By Vanessa Richins

Gardening advice shows on the radio aren’t uncommon.

In Utah, I sometimes listen to KSL 1160 am, which features shows called, “The KSL Greenhouse Show.”

There’s also, “Joy in the Garden” on KNRS 570 am.

However, one radio show from Augustana College (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) features an interesting combination – gardening, indie rock and traditional folk-based music.

The Djs, dubbed “Flower Man & Oil Can,” dole out gardening advice while showcasing songs.

If you happen to Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

When I was a tiny child, I remember proudly bringing home a paper cup full of dirt and bean seeds.

I would watch anxiously for the first peep of the stem pushing through the soil.

Years later, I still enjoy watching new plants grow.

Gardening can teach children so many skills. They learn about science, patience, math and more. You don’t have to wait until summer, either. There are many gardening projects that can be started indoors year-round – especially inviting in the bleak winter months.

- Pop Bottle Terrarium

My friend Chris McLaughlin is a Master Gardener and 4H instructor. She has made soda pop bottle terrariums with Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

The 14 acre garden in South Central Los Angeles, California, started as a way to repair the damage done by the LA Riots in 1992.

The end came due to problems such as government corruption.

Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s documentary film, “The Garden”, tells the story of the largest community garden in America.

The film chronicles how the garden came to be a source of hope and healing after troubling times. Lower income residents were able to feed their families healthier food and work with their neighbors.

The troubles began when Read the rest of this entry »

By Reggie Solomon

Square foot gardening is the ultimate urban gardening solution!

I stumbled upon this book at the Yale Bookstore this afternoon, and it has changed the way I will forever approach urban gardening.

The Square Foot Gardening book by Mel Bartholomew who also once hosted a similarly-titled television series on public television, is built around gardening in a 4’ x 4’ square subdivided into a grid of sixteen 1’ squares. Mel’s system, which can be organized via a raised bed or at ground-level, incorporates an ingenious vertical trellising design to accommodate vining vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash and melons.

The square-foot gardening system is ideal for the urban gardener because it’s suited for small spaces, maximizes growing space by eliminating wasted space between rows, and accommodates vertical growing.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Reggie Solomon

Attending a local gardening workshop is a great way to prepare for the summer gardening season and get tips from other urban gardeners in your area.

Though it tried its darndest, the 10-inches of fresh snow didn’t stop me and my gardening buddy from attending a gardening workshop hosted by the New Haven Ecology Project [NHEP] at Common Ground High School, a local charter school that sits atop a 20-acre farm.

Surprisingly given the wintry conditions, the workshop drew a solid crowd of 25-30 people. The assortment of urban dwellers in attendance included – young people, older people, renters, homeowners, and a vibrantly-dressed group of Muslim women. You could feel the immense energy everyone was waiting to channel into their gardens resting beneath the snow.

Read the rest of this entry »