a plant in progress

I started with Romaine Lettuce. I wanted something that would get big and make me feel good when I noticed it growing. Also my roommates eat a lot of salad so it seemed like a good deal. Naturally the plants went on the smoker’s porch. I figured the eastward placement and plentiful sun source was a fair trade. I live in an apartment downtown, where it’s never dull and always noisy. Who knows the sorts of things my lettuce has seen from their elevated perch?

sunny days. shady nights.

Borrowing some pots from mom’s garage and buying some soil, (yes, it’s actually different than dirt?!) I got started. As a new gardener, I’m not sure if there’s a correct method for planting, but I filled the soil not quite to the top and gave each pot a good amount of water. Maybe it was just me, but as time went on I could almost feel how much better the plants like rain water than the stuff from my faucet. Luckily I started at the beginning of a Wisconsin spring, so they’ve mostly been happy.

I read that lettuce should be fully in the sun in cooler weather, so I think the balcony was the best option. I followed mom’s advice and only watered when the soil felt dry, and never at night. One thing I wondered about was…when are they done growing? When do I cut the leaves to use? I was told “whenever they’re big enough”, so I’m thinking it’s around that time to start planning a meal.

I never envisioned myself as Milwaukee's very own Novella Carpenter, but I do think there's a place for me in the Urban Agriculture scene. Growing for myself made me connect all the philosophies and ideals I've agreed with through studying recent literature, to actual experience. For now it's just lettuce, but when I think about it, that's a lot more than I had to begin with. And if I've learned anything from studying Urban Agriculture, it's that there really are no limits. I definitely think I'll continue to grow my own food, but also get involved and learn more about the local movement's goals that will help make a difference on a larger scale.