One day I had the start of a very lovely patch of mixed lettuce plants. The next morning, I had a few stems of lettuce and one lonely leaf covered by a few small green caterpillar type creatures. Then my Swiss chard got attacked by the little buggers. And now the peas have some weird white spots on the leaves. Sigh. I feel like I am losing the war here.

I thought container plants were supposed to be more pest-resistant, but I guess I was wrong. I really want to avoid using chemical pesticides, but I don’t know what the best alternative is. Some natural pesticides seem like they’d be the perfect solution, but I want to do a little more research before I start spraying anything on plants I eventually want to eat. I also like the idea of companion planting as a natural alternative but I don’t have much space to introduce a lot of new plants at this point.

The other alternative is to let go of the dream of growing my own veggies in the heart of the city and get some great outdoor furniture so that we can enjoy the space and the cool air outside the apartment. I have gone back and forth on this many times, but I just can’t seem to commit to anything. There are hammocks and chaise lounges and cool double chairs that have a little umbrella table in the middle, and they all seem they’d be awesome for different reasons. I am just having such a hard time of letting go of that utopic vision of actual edible plants in my backyard.

I will most likely debate this more tonight as I plant some mint seedlings where the lettuce plants used to be, because I can’t bear the site of that big empty container. Sad days in the garden indeed.

My container garden is going wild with all the warm weather we have been having. The only problem is that I seem to have planted too many seeds. Here’s the situation: we bought seeds at various intervals throughout the years but never really had an opportunity to grow them so we froze them. Although they seemed alright, they’d been in the freezer for a while so I was pretty sure that not all the seeds would sprout. Boy, was I wrong.

I now have a TON of little Swiss chard, mint and dill plants, and I just noticed that I have several chili pepper plants sprouting as well. That’s in addition to more fully developed grape tomatoes, Anaheim chiles, carrots, cantaloupe, basil and mesclun lettuces. So now I am weighing the options for thinning out the sprouts.

I have sort of given up the vertical garden idea, just because I am nervous about everything falling over in an earthquake. Now I am considering some nice window box planter, since it seems like a great way to really enhance the look of our place as well. However, I am concerned that water used for the plants may somehow start to rot or warp the wooden siding, so I need to do more research into window box planters before I commit. I do love the way they look, though. Check this out:

I am totally in love with this idea: planters that hang vertically like art on walls. These “living wall planters” are a great way for city dwellers to maximize their garden space while adding a really cool design element to their homes. The best part is that they are available for less than $200.

I just spotted this on Laist: Residential composting may be the next phase in reducing landfill waste. That’s fantastic news, and I really hope the program is a success. It definitely provides another reason to think about getting a home composter. The city is providing 2-gallon composting bins to the initial 8,700 hundred homes participating in the project, but if you want a more stylish option, check out these compost bins:

Blue Planet Smart Compost Bins

Green Cone composter by Solarcone

Ceramic Compost Crocks

My container garden is improving rapidly. In addition to herbs like basil, mint and chamomile, we now have grape tomatoes (instead of cherry), swiss chard and hot banana peppers. I am also getting ready to plant a mesclun mix in one long container, and carrots, peas and cantaloupe in big pots this weekend. I thought that would be the end of my planting for a while, but I just found this article about no-dig gardening from the LA Times, so now I am reconsidering my options.

The advantage of a no-dig garden, in addition to not having to dig into the hard, sun-baked Southern California soil is that the method doesn’t require a lot of water because the layers of the no-dig garden retain moisture longer. It’s not a “waterless” garden; it just needs to be watered less often. It is also great for people who don’t have a lot of outdoor space. Plus, PIC has been totally gung-ho on the idea of getting a composter, so if we start a no-dig garden, at least we’d have an immediate use for the compost. My only concern is that if I commit to a no-dig garden, there won’t be enough space left over for even a chaise lounge. So I guess this weekend I’ll do some measuring and see if a no-dig garden can work into my dream of a garden oasis.

Here are some more no-dig gardening resources:

• No-Dig Vegetable Garden
• Bare Bones Gardening: No-Dig Potatoes
• Instructables: Easy organic garden any where - the NO DIG GARDEN
• Path to Freedom: Garden Tips and Tricks

The LA Times has a great article about a movement called guerrilla gardening. Basically, people stealthily plant neglected public areas for the purpose of making the environment more appealing for everyone. Guerrilla gardening movement proponents call it a “form of protest and direct action” and “urban ecological subversion“, but I call it good, clean (if not totally legal) fun. I wonder if there are Swiss Army-style garden tools that fit easily into pockets and are good for this kind of hit-and-tun gardening. I will have to do more research into that, but for now, some Guerilla Gardening links:

Inhabitat:Guerrilla Gardening: Strategies for Greening the Hood

Treehugger: Guerilla Gardening: Resistance is Fertile

Green Guerillas.org

There is a very timely article on MSN about 5 foods it’s cheaper to grow. The MSN article is timely because Partner-in-Climb and I were just talking about the possibility of growing vegetables at home. I had seen an article about growing potatoes in a container, and basically, we have been considering that option for the backyard while planning to set up some hanging baskets with cherry tomatoes and peppers on the front porch.

I am also debating the merits of a vertical vegetable garden for the backyard, but I don’t know if that will make me feel too claustrophobic back there. I am totally fascinated by the Valcent High Density Vertical Growth system, but I am pretty sure it is way too big for our space. And I don’t think they are actually for sale yet. But it is really cool. I really do like the idea of growing as much as possible, though, so maybe I will do a little more research to find a compromise I can live with. It is definitely something to consider as we develop our urban garden retreat.

I have been re-thinking the outdoor fireplace idea. It has been cool for the past few days, but last weekend was scorching, so now I am thinking I’d get a lot more enjoyment from something that at least reminds me of coolness, like fountains.

I tried to build one myself a few years ago, but the project didn’t go so well. I found several already constructed fountains that I really like, though, so now it’s just a matter of making a choice between them. If anybody has input or experience with any of these, please let me know!

• Water Bell Fountain
  

I like the idea of “peaceful chiming sounds”, but I wonder if that will get annoying. Otherwise I really like this fountain.

• Solar Fish Water Fountain

Normally I am not into animal themed decor, but I really like everything about this fish fountain, from the blue glazed terra cotta to the solar powered pump.

• Tri-Basin Fountain

I have been thinking that one corner of our yard would be the perfect fountain location, and this fountain seems like it would be great in a corner.

I was delighted to return from our recent road trip to find our orchids coming out of a long hibernation and our chamomile in bloom! I am most surprised about the chamomile; of all the plants I have potted recently, it seemed like it wasn’t really taking off. But I guess Miracle Gro really does live up to its name–it’s been just over a month since I planted the chamomile, and it’s already blooming! The feverfew and lemon balm are also growing by leaps and bounds as well (and yes, I KNOW i still need to do a lemon balm post!) My tropical oasis is within reach; now I just need furniture so I can enjoy it!

It was great to be on the road because it gave me a lot of great ideas for patio furniture. I can’t decide if I’d prefer a clay chimenea or a fire pit, because I can see pros and cons to having both. I LOVE the design and the Southwestern feel, but it doesn’t seem as versatile or as easy to clean as a fire pit. Then again, since we live in Southern California, there might not be that many fires, and a chimenea definitely has more stand alone appeal as outdoor decor. Maybe I should wait until the weather warms up before I make any decisions.

n55 is a Danish design group that is known for socially engaged projects documented in a number of manuals meant to inspire environmentally aware conversation and innovation. I am really excited about their manual for city farming plant modules, like the ones shown in the image above. It’s a great solution for people whose needs fall somewhere between a “real” in-ground garden and a container garden, like plant-loving renters who have a little bit of yard to play it, or people who have balconies or patios. It gives a lot of freedom for design and layout, and the component sections seem like they’d be easy to move around for quick outdoor redecorating when the mood hits. Throw in some tiki torches and a good grill, and you’ll be ready for tropical party fun even in the city.

The City Farming Plant Module seems like it would work really well with n55’s indoor soil factory, which lets green city dwellers compost trash at home. If you want a little less mess and potential funky composting smell, n55’s website also has hydroponic garden instructions.