Organic Indoor Gardening

Gardening is a great way to live a sustainable lifestyle. However, not everyone has the space to garden. In some instances, their landlord may not allow gardening. For me, it is just plain raining too much. Rarely are we having any sun at all around here.

You can garden indoor if you choose. You will not be able to grow as much produce as you would if you had a plot outdoor to garden in, but enough to get you by.

I suggest that you practice organic gardening indoor whenever possible. This is possible if you follow a few simple rules:

1. Use reusable containers for planting, including hanging ones.

2. Set up your indoor 'garden' in a sunny area. I like to use windowsills, and to hang plants from hooks suspended above the windows.

3. Use organic potting soil and/or organic container garden soil. You can sometimes purchase these at greenhouses.

4. Use heirloom and/or open-pollinated seeds. If you cannot find these locally, do an online search.

5. Use rinse dishwater, pasta water and vegetable water to water your plants.

6. Rather than using fertilizer, try leftover coffee and tea.

7. Crushed egg shells can be added to the soil.

You may be wondering what you can grow inside your home that can be eaten. I suggest starting simply, with only what you know you will use. Here are some ideas:

1. Herbs are great candidates for indoor planting. They will grow well on a windowsill.

2. Lettuces and cherry tomatoes make great salad fixings. Try planting the lettuce in hanging containers.

3. Marigolds and other edible flowers work well.

4. Strawberries, as well as other berries in pots.

You can make great salads with the produce, and you will save a lot of money by growing and preserving your own herbs. All of these foods and herbs will be a lot healthier for you to consume, and they will taste better than their store-bought counterparts. It is easy to set up your own little indoor garden.