About The Edible Balcony Garden
The Balcony Garden (the "Greens" of Greens & Berries) is my online journal of sowing, growing, blooming and harvesting -- the challenges, successes, failures and lessons learned.
On these pages I describe my efforts at creating and sustaining an organic, low-impact, balcony garden with drought-tolerant and edible plants. Before the 2007 growing season, I grew only ornamental plants, but the 100 Mile Diet and Mary Ballon of West Coast Seeds inspired me to transform my limited gardening space (about 60 square feet) into a kitchen garden with a few inedible plants for shade and -- oh dear, now I confess my weakness -- a little bit of "food" for the eye. I also retained the long-term residents that have been thriving for several years: two graceful, weeping maple trees and several lush clumps of black mondo grass that multiply like rabbits and I share with friends and family.
My gardening philosophy and determination to keep on growing (despite crop failures) is best expressed in this quote from Kitchen Gardener International:
[A Kitchen Gardener's] love of food is a complete one that extends beyond the plate to the soil and the natural processes and cycles from which good food comes. Kitchen Gardeners are in tune with the natural world, the weather, and the seasons. They look for ways of working peacefully and harmoniously with nature, rather than fighting against her. They are stewards of the land, whether it be a farm or a window-box.
