Living Local: Becoming a Patio Farmer

I used to think I had a black thumb and I listened with envy to others talk about their gardens.  Um, I'm not envious anymore.







It all started innocently last fall when Carla Crownover from Austin Urban Gardens gave me an Earthbox to grow lettuce and spinach.  I loved being able to pick my salad fresh from the patio. Earthboxes make it easy because you water into a reservoir and you don't have to worry about overwatering the plants.  It was so easy that I decided to get a second Earthbox.



Carla gave me three tomato transplants for one of the Earthboxes.  I went to the Sunshine Community Garden plant sale and bought a few transplants: 2 types of eggplant for the other Earthbox and a few peppers and herbs for some of my pots.   It seemed like a reasonable expansion.



Then I went to the Johnson's Backyard Garden farm tour with Slow Food Austin.  And they gave us transplants.  Oh boy.  And now I had another eggplant and a squash.





It all seemed manageable until everything started growing, which is exciting proof that I do not have a black thumb, but it's a little intimidating in its current state.





I am going to have more eggplant and tomatoes than I'm going to know what to do with.  Can anyone say ratatouille?  Thank goodness the food bank accepts fresh produce donations from local gardeners.  That is if I can get the veggies past my neighbors.



So, if I can grow veggies on my patio, what are you going to grow?  Maybe you can be a patio farmer too.