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Simple Gardening IdeasIt’s always fun to learn a new skill, and if you’ve ever considered gardening but were concerned about your abilities to develop the knack, let me reassure you that it’s truly not as hard as it seems. First off, you have to decide whether you want to choose container gardening or an actual outdoor bed. If you live in an area with limited or public outdoor space, the decision may have already been made for you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t begin on a highly rewarding journey into the world of planting and harvesting the fruits… or veggies of your labor.
Indoor GardeningMy first forays into gardening came in the way of those tiny portable greenhouses available at most department stores when I was nineteen. You can purchase them in herbal or floral varieties, and they include all you need to begin except water. Six tiny pots, six peat pellets, seed packets, a plastic resealable greenhouse enclosure and even basic tips and instructions if you have someone sighted to read for you or a scanner and the appropriate software program. If you have more ambition and space, you might consider a larger project. If you have a window that receives lots of sunlight, perhaps planting some cheerful and hearty sunflowers would be a fine way to begin. There are smaller or dwarf varieties available at most greenhouses or through catalogs, and as long as the flowers are watered regularly and receive a lot of sunlight and a good bit of fresh air, you should see success.Outdoor GardensIf you have an area outdoors to work with, perhaps growing your own vegetables interests you. I’ve grown tomatoes among other things with great success, and it’s relatively easy to do. First, you need to prepare your soil. This involves clearing the area of debris with a rake or your hands, turning the soil with a strong shovel, supplementing with some fresh soil containing a good mix of nutrients, and weeding the area before you plant. I use a premixed weed killer and soil booster before I begin, and start my seeds in small amounts of dirt in disposable cups. This gives the seedlings a chance to grow and strengthen before they’re transplanted to the ground. Try using plastic edging connected to itself to make a ring that can be put around your plants. This can help you quickly and easily find your plants without stepping on them. Another idea is to place wooden stakes at each end of the vegetable row. String or twine can be tied to the stakes, making a line over the top of your plants so that you can quickly know exactly where the vegetables were planted. Plastic Braille labels or other types of tactile marks could be made to hang on the string or attached to the stakes. If you have a large garden, plant lots of varieties or have difficulty distinguishing the differences between vegetables and weeds, labeling might be helpful. After you’ve planted, it’s just a matter of watering and monitoring the health of your plants. Do the leaves feel firm and strong? Does the plant smell lush and green? You can be assured of your plant’s vitality if it continues to grow and produces buds or tiny fruits. With large tomato plants, it’s often necessary to support them by tying them to a gardening stake, but this too is extremely easy to do and very inexpensive. Herbs are a cinch to grow indoors, and can be enjoyed year round either fresh or dried. Many flowers like marigolds and various varieties of lilies grow well in pots, and they can be a multi sensory way to add to the décor of your house or apartment. It can be extremely rewarding to prepare foods with ingredients you’ve grown, especially if you let the kids pitch in and help care for the family garden. All it takes is a little help from you and nature, and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to develop quite the green thumb if you have the desire. It’s inexpensive, relaxing, a fine way to save on your produce bill, and something you don’t need a bit of sight to learn.
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