My muscles still ache from my transplanting experience but I remain excited. I checked on the transplanted seedlings this morning and they are doing just fine. It’s interesting how the simple things can highlight how much of this life is centred around our health and survival. The sore muscles help to solidify the need to take my exercise seriously. I really thought I was fit. I exercise and eat right but this farming experience is taking my fitness routine to a new level.
Anyway, this week I am sharing from one of my favourite sites again – http://www.apartmenttherapy.com. This is another small space solution and is provides details on starting that flower-farm substitution.
It’s not very difficult to grow things like basil and thyme indoor or on a patio. It requires a big flower pot (or a recycled tub – remember the old-time wash pans). Add some potting soil and your selected herb seeds or seedlings and you have the beginning of a posh farm. Place the pot in a sunny area near a window or on a patio and you will only need to remember to water it as needed.
Here are the steps:
Choosing the Container: Start with a large flower pot, about 7 gallons. Make sure the top is very wide and don’t forget to punch holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain.
Wash pan 
Planter
Choosing the herbs: Start with vegetables and cooking herbs – escallion, sage, sweet basil, thyme etc. They grow to different sizes and heights which add dimension (can’t forget the aesthetics); sage and escallion grow tall, basil is more bushy and thyme is a creeper, growing close to the ground. As we are all novices, I would recommend that we try with seedlings as against seeds.
Fill the pot up with soil, stopping about 3 inches from the top. Moisten the soil lightly but thoroughly with water and mix it until evenly wet. It shouldn’t be dripping wet – just loosely muddy.
Dig a small hole, deep down. Remove one of the seedling from the container. Gently loosen the soil around its roots. You don’t want to tear the roots apart – just loosen them up a bit. Put in the hole and pack about an inch of dirt over top of the root ball. Repeat for the other plants, giving them several inches of room between each other. Water again when finished.
Water and sun – Put the pot on a drainage tray. Place anywhere it can get full sun. Don’t overwater; pour in a cup of water wherever and whenever leaves look droopy.
NOTE: For cooking, cut leaves and stems off the tops first – not the sides.
Happy Posh Farming!
Posh Farming 