Some people say we should grow more of our own food because the food system as we know it is on the verge of collapse. Other say we should do it as a way to enhance our lives and save the planet. And then there are those who argue that food tastes better when it spends the shortest time between the garden and the stove.
Either way, while growing your own food may seem like a good idea, it is also impractical for those of us who live in urban environments. Between city ordinances and a lack of space, we often don't have much to work with. But R. J. Ruppenthal is here to challenge that with his inspiring new book Fresh Food from Small Places: The Square-Inch Gardner's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting.
Mr. Ruppenthal is a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and inspiring champion of growing your own food in what may seem like challenging places. Beginning with the obvious solutions like vegetables in containers, he also suggests vertical gardening, trying out fruits and berries, and even raising chickens and honeybees.
Fresh Food from Small Spaces instructs us on how to manage compost, 'partner' with worms, cultivate mushrooms and make yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and sprouted grains. This book is packed with information on how to start up a windowsill or terrace garden, or to turn that narrow strip of soil between buildings into a mini-farm. Even if your only goal is to pick a few ripe, homegrown vegetables every now and then, then this book is worth picking up.
If you live in the Bay Area, you can hear Mr. Ruppenthal speak at the Ferry Farmer's Market on Wednesday March 3 at 6:30 pm. Admission is free. For more information visit the Chelsea Green website.
Related: Book Review: Grub: Ideas for An Urban Organic Kitchen
(Image: Chelsea Green)
Sounds like a very good resource.
I've just harvested and eaten from my living sprouts jar that I purchased at WF. What an incredible way of growing your own food at home all year round! At $6.99 a jar plus 6 bucks for a ton of seeds it's worth it to get two jars so you can stagger your "crops".
I've never really paid attention to the packaged sprouts in the produce section but they're not cheap! Plus they probably have some sort of preservative and you never know how long they've been decomposing in the package.
Lacto fermentation, living foods, composting...these are all words that I hope to be hearing more of forever! They've been used before and have faded out. I hope they are here to stay.
view art's profile
how lovely
AND the Brooklyn library system has two copies . . . .
view guido's profile
I have to say I agree with the author. There is nothing to stop apartment dwellers from growing their own food. I have plans to grow all sorts of vegetables on my balcony this Summer in containers, and herbs and chillis indoors too.
These are my plans for this year:
http://eightsquaremetres.blogspot.com/2009/03/balcony-garden-diagram-plan.html
view cheese's profile