Anyone can do it and it can be done anywhere. Inside, outside, on a windowsill, or in the backyard. It’s gardening, and it’s not just for grandma anymore. If you’ve got a bucket and some decent soil, you can be successful at making things grow.
“It’s a good time of the year to talk about setting up a garden as many seeds benefit from being started indoors,” says Sandy Glazier, an organizer for Seedy Saturday. Seedy Saturday takes place on February 18 and is an annual seed and garden show featuring commerce, education, and networking opportunities for all gardening enthusiasts.
As for gardening from home, or from shared living accommodations, there’s always enough room for plants and ideas to flourish, according to local home gardeners.
“Space is never an issue,” says Camosun student and lifelong gardener Nikita Chatwin. “If you’ve got a windowsill or a deck, you can grow something.”
Things like lettuce, sprouts, and peas can all be grown in containers. Tomatoes and edible flowers will also thrive in a relatively small space.
Some days Chatwin’s backyard is home to four generations of gardeners, from grandma to stepdaughter. “Our whole family gardens together,” she says, “it’s sort of a family adventure.”
And for those who would rather eat local produce than try to grow it, many farms are situated in the Greater Victoria area.
One such farm is Madrona Farm on Blenkinsop Road. The farm produces food year-round in this coastal climate. Owner David Chambers has some simple advice for upstart gardeners.
“Just stick it in,” he says. “The rest comes naturally.”