Green Thumb or Not, Get Fresh Herbs and Vegetables Without A Garden

Go green with an herb garden

Image by OakleyOriginals

Many people these days are looking at making changes in their lives to become more sustainable, including growing their own herbs and vegetables.  The problem is not everyone has a big backyard or property with good soil to plant the garden of their dreams.  Additionally, not everyone has the “green thumb” commonly associated with being able to maintain a successful garden.  I know personally mine’s a little off-green and I haven’t always had the best luck with gardens.  So, what can you do?

EarthBox kitWell, nowadays whether you have a green thumb, or even have a yard, has no bearing on being able to successfully grow your own herbs and vegetables from the comfort of home.  The EarthBox has taken all the guesswork out of growing your own vegetables and herbs and brought it all down to just following instructions.  You can grow anything from Basil,  Eggplants and Spinach to Artichokes, Broccoli and Melons.

Used by restaurants and homeowners alike, EarthBox has become an innovative solution to the problem of how to grow your own fresh vegetables and herbs.  For example, the Blue on Blue restaurant in Beverly Hills, CA has their own rooftop garden.  Rather than going out to find a local grower or head down the market to get “fresh” herbs and vegetables for their specialty dishes, they just walk over to their own EarthBoxes and pick what they need.  Now that’s what fresh is really all about.

And it’s not just about being green, it’s good business.  Why pay for vegetables and herbs from someplace where you don’t know what pesticides were used, how they were grown, if they are organic or if you’ll have to settle for a cheap substitute, etc?  Having your own EarthBoxes means you know exactly what you’ll have, what you want to have and you’ll be in control over how they are grown – talk about great quality control.  Besides, what customer doesn’t like the taste of freshly grown/picked herbs and vegetables?

There are many great benefits of the EarthBox including it has a virtually maintenance-free system that controls the soil condition, eliminates the guesswork of the inexperienced gardener and often more than doubles the production of a similar-sized conventional garden.  It also use less fertilizer, less water and less effort.   So if you’ve always wanted the smell (and taste) of freshly grown herbs and vegetables right at home, I suggest checking out EarthBox.  If you’d prefer a more do-it-yourself garden, then I suggest checking out “Building a Self Watering Container Out of Recycled Materials” written by my friend @CanarsieBK.

Outstanding in the FieldIf you don’t think your green thumb is up for either of those, but you still want to enjoy some fresh picked herbs and vegetables, there are many places you can go to enjoy foods right off the farm.  Tanaka Farms in Irvine, CA has a great agriculture program where non-farmers can purchase shares in the farm’s bounty and then will receive boxes of fresh in-season produce in return.  If you prefer, you can also go to the farm, pet the farm animals and pick your own vegetables right out of the ground…even pick your own pumpkin, right off the vine!  Another popular fresh food activity is “Outstanding in the Field”, where local growers, chefs and winemakers join together to present you with a one-of-a-kind eating experience where your meal is served right in the fields themselves.  But remember, whichever way you decide to go, fresh herbs and vegetables are waiting for you.

5 Comments

  • LoveEarthAlways.com

    Fantastic article We actually used old 2 X 6 boards to make a raised bed herb garden using compost, leaves and manure to augment the soil. We enjoyed fresh herbs and peppers all summer. Just put in garlic and mulched it for next year!

  • Stephanie

    Growing fresh herbs is one of my favorite (easy) green things to do. I’m intrigued by the idea of growing melons and more inside!

  • Tara

    Steph – I know, isn’t that cool?! I thought that was one of the great parts about it.
    Glenn – Thanks! Wow, that’s a cool one! Simple and easy to maintain, I love it. 😀

  • tomatotaster

    I was reading your post and just wanted to see if you’ve heard of the Grow Box? I’ve tried it and I’ve had so much success. I had Spanish Onions, Cucumbers, Butternut Squash and Beets so far this summer! It’s actually a bit better and a whole lot less expensive! They hold about a gallon and a half more water. Check it out at agardenpatch.com.
    Happy Gardening!

  • Tara

    Tomatotaster – Thanks for your comment! The Grow Box sounds great and it sounds like it has been very successful for you – thanks for sharing it 🙂

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