Do you, like me, have dreams of “living off the land”? Of bringing beauty and sustainability to everyday life? And maybe even saving money at the grocery store?
Well the dream might actually be much more attainable than you ever thought. The City Cast Chicago podcast recently spoke with beekeepers and turban garden experts Bonnie McDonald and Michael Johnson, who started their home garden in 2015.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What are some easy tips for beginning home gardeners?
Bonnie: “Some of the easy tips would be: What space do you have that just has some light? You have a window, you can grow something. It’s as simple as getting a pot, some dirt, start growing. Try it out. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
“A great place to start to feel successful are herbs. Herbs, they’re very prolific. Oftentimes they are perennial, they come back on their own. Another easy one, green onions. What you can do is essentially chop off the bottom and plant the bottom of your green. You don’t even need seeds to do that.”
How do you explain the cost benefit, especially for a new gardener, of growing your own food versus buying it from the grocery store?
Bonnie: “When you think about the specialized equipment, it can be a lot of upfront cost. But you can step up and grab things over time. And don’t forget that Goodwill has some amazing appliances.”
“But if you’re looking to replace a lot of your food, you need space for that. In our yard … in the summer it replaces maybe two thirds of our grocery bill.”
“All of Chicago has community gardens around the city. So you can rent a space if you have resources to do that. Or, ask a friend.”
You also have bee hives! What’s the benefit of bringing bees into your ecosystem?
Bonnie: “We read that having bees increased production of many of the foods in the garden by about 25%. So this was a sustainable, natural way to increase production because the bees are close at hand to pollinate everything that needs to be pollinated.”
“It also benefits our neighbors who have flowers or other plants. So it’s good for the neighborhood. Bees can actually forage up to 10 miles, so they’re not just staying in our yard. They’re going all over the city. “
Back to your fruits and vegetables, what items do you think are most reliable to grow?
Michael: “Our tomatoes are very consistent. Our bell peppers are very consistent. Most of the things are pretty rewarding. When you’ve had an apple fresh off the tree, it’s incredible. When you dig up a carrot and they’re sweet, they’re incredible. Sugar snap peas right off, are just amazing.”
