Urban Farming

Houseplants can certainly add a splash of colour and style to your home – but there are many more reasons to make them part of your living environment. There’s now some pretty serious science to support the fact that indoor plants are good for your health and wellbeing, whether it’s by boosting your concentration, or helping you sleep. Seven good reasons to make your home a greener place. Breathe easy. Everyone knows plants absorb carbon dioxide, but did you know they can actually remove up to 87% of air toxins in just 24 hours? Not just a wild claim either...

We all know that some ingredients go well together in a recipe (tomato and basil salad, anyone?) but did you know that the same goes in the gardening bed? Companion planting is the art of growing complementary plants in close proximity, and it’s something that all of us can try at home.

The Summer may be done… But not the Basil.

It’s a good problem to have, an abundance of fresh and fragrant summer Basil. So don’t let it go to waste when you’re making way for Autumn crops.

Chicago native, Sara Gasbarra, is the founder of Verdura, a full service culinary garden design company working with hotels, restaurants, cafes and businesses all over the US.

When it comes to gardening, we often tend to overlook one of the most important ingredients: soil. But while it might not be the most glamorous part of the growing process, soil is definitely one of the most important.

It’s no secret that watering is an important part of gardening – but we don’t all approach it quite the same way. While we’re not pointing any fingers (even at those cactus-killers amongst us…!), the truth is that some watering habits are better than others. And if your greenery ain’t so green, watering could be the factor that’s to blame. 

Jon Kingston describes himself as a 'free range urban horticulturalist'.

He spends his time designing, installing and maintaining balcony and roof top garden spaces around Sydney, Australia.

A fresh summer salad of gently blanched Green Beans, Zucchini ribbons, Peas, Mint and Extra-virgin Olive Oil, served with slices of organic Smoked Chicken and a zesty Lemon-Thyme vinaigrette. 

Sound fancy. It is... but it's also dead easy, and the perfect way to showcase your home grown summer produce.

Spring is the perfect time of year to start a container vegetable garden, the weather is looking better, and when it comes to planting options you’re spoilt for choice.

If this is your first attempt at a small space garden, you don’t need much to set yourself up for some fantastic results and a lush, bountiful garden come summer-time.

Carrie Forrest is California-based blogger sharing inspiration for healthy, balanced living. 

Her professional background is in non-profit healthcare fundraising and masters degrees in business administration and in public health (nutrition).