How do I feed a family? PART-ONE, Windowsill gardening

One of my favorite authors, @jerrybanfield, asked why we grow lawns instead of food. One reason is we don't have the choice if we're renting, and we sometimes only have a small space ...

If all I have room for where I live is a few pots, how do I offset my grocery budget by growing my own food?

Let’s start with indoors.

Windowsill gardens require the least space and all you need is a south facing window (opposite if you live south of the equator) and a few supplies.

Window sills are typically about 3 ½ inches wide, this is just wide enough for some small pots from your local dollar store. Herbs and spices are some of the most expensive things in your kitchen, but the raw seeds are less than $2 a package and topsoil can be purchased for around $5 a bag, so an entire useful herb garden can be planted for less than $20.
Start by selecting some of the herbs you use on a regular basis.

For me, parsley, oregano, Thai-basil, and chives get used pretty regularly in my kitchen. Rosemary is a good candidate; some lavender will help keep unwanted insects away from your food and out of your kitchen.

STEP 1
Get pots that have a tray that catches excess water. Usually these will be small terra-cotta pots, but there are many choices at most dollar stores. If you don’t have a dollar store near you, 4 inch pots can be ordered on Amazon.

STEP 2 (if you got terra-cotta pots)
Soak the pots in a sink full of water for 2 hours. Terra-cotta is porous, and this will help your potting soil retain water.

STEP 3
Place a cotton ball in the drain hole of each pot then add potting soil to each pot. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a compost system, make your own soil with ¼ decomposed granite and ¾ organic compost. If you don’t have access to compost, Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil is a good choice.

STEP 4
Sow seeds according to the package instructions. For most herbs, seeds can be placed on the surface and very lightly covered with soil.

STEP 5
Use a spray bottle to keep the topsoil moist once a day until plants are at least one inch tall, or have at least 6 leaves. We do it this way to avoid drowning the seeds while they germinate or uprooting young plants.

STEP 6
After plants begin to mature, water twice a week by placing the pots in a sink with cold water, about two inches deep, and allowing them about a half hour to slowly soak in the water. This is better than top-watering houseplants because it encourages deep roots and stronger plants.

STEP 7
Harvest with kitchen scissors when you need the plants for cooking.

STEP 8 (IMPORTANT)
Most herbs die when they go to seed. If flowers form on your herbs, cut them off before the flowers die. For lavender, you can dry the flowers and use them in many foods and beverages.

I'll post updates as this garden grows. Most of these plants are 2-3 weeks to germination and 3 months to maturity. If you want a faster garden, consider purchasing some already growing starters. Nearly any herb can be grown successfully in a small container.

The bag in one of the pots is parsely ... the seeds need to soak overnight before they can be planted.

As always, I Steem for my kids...