Cultivating even one garden bed or a few planter boxes can reinforce the notion that good things come in small packages. So many of us have a patio or porch that can be enhanced by the presence of flowers, herbs, or even a few vegetables. These small gardens can and do make a difference for our well-being and the planet.
We’ve written in the past about the many sensory and physical benefits to being involved in gardening. But little gardens make a big difference for the environment also. Best-selling author Douglas Tallamy has a vision for a “homegrown national park” made up of all the native gardens on small plots of land across the United States. These parcels do make a difference for biodiversity, wildlife, and sequestering carbon.
The Farmer’s Almanac provides a number of tips for ensuring a bountiful harvest in a small gardening space. Raised beds are among the most efficient spaces for ensuring a wealth of vegetables throughout the growing season. The confines of the bed ensure less water run-off and protect against slugs and snails. Seedlings should be planted throughout the summer, including quick-maturing crops like radishes and salad greens. “Plant companions” can be of help in pairing shallow-rooted vegetables (bush beans) with deeply rooted vegetables (beets). Then there are the taller, climbing vegetable plants like cucumbers and tomatoes that should be positioned along a wall or trellis.
Not all gardening has to do with food, though. Shrubs and perennial wildflowers can provide a mix of colors and textures that are pleasing all year-round. Real Simple suggests “underplanting” trees and shrubs with perennials and adding a low-growing ground cover. Add vertical structures like arbors to provide shade and complement lower planters and garden beds. Hanging baskets can add a vertical dimension to the garden as well.
The Community Gardens at Prairie Green is a cooperative partnership between the City of Geneva, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and the Geneva Park district, featuring more than 130 garden beds for area residents.
Gardening is a favorite pastime at GreenFields Geneva, and its abundant, lush gardens are just one of so many amenities on campus. Garden beds are available for independent living residents, and at least one bed laden with dahlias has been recognized by local, state, and even national botanical clubs and organizations.
Audrey Hepburn said that “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” The sense of hope and anticipation provided by gardening is difficult to replicate in other realms. Most anyone can enjoy the benefits of sowing a few seeds, nurturing the soil, and providing plenty of sun and water for even the smallest of garden patches.
