27 Evecare • Vol 11 • No. 2 • Sep–Dec 2023 Containers Earthen or porcelain pots, recycled bottles, and tetra boxes, with tiny holes for aeration and excess water drainage, can be used to grow plants. Shallow pots are the best option for green leafy vegetables. The size and kind of pot should match the requirements of the plant chosen. Plants Some commonly grown vegetables in a kitchen garden are tomatoes, eggplant, gourds, potatoes, and carrots. Vegetables that require less sunlight to grow are a good choice for a kitchen garden. These include beans, beets, broccoli, celery, caulif lower, collard greens, kale, garlic, lettuce, mustard greens, peas, radish, scallions, spinach, turnip, and cucumbers. Many medicinal herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, thyme, dill, rosemary, cilantro, and lemongrass can also be easily grown in a kitchen garden. Other Basic Requirements Other materials required for kitchen gardening include manure or organic compost mixed with topsoil, a shovel, a watering can, seedlings or grafts ready for planting, hacksaw, wire mesh (for fencing), wire mesh cutter, eucalyptus or bamboo “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” — Alfred Austin Kitchen Gardening Fosters Happiness • Maintaining a kitchen garden can be a great way to relieve stress. • Staying amid nature helps uplift the mood and induces positivity. During gardening, the exposure to fresh air and the sound of nature can be therapeutic. • Gardening with the entire family helps spend quality time together. • Growing one’s own vegetables gives a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. • Engaging in kitchen gardening helps stay away from the digital world for a while, and thus, can be a great way to practice mindfulness. • Kitchen gardening can also be a great way to elevate the aesthetic appeal of the house. poles (for framing or décor), nails, hammer, and stones (small to medium sized). Apart from being an excellent way to relieve stress, kitchen gardening also has many sustainable aspects to it. Read an article on Go Green With a Sustainable Kitchen Garden on page 28.
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