A Living Wall Vegetable Garden That Stands Alone

Living in the big city or a heavy urban area can have some drawbacks; perhaps you only have a miniscule balcony over the back alley in order to grow a garden. Another issue in an urban area is air quality and the Gro Products garden I am featuring today addresses both issues. My latest book, Grow a Living Wall; Create Vertical Gardens with Purpose, gives you a few good ideas about that. Here you see a living wall growing in an unlikely spot and it uses a stand-alone garden system which enables you to plant and grow in a little under 2 square feet. below is an excerpt

Nutrition and quality air are two of the most important drivers of good overall health. Build this garden and install it next to an outdoor living area or near a window and you’ll be getting a good dose of both elements. Living wall gardens, full of plants that breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen, are a fantastic way to help filter the air surrounding a living area. This oxygen reaches a city dweller with a living wall if he or she is sitting on the balcony or sitting inside the home with the window open. Having a view of the vertical wall garden from the interior of the home will both reduce stress and increase the green view. Most importantly, growing organic vegetables in the garden means that you will also be providing nutritionally sound food for you and your family, so the living wall provides extensive benefits beyond simple beauty.

PLANTS FOUND IN THIS GARDEN
Plants for this living wall vegetable garden project are from J.W. Jung Seed Company and include ‘Bull’s Blood’ beets, collard greens, globe basil, kale, oregano, purple basil, and rosemary.

VEGETABLES AND HERBS THAT MAKE GREAT OXYGENATING PLANTS FOR URBAN GARDENS

Generally speaking large-leafed plants provide more oxygen, however, some plants that have lots of leaf overall can also help provide an oxygenating environment and a nutritious food element for your garden. Below are a few oxygenating plants you can use for your living wall vegetable garden that are delicious.

• Arugula
• Basil
• Cabbage
• Collard greens
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mint
• Spinach
• Swiss chard

HOW TO PLANT

Planting this garden with a mixture of composted manure and a moisture retentive soil such as Organic Mechanics Soil will help it retain water. Simply assemble the Gro Products unit according to directions, fill the containers with soil, plant with a little fertilizer, then mount on the unit. Super easy and TONS of plants in a small square footage area. Please take a look at my book for more creative ideas – Grow a Living Wall; Create Vertical Gardens with Purpose. Thanks!