Even if you don't feel you have the space for a garden, there is a way. Passionate urban gardeners have been very inventive and creative in order to make gardening in small city spaces possible. Vertical gardening is very popular and there are plenty of products available to help use every spare wall, fence and balcony rail. There is no excuse not to garden.
Intensive Gardening
If you have a modest garden and want to get the most out of it, this is a technique you may want to try. The key to success here is to start with a very rich soil and then plant into every available space, not necessarily in rows. As soon as plants are removed, the space is reused with new plants. Planting this close together can keep the weeds down, but can be more susceptible to pest and disease, because of reduced airflow.
Lasagne Gardening
If your soil is poor and you have to build raised beds, the cost of filling them with rich soil soon adds up. This method is almost like composting in situ and is a style of no-dig gardening. The structure of the garden is built up with alternating layers of brown and green materials. It is better to start a garden like this in the autumn to allow the materials to break down in time for spring. If you do want to start in the spring, a layer of compost or soil on the top will make a good planting medium.
Hydroponics
If you want fresh food but don't like to get your hands dirty this is the method for you. There is a bit of a set up with specialised equipment but once you are under way you can grow most vegetables in the nutrient-enriched, aerated water that is pumped past the roots.
Straw Bale
If you want to grow outside the box you could consider straw-bale gardening. This will require a bit of research before you start to ensure a successful harvest, but can be particularly useful if you only have a hard surface to work with.
Hugelkultur
If you have poor soil and poor drainage and don't mind a bit of hard work setting things up then this is a great solution for you. It starts with a pile of rotting logs and organic material at the base and is covered over with soil to plant into. It is a little like a lasagne garden but more intense as the logs eventually break down to give a rich base. This kind of garden needs less watering and feeding.
Organic Gardening
If your reason for gardening is that you are concerned about providing the healthiest food for your family, this natural system avoids commercial and synthetic fertilisers and pest controls. It has a holistic approach from the way the soil is prepared, to how pests and disease are controlled, and through the use of beneficial insects and using seeds known to be organic. Organic gardens can be more work, but knowing where your food comes from and what has happened to it gives you peace of mind.
Permaculture
This style of gardening can become a way of life. The garden is created to be a closed system where everything has a useful purpose and all waste is returned to the garden. This natural system is a sustainable food-production system by working with nature instead of trying to control it.
Food Forests
This low-maintenance system that is an edible version of forests in nature. Plants are grown in layers from tall fruit trees to shrubs, ground covers and even root crops, all growing together in a three-dimensional ecosystem. There are so many different ways to grow food. Now is a good time to do your research and find a gardening style that suits you so you are ready for the spring growing season. From sticking with the conventional to adopting a sustainable lifestyle, growing food for your family will always be a rewarding thing to do. There is nothing to hold you back.
Sarah O'Neil is an author, blogger and passionate gardener writing about the trials and tribulations of growing food for her family. Her books The Good Life and Play in the Garden are available at all good bookstores. www.sarahthegardener.co.nz
