Getting Started With Gardening

by Christina O., Day-Riverside Branch

Winter is coming to an end soon and we will hopefully be seeing a green and lush spring in a few months! Here are some gardening tips and reasons why you should get into gardening this spring. 

Choose your veggies and plants!

A good way to not waste your time is to grow food and plants you already like to eat and want to look at. Look at your fridge. What have you been into lately and what have you been avoiding? Make a list of your favorites and plan on grabbing seeds either at the Main library’s seed library, or at your local branch! You can find information about your local seed library here.

I know I will be growing  loads of squash this upcoming season, and a lot of wild flowers for the bees!

​Plan out your space!

​It’s important to be realistic. I know I would love to grow corn, but my apartment balcony would get too crowded, so I will be sticking to plants that I can grow in containers. For more information on container gardening you can visit the link here .

If you have a lawn, grab your adults and brainstorm how you can work the soil and what would work best in your space. 

You can always look for community gardens in your neighborhood! They are a great way to get involved in the community and you can learn from other experienced gardeners. For information about community gardens in your area you can visit communitygarden.org/garden

Why should you garden?

If you made it this far and are wondering what the point is: did you know gardening makes you happy! It’s been scientifically proven that getting your hands in the soil and in contact with a specific soil bacteria called Mycobacterium Vaccae triggers the release of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a natural antidepressant and also strengthens the immune system, so it’s a win-win there!
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Help your community!

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to grow a tomato or a piece of lettuce? Or who harvested the food at the grocery store? Learning about where your food comes from and how it gets to you is an important part of the fight against food insecurity in your community. Below I have listed a few books you can check out at your local library to learn more!
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Book Recommendations
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I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t recommend some books you can find in our catalog. 

For beginner gardeners 

• Beginner gardening step by step 
• Rodale's basic organic gardening : a beginner's guide to starting a healthy garden
• How to grow your own food : an illustrated beginner's guide to container gardening
• Growing plants and flowers : all the know-how you need to plant and tend outdoor areas using eco-friendly methods
  
  

For Food Justice 

• Food justice
• Rebuilding the foodshed : how to create local, sustainable, and secure food systems

 See you this spring out in the sun!