Quick — what’s the price of Shiitake mushrooms? Don’t know? Maybe that’s because you don’t like mushrooms. But maybe you don’t know specific prices because the cost of most groceries has recently risen thanks to the increase in fuel costs.
Did you know you can grow a log of Shiitake mushrooms (cost $30+shipping), and it will produce mushrooms for four years?
Well, Shiitake…
I’m quickly seeing the advantages of starting even the smallest urban garden. A simple tomato plant in your window or a small container garden on your patio can immediately pay off.
Here’s a shot of an urban garden in an apartment complex.
So how do you start?
First, scope out your available garden space. You might have to get creative. The good news is that you don’t need a “back 40″. You just need a space that gets decent light and can be easily watered. This can be as simple as a few pots of herbs in your window sill or back patio.
Second, start small. Gardening may or may not be your thing. See what happens. You can start with herbs, tomatoes, or even shittake mushrooms (apparently, you just water the log and it does it’s thing). I’m starting with herbs like chives because I love chives and they regularly cost $3-$4 dollars a pack. Here are some in-depth pointers.
Third, figure out how your home or apartment garden fit into your schedule. Small plants won’t take more time than growing a houseplant, but, the edible food will be a nice bonus. And, it may save you a few bucks at the grocery store.
For further practical tips, check out this excellent article at Bankrate.
