Start an indoor garden for Sustainability,

Savings and Health

The move toward more sustainable living has gained traction in recent years with families looking to help the environment and their wallets. Gardening is a great hobby to support a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s fun, saves money on groceries and promotes a healthier diet by consuming foods you know are harm-free. Growing plants is good for your family’s health in other ways too. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and generate oxygen, making the air in your home cleaner. Plus the exposure to nature and the accomplishment your family will feel is good for everyone’s mental health.

Indoor Gardening

Gardening can be difficult, especially outdoor gardening, because there are so many variables. Indoor gardening has a greater likelihood of success because you control the environment. It also provides an outlet for nature to those with little or no outdoor space. Herbs, leafy plants and microgreens are the most common edible plants for indoor growing. They are easy to grow, generally do well with shallow soil and don’t need as much space.

Before You Begin

If you’re a newbie, start small and simple. Plants need at least water, nutrients and light – and don’t forget your seeds. Choose a growing location you can control. Plants do best in stable, moist environments, with consistent temperatures in the 60s to 70s and good air circulation to prevent mold or fungus growth.

Consider the amount of light your windows permit and at what time of day they allow for more or less light. Generally, a south-facing window will give you the most sunlight. This will likely change throughout the seasons. So be aware of how light exposure varies and affects plants. If your lighting is not adequate, or during winter months, you may need a grow lamp that is specifically designed to provide the right type of light for plant growth.

Supplies

By Kimberly Blaker for Family & Kids

If you have specific plants in mind, research what items you’ll need to support their desired environment. Containers should be big enough for your plants’ growth, as well as their root depth and suggested distance between seeds. Also consider drainage, so excess water doesn’t build up and cause root rot or bacterial growth.

Use potting mix or soil made explicitly for seedlings and the indoors. These varieties drain better than garden soil and aren’t likely to contain fungus or bacteria. Since your plants won’t get rain, you must play mother nature. Be aware of the plant’s watering and drainage needs. Self-watering containers, drip systems and hydroponic kits can be helpful.

Caring For Your Garden

Edible plants generally take more effort. Some may need pruning, adjustments to watering and soil, and various harvesting or replanting times. To help you and your kids keep track, create a journal with what each plant needs, how often and things you should look for. Use this data to remind you to care for them, how to do so and to track your successes or failures. Establish a chore chart for the kids to help you care for and harvest the plants.

In terms of harvesting, some plants need to picked and replanted. Other plants, especially herbs and leafy greens, can be cut for what you need and will regrow from there. Involve your child in choosing tasty, healthy recipes to cook or work together to store the produce.

Finally, keep in mind your family can do everything right and still fail. This can be frustrating but indoor gardening is a learning process. Just keep trying, the education and a fruitful harvest will be worth it.