So, you don’t have a backyard, but you want to be a food gardener? For so many years I've dreamed of being a garder with a lavish backyard. Instead, I have found creative ways to be a gardener in the space where I'm planted, which at this time happens to be a condo in Toronto, Ontario. There are so many ways to grow fresh herbs, greens and even vegetables with just a little space and creativity. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking outside the box as you plan your first "no backyard" garden.
Balcony & Porch Gardens
Maybe you don’t have a yard, but you do have a little outdoor space on a balcony or a porch that has a little patch of sun. Perfect! There are plenty of edible plants that grow well in pots. Some will even do well in the part sun of a North facing balcony.
Container Growing
When it comes to container gardening you can get creative. There are lots of large planters available, but repurposed food safe containers like the barrels olives are delivered in can be cut to size and filled with soil, and make a great affordable alternative.
When considering plants for container growing, you can look for:
Plants with small root systems that do well in pots like lettuce, spinach, mustard greens, green onions or bush beans
Herbs of all kinds, from basil and parsley, to one of my new favourites that grows tall and slender in a pot, Huacatay (Peruvian Black Mint)
Smaller varieties of your favourite vegetables selected for container growing such as cucamelon, peppers, eggplant, cucumber, zucchini or cherry tomatoes. Renee’s Garden has a great collection of seeds developed for container growing, many of which are available from Canadian retailers like Sheridan Nurseries in Southern Ontario, or Wildwood in Victoria, BC.
Collections of seeds curated for container growing such as this mix of beans, kale, scallions, lettuce and peas from Matchbox Garden Seed Co.
Tomato cages or trellises to support full size plants in large containers. With the right supports you can grow tomatoes, cucumbers, climbing beans, peppers and more.
Raised planters for areas that have sun and access to water, but may not be suitable for digging a garden, like paved areas or decks. There are a lot of DIY instructions online or you can opt for a kit such as the VegTrug that also includes options to cover the planter and extend the growing season.
Some plants will return year after year in pots here in Toronto (zone 5), including mint, yarrow, wild or alpine strawberries, chives, garlic chives, wild thyme, sorrel and anise hyssop.
Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
Consider space in the front of your home or an area typically reserved for flowers as a potential place to grow vegetables. Including edible flowers like nasturtium, gem marigolds, calendula or bachelor buttons can be a great way to add that decorative element to an edible garden. There are also a great deal of beautiful ornamental vegetable plants to create interest and add colour to your front yard garden.
Red Ball Brussels Sprouts add Texture and Colour to the Garden
“For so many years I've dreamed of being a garder with a lavish backyard. Instead, I have found creative ways to be a gardener in the space where I'm planted.”
Community Gardens & Plots
Teaching and Community Garden at Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto
One of the best things about gardening can be the sense of community that comes from connecting with others that share your passion. The opportunity to be part of a gardening community also offers a way to learn or hone your skills gradually over time. Working alongside people with a wealth of knowledge and experience gardening could be the perfect way to get started and the opportunity to grow in a community garden or allotment could be a way to access a little patch of land.
If you are interested in being part of a community garden have a look online for resources in your area. Here in Toronto there are city run community gardens and allotment gardens that can be accessed, though it can be quite difficult to get an allotment as they are in high demand. There are also gardens run by non-profit organizations such as Black Creek Community Farm. You can volunteer to work in the gardens and access the yield through their farmers market or their harvest share program that operates on sliding scale pricing to suit your budget.
Toronto Urban Gardens also offers an interactive map of community gardens across the greater Toronto area.
If you are looking for resources or to start your own community garden, there are opportunities to learn while volunteering with Evergreen’s Uban Agriculture & Community Stewardship programs in Toronto or North Vancouver. Food First in Newfoundland also offers some great toolkits to walk you through the process.
Shared Garden Spaces
Unused area of a neighbour's backyard converted to shared garden space
Another way to access garden space, and the approach that has worked well for me, is to find a family member, friend or neighbour who has unused yard space. You may be able to set up a partnership where you share your knowledge and offer support as they learn to garden, or you could work the land yourself in exchange for produce or improved lanscaping in the space.
A search in your own community may reveal projects such as The Charlottetown Garden Sharing Initiative that matches homeowners to would-be gardeners.
Boulevard Vegetable Garden in Front of a Home in Stratford, Ontario
Whatever approach you take to making your gardening dreams a reality, it will be worth the effort to get your hands in the soil and begin your gardening adventure!
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