Spring is the time when the world blossoms back into life. No longer will you or your neighbors be hibernating. It’s time to dust off those gardening gloves and spades and get ready to grow our own garden. It’s not only an amazingly rewarding hobby, but it’s also an incredibly frugal one!

With my library card in tow, I recently headed to my local county library in search of books to get me into the spring spirit. Loving my new backyard, but realizing it’s sunless pastures really won’t warrant an outdoor garden, I was on a quest for anything and everything to do with “urban gardening.”

“Urban Gardening” may sound like it comes with some type of karate belt, but it’s really away for people to garden in super small spaces. My space isn’t small, but my areas of sunlight are so I am prepared this spring to put on my “urban gardening” warrior sash and promise not to throw it out, but grow it out!

When you were a kid did you ever ask your mom what would happen if you swallowed those orange seeds in your lunch? I know I did! Well, this urban gardening project is really going to inspire your inner child. Did you realize that though mom swore those seeds wouldn’t make orange groves sprout out of your tummy, you can actually grow a lot of plants indoors straight from the foods that you eat! When I picked up a copy of Don’t Throw it, Grow it, I was fascinated by all the possibilities for my little ninja urban garden.

My husband and I had just returned from the store, after the library of course, and had great bounties of produce in hand. We planned to just do our usual routine of unpack, rinse, and consume  with all the yummy fruits and veggies that we had in our midst. It wasn’t until I cracked open and read the knowledge in Don’t Throw It, Grow it , that I realized I actually had the makings of a bountiful urban indoor garden in my refrigerator.

I dare you to peer in your fridge look at what fruits and veggies you have that you could actually grow indoors! Did you know that you can actually grow pineapples from the ones you buy at the store? Don’t believe me? Well here’s how to do it!

Grab the crown of the pineapple and twist until it comes off.

Then peel the bottom leaves off of the crown until you have a 1 inch stub. You will see little brown stringy looking things under the leaves. This is the start of the roots.

Once it’s peeled, place the pineapple top in a glass of water and place 1 t of activated charcoal.

In about four weeks the routes will have grown approximately 4 inches.  Once this is done, transplant your plant and you are ready to start growing your own pineapples!

There are so many things you can grow very easily. So before you go to throw those onions, garlic, potatoes, or other fruits and veggies away make sure to see if you can use them to start your very own indoor urban garden. It doesn’t just make your home blossom with foliage, but it’s a great way to reduce your grocery costs as well!

Sources:

Don’t Throw it, Grow it! by  Sarah Peterson & Millicent Selsam