by Claudia Kwan, FoodConnect contributor
claudia@foodconnect.com

Some people say you 'practice' for having children by getting a pet. While I fully see the return on a relationship with a furry friend--affection, loyalty, perhaps safety--the inherent work involved of daily walks, maintaining proper diet, and scooping up poop for the rest of Fido's life is a responsibility level I'm just not ready for yet.

So I'm going much more low-key by planting my first garden. They're still living creatures I'll be responsible for, but with a schedule of care that's much less rigourous, and if they don't make it long-term I won't have to worry about the SPCA wailing up in a paddywagon to haul me away to the critter clink.

I may be green as green can be when it comes to growing things, but I've planned quite a few projects before. Asking a million questions also seems to be a particular talent of mine... thankfully Hoti Alberts of Birdseye Gardenscapes patiently hashed out basic details with me as I grilled him.

The first step was taking a look at what was realistic, both for the space involved and for what I was willing to do. I live in a condo, so space on the outdoor concrete deck is at a premium. A lot of little plants might have felt disorganized and crowded, and would have meant more maintenance.

Instead, I decided to put in three large 23" circular planters, with an option for a fourth one later. I headed off to Costco for plastic planters to save on weight (have you ever tried moving a clay or metal container after it's been filled? It's monstrously heavy.) Fibreglass is another durable alternative that's light, but was a little more expensive than the budget allowed.

I decided in order for any plant to make it into my garden, it would have to fill pretty strict requirements. It would have to be almost self-sufficient, have to look good year round, and give a return on the care I was giving to it, aka give me food. I also ruled out any plant that would have to be brought inside in the winter. That's where my shoe collection goes.

Luckily I face due south, which opens up a range of fruit bearing plant options. I had a gift certificate for David Hunter Garden Center on Broadway (I'd previously aired a desire to have a garden and a very thoughtful friend had followed through) and the staff there were equally patient.

I spent an afternoon happily up to my elbows in potting soil, drilling drainage holes in the containers and lining the bottoms with rocks to promote good drainage. My fascinated 16 month old nephew 'helped' by dropping rocks in one at a time, chortling with glee each time they crashed onto the rocks already inside.

I've ended up with two blueberry plants, a Duke and a Hardy Blue, which will cross-fertilize each other. The Duke fruits early and late in the season, and the Hardy Blue in the middle, so hopefully I'll eventually have berries from May to October. I'll probably even get a few already this year. The flowers are white, and the leaves turn a beautiful deep red colour in the fall. Leaf shedding is minimal, and the highest the plant would ever get is 4-5 feet. Rain is acidic compared to tap water, so the plants will be reveling in Vancouver's climate. I probably won't even have to water them during the monsoon season.

Planter three now houses a hybrid semi-dwarf apple tree which will bear five different kinds of apple in a few years. If I do my job right, I'll be chomping down on Jonagolds, Summer Red Macintoshes, Lodis, Akanes, and Galas, or foisting them off on my pie-making friends. I may have to encourage the pollination process along with a little paintbrush until the bees learn to hang out on the 8th floor. In the meantime I'll get to enjoy looking at beautiful apple blossoms and luxuriating in the tree's shade, all for a little pruning and leaf sweeping up.

If I go ahead with planter four, I may try a fig tree. Its flowers are pretty unremarkable, but I can't resist the lusciousness of perfectly ripened figs in a summer salad. A strawberry pot may also sneak into the last bit of available space, as they're hubby's secret weakness.

There's so much focus on eating organic and getting more connected with the food that ends up on your table. I can't think of a better way to do it than Garden v. 1.0. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Send an email to a friend about this article!