For some time now, I’ve been wishing I could plant my own garden. It sounds like a great way to dig in and use your hands and have some fun and save some money. Unfortunately, my apartment in Los Angeles isn’t exactly the ideal location for this. Space is limited. I don’t have my own patch of dirt to stomp around on or garden in (which, come to think of it, is kind of sad).

This is why I was quite pleased to stumble across this site dedicated to urban “container gardening.” If you’ve got enough space to set out a used tire, a feed sack, or an old bucket, you’ve got enough space to garden. The site suggests using a location such as a vacant city lot, a rooftop, an abandoned industrial site, or a parking lot. Most city folk can probably find a space like this somewhere close to home.

What I really like about this whole concept is that it’s cheap. The largest type of container suggested on the site - a child’s wading pool - can be purchased for around $10. The topsoil, peat moss, and manure used to fill the pool can be had for less than $20. Setup sounds pretty simple. For instance, with a wading pool, you drill a few holes in it, find a level location, toss the soil in and you’re ready to go.

Once you’ve got your garden set up, you can plant a range of different plants in one container. Actually, having some diversity in your garden helps ensure the health of the plants. The site says that people have successfully grown okra, corn, cucumbers, mustard greens, peas, beans, grapes, and more using container gardens. Since the garden is contained, there’s no runoff and thus no waste of soil or water.

I’d suggest that planting herbs/spices is a great way to save some money. Doesn’t it burn you to shell out $1-$2 for a tiny little bundle of mint? I find myself doing this every so often, and I’d love to not have to do it anymore. Now I’ve just gotta find a vacant lot with a fence I can crawl through… hehe.

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