So I've heard numerous arguments against growing some of your own food in an urban environment, arguments such as: “It's a lot of effort for an insignificant contribution to the environment.”; and “You still have to use fertilizers and lots of water to grow stuff so it's a negative energy gain.”, and those were just the comments by people who were suppose to be environmentally conscious. So before I get to documenting my work on balcony gardening, let's be clear about why this is important. First we need to consider that the world is heading towards the post-industrial era and what this means.

• Primarily it means that everyone, rich and poor could suffer greatly from the loss of industrial supply chains and industrial farming.

• It means that the money you currently spend in a month on a wide assortment of food may only buy you a 50 pound bag of rice with which to survive for the following month.

• It means that even if there is an abundance of food in other parts of the country, you may not have the means or ability to travel there to buy it.

So, how do you keep from suffering severe malnutrition if all you have to eat that month is a 50 pound bag of rice?

     With a balcony garden of course. These little gardens are not replacements for your primary source of food in dense urban areas. These little gardens are food supplements in urban areas which, in times of plenty, offer a practical hobby and some home grown organic food, and in times of need, provide critical sources of vitamins and minerals that may not be available in emergency food supplies on the open market.

    And secondly, basic gardening skills scale very well. If you know how to grow fruits and herbs in little pots on a sun scorched balcony, then you could easily grow a ¼ acre garden capable of being far more than a mere vitamin supplement.

    So this year I've begun to work a little balcony garden, and if all goes well (which to date it is) I'll start to scale it up over the winter(greenhouse time) and by next year the whole balcony will be covered with herbs, fruit plants and some minor grains.