Hey, I’m not exactly Ms. Granola, but I’ve decided to take the leap anyway (wearing gloves at all times – let’s not kid ourselves).

In keeping with my “let’s try eating more local food” I’m giving urban gardening a shot and am pretty excited about it. Pretty much completely in the dark, but excited none the less!

My goal is to be as environmentally friendly as possible (i.e. organic pest solutions and reclaimed materials) and as cheap as possible – if we want everyone to do it, it can’t break the bank. I’m asking you, my friends, for help with tips, materials, insight, and encouragement in the process.

What I’ve identified so far as stuff I need to do/use:

• Ideas for a seed starter tray – I want to get creative in putting one together (I’d use old milk cartons, but I don’t drink milk) or find a used one
• Compost bin – picking it up from the city transfer depot next weekend
• Rain barrel – ditto
• Soil test kit – anyone done this before?
• Advice on where to borrow or cheaply rent a rotatiller
• Recommended reading for when/what to plant in this climate
• Materials to border the garden – I’m doing in-ground rather than raised bed and would like a border, i.e. reclaimed wood or maybe old bricks
• Free/cheap used canning stuff – I’ll be scouring spring lawn sales for jars and lids, canners, etc. suggestions and donations welcome
• Info on good recipes, how-to resources, companion planting info, etc. also welcome!

I’ll keep you posted on the play-by-play, which should be interesting. (Blind leading the blind?) First step is to see if the soil is any good or whether we’ll be trucking in a load…