Friday, June 05, 2009

We have this treasure in five-gallon buckets of dirt


I am an aspiring farmer. It's more of a theoretical thing, really; I have little experience but a lot of enthusiasm and I like to read about it a lot. Which, you might say, is worth something, but I really think it's about as useful as learning how to swim via an online correspondence course in which you never even enter the water.* The key to growing things is really experience, and good growers have years of it under their belts.

Nevertheless, I am determined to get good at this -- so determined that I've taken to planting my vegetables in five-gallon buckets and giant storage bins in my miniscule concrete backyard.

This year, I'm trying my hand at:
  • Bell peppers
  • Heirloom tomatoes: "Japanese Black Trifele," Czech Bush," "Stupice," and "Snow White," and "Be My Baby"
  • Basil
  • Curly parsley
  • Cilantro
  • Mint
  • Peas (growing along the fence -- we'll see if they survive the slug attacks)
The five-gallon buckets aren't pretty, but I'm proud of my urban farming attempts, and I must admit it makes planting and weeding pretty simple. Check back later for updates on the Avondale Farm.

*Big shout-out to all you Big Bang Theory fans who actually got this reference.

1 comment:

Maya / מיה said...

Nice! I always tried to grow container gardens too, although they would usually last about half a summer for me. I think I have my best results with herbs. NOw I'm trying to start window box herb gardens... I've kept one going (with rosemary, chives, thyme and oregano... oh, and cilantro that died) for a few months and I want to get another! I LOVE eating food I grew... there's just something different about it, right?