if I have them (I'll share that trick another time)

Cherry tomatoes

Mushrooms

Carrots

Cucumber

Celery

Feta cheese

Dried cranberries

Pineapple chunks

Cottage cheese

Hard boiled eggs

Walnuts and garlic slices

Bacon bits sometimes

The only thing that might not keep well for more than a few days is the chopped cucumber. They tend to get mushy. Everything else will keep up to a week. 

I make my own dressing with Extra Virgin Olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar. I add herbs that I like. 

We eat meat, so I'll add a burger or pork chop or chicken breast. I can cook enough of those ahead of time. In the summer, we grill enough for the whole week and store in the freezer. 

Try this It is so easy to eat this way, you will be amazed.