10 Ways to Grow Food in Any Space
Morgan Rogue 03.03.22
I’m a big fan of growing your own food, especially in these trying times of inflation, food and labor shortages, and more reasons our supply chain could be disrupted.
Growing your own food is not only empowering, but it helps to ensure you will always be able to feed yourself no matter what the current climate looks like.
There’s a way to grow food no matter where you live, including an apartment and even in the desert. The truth is, seeds want to grow and as long as we give them some good soil, plenty of light, and some water, they’ll be pretty eager to grow and produce.
Start experimenting today by throwing some seeds in the dirt! Don’t get caught up in all of the “right” way to do it, just do it and learn on the go!
Here are 10 ways to grow food in any space:
Raised beds
Good ol’ raised beds are a great way to control the kind of soil and nutrients your plants receive. Plus, you’re not tearing up your yard and you generally have better control over weeds and how the plants grow in general. You can either build the raised beds or buy them, there are so many great options out there. You can even get really creative with your raised beds and use bricks or even an animal trough. There are no limits to how you can build your raised beds. The only thing I would recommend and making it tall enough to accommodate the type of food you want to grow.
Containers
I love containers. You can grow so much food in even the smallest containers. Not to mention that almost anything can be considered a container, even a #10 can! If it can hold dirt, it can grow food. I’m currently using storage bins. Just be sure to drill holes in the bottom of whatever container you’re using for proper drainage.
Indoor garden
Indoor gardening can be done in a few ways. You could have a few herbs on your kitchen sill, you could have some plants on a shelf with a grow light or you could even have an indoor tower, in containers, vertical gardening, etc. The options are vast when we’re talking about what can be grown indoors. Make sure they’re getting plenty of light, space, and of course, good soil and enough water (but not overwatered).
Vertical garden
Vertical gardens are great ways to save space, while also growing a vast amount of food. There are towers or hanging vertical growers. You can also use pallets to grow vertically. The vertical garden has really expanded over the years and there are so many creative ways to grow food vertically.
In the ground
In-ground gardening is of course still an option. If you have the space you may want to consider tilling, no-till, or even back to Eden. Several methods for in-ground gardening. I like to use plenty of mulch or straw to keep moisture in.
Microgreens
Growing your own microgreens couldn’t be easier. Microgreens can be grown within 2-4 weeks and you can get an abundance of nutrient-dense greens that can be used in a variety of ways. When you’ve grown some microgreens, you can just keep growing them! Place them in front of a sunny window and keep them moist and you’ll be rocking and rolling with a consistent source of food with very little effort.
Sprouts
Sprouts are kind of like microgreens except you literally just eat them after they’ve sprouted. It takes a few days for them to grow and they can grow in just about anything, from a mason jar to a zipper bag. I’ve grown them in all kinds of containers. They’re so easy, nutritious, and grown with very few resources.
Aquaponics
Aquaponics can grow faster than the soil method. A lot of systems come with a grow light and can be done indoors. You can also build a larger system for the outdoors. Some people even grow food by adapting their existing fish tank system. Can be an easy and viable system to have consistent food around with little effort.
Weeds & Wild Edibles
Ok, technically, you aren’t growing weeds or wild edibles, but I would like to mention them so you don’t end up destroying them. Know which plants are edible in your area. For instance, many people automatically get rid of dandelions but they’re a great wild edible and helps to attract pollinators. Get to know your local wild edibles and so-called “weeds” to see what can be of benefit to you and maybe you can even help to cultivate it even more. Free food isn’t such a bad deal!
Greenhouse
I love growing in a greenhouse because it can be done year-round, especially if you have a way to heat it. I used a. buddy heater to heat mine in the colder months. A greenhouse is an asset to our ability to grow food whenever we need it. There are all kinds of greenhouses available, in all sizes, even some made for indoor use. Depending on where you are, you may need to supplement with grow lights, just keep that in mind.
BONUS: Community Garden!
Don’t have any viable space? No worries! Take a look at your local community garden. I was surprised to find dozens in my area. Even when I lived remote, there was a community garden at my local church. Don’t see a community garden in your area? Consider starting one by contacting local churches, schools, parks or even restaurants.
Have fun growing your own food!
