I first became interested in gardening in middle school. My friends and I found ourselves at a farmers market one day after school and we immediately noticed the rows of plants in black plastic pots. Right away I was fascinated by all of the tiny green sprouts and I couldn’t believe how many different varieties of plants they had that I was used to seeing in recipes. I went home with a basil plant and a mint plant that day and I did my best to keep them alive and thriving in little pots on my window sill through the summer. While I enjoyed caring for these two plants, I didn't think that starting a garden was something I could do. The only person who I knew who had a garden was my grandmother, whose house in Queens had a backyard. I didn't have any sort of yard and I could only fit so many plants on my windowsill: I thought I had reached my limit on plants.
Later when my friend and I began working on a proposal for a roof garden at our school, I realized that I might be able to do something similar in my own life. It seemed like an overwhelming task at first so it took me a while to get started, but a few years ago I finally got some bigger pots and I was able to grow herbs and a cherry tomato plant on the roof of my building. I quickly began to enjoy the routine of filling up a watering can and lugging it upstairs each morning before it got too hot, and I was so excited when I was able to use the basil that I had grown to make pesto or fill a bowl with tomatoes. The next summer I added more plants and I got better at understanding what I could do to help them thrive and which plants did well in the hours of intense sunlight my roof gets each day.
I have learned a lot about the unique conditions of gardening in New York City and now, as an intern at the library with several years of experience gardening in small spaces, I created a Beginners Guide to Urban Gardening as well as a book display in the Society, Sciences & Technology division of the Central Library to share my experience as well as some books that you can check out to learn more.
Gardening might not seem like an option when you live in an apartment in the city, but there are lots of ways that you can grow plants in small spaces. Whether you have an outdoor space like a roof or a balcony or just a sunny window sill or room for a window box, there are plenty of things that you can grow. Thumbelina Zinnias, for example, have all of the beauty of regular Zinnias but only grow six to eight inches tall and can thrive in a small pot in your window. While it is getting late in the growing season, it is not too late to head to your nearest gardening center to get seeds or seedlings; these books and websites can give you an idea of how to get planting.
This document from the NYC parks department explains the importance of native plants and provides detailed information about what plants are native to NYC and how you can grow them
The Urban Vegetable Patch by Grace Paul gives a great explanation of how you can start your own garden regardless of how much space you have available. It provides information on all aspects of gardening from making your own fertilizer to dealing with pests.
Field Guide to Urban Gardening by Kevin Espiritu is another book filled with useful tips for gardening when you don't have access to a large space. Espiritu provides detailed plans for projects like raised garden beds and hydroponic systems so you can build the garden that works for you.
Indoor Kitchen Gardening Handbook by Elizabeth Millard is the perfect book for anyone who has an interest in growing plants they can use in their cooking year round. Millard explains how you can grow a variety of delicious plants inside your home.
My City Highrise Garden by Susan Brownmiller is an account of her experience growing plants in her high rise apartment. She shares anecdotes about the failures and successes that she experienced over the years.
Orla is a high school student and intern with the Librarians of Tomorrow program. She loves reading, crocheting and gardening.
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