Just because you’re a college student renting an apartment in Athens Ohio, you are not condemned to a mac n cheese diet until you get a real job. You can be so much more than that. In fact, you can grow your own organic vegetables right in your Athens rental. Eat fresh, healthy organic food without busting your budget.
“What?” you say. “I live in an Ohio University student rental. I can’t grow a garden.”
Think again. All it takes to grow your own veggies is some water, sunlight, and a little ingenuity. Yes, you can grow your own vegetables right in your student apartment.
Broccoli
Nope, you don’t need to till the fields to grow your own broccoli. All you need is broccoli seeds, a glass jar, water, and cheesecloth to start your own crop.
Place two tablespoons of broccoli seeds in a glass jar. Cover the seed with about 4 inches of water. Secure the cheesecloth to the top with a rubber band. Place the jar in a warm, dark place for about 8 hours. (A closet works nicely.) Next, drain the water, rinse the seeds, drain the jar one more time, and resecure the cheesecloth. If the mixture starts to smell, you’re over watering. Cut back on the amount of water you keep in the jar.
Repeat the same process for about three days, when leaves should start to sprout. Next, place the jar in direct sunlight, either on a porch or a windowsill until they turn green. Once they’re green, congratulations. You’ve grown your own broccoli right from a mason jar.
Herbs
Herbs are basically houseplants you can eat. Basil, thyme, cilantro, and parsley are easy to grow in pots on a windowsill, year round. You can usually get potted herbs from the grocery store.
It’s a good idea to repot the plants into bigger pots, especially as they grow. You’ll want to report at least twice a year into fresh organic soil to replenish the nutrients. Make sure the pot has holes in the bottom and place it on a kitchen plate or garden plate to avoid over watering.
Clip off the leaves as the plant grows. Use them as fresh herbs. Clipping also encourages the plant to grow.
Lettuce
Don’t throw your old leftover lettuce butt away. Instead, place it in a bowl with a little water on the bottom. Leave it in the sun. About two to three times per week, spray it with a spray bottle filled with water set to the mist position. After three to four days, roots and new leaves begin to sprout. Replant the start in a pot with soil. Continue to mist spray the lettuce a few times per week, and make sure it gets plenty of sun. A window works perfectly.
So yes, you really can grow your own organic garden right in your Athens apartment. Happy gardening!
Grow Your Own Vegetables in a Community Garden
If you’re serious about growing your own vegetables, you might consider growing your own vegetables in a community garden. The beauty of Athens is it’s a green friendly community. It has one of the oldest farmers’ markets in Ohio! So even if you live in a small student rental, there are a number of community gardens available where you can grow your own food!
Community Food Initiatives manages 5 community gardens — including 2 in town, one on the Southside and another on the Eastside. For the small price of dues, you’ll have access to growing space, tools, watering cans and mulch. Their fees are quite affordable — $50 for a family, $25 for a person. And they are willing to waive fees for those who cannot afford them — especially college students renting at Ohio University!
To check on the availability of plots, email gardens@communityfoodinitiatives.org or call CFI at 740.593.5971.