I grew up homesteading and living off of the vegetables we grew, so having a vegetable garden has always been a way of life. I have never been able to shake the desire to play in the dirt or to marvel at watching things both edible and ornamental grow. Nature brings me peace and even though I live in Chicago, there are still ways to be surrounded by nature.
I get so much pleasure out of working in my garden at home. It's tranquil and a beautiful refuge for humans and birds. However, I don't have a suitable area for growing vegetables. I have enjoyed growing herbs and assorted hot peppers since they grow well in containers I’m able slip into sunny spots here and there. As much as I love my garden at home, I have been longing for a place that I can grow heirloom tomatoes, exotic eggplant, beautiful melons and anything else I want!
So this year, I decided to make it happen! I’m renting a small garden plot not too far from my home. It's going to be organic, with a rain water barrel, composting bin and all.
I will be planting my corn in the Three Sister’s method, which I have been dying to try. Each stalk of the corn is grown separately. Rather than in rows, it is grown on a mound with pole beans so they can use the corn stalk to grow up. Squash is planted around the base of the corn to replenish the nitrogen the corn depletes from the earth.
I’ll be starting much of my garden from seeds, so I plan to get those going this weekend. I have two friends who have greenhouses so I’m lucky because they will let me store my seeds with theirs. I have some heirloom tomato seeds I purchased last year at the Botanical Gardens, French pumpkin, Moon and Stars watermelon, bi-color sweet corn, and squash to get going. Peppers, cucumbers and beans will be next week.
Since this is the first time I have done a city garden, I would love any feedback you have on starting seedlings, organic gardening or advice on having an urban garden.
