About Urban Organic Gardener and Mike Lieberman

Good luck Mike. I will be watching and learning from you. The student becomes the teacher…LOL>

I am proud of you for believing in something and going for it!!!

I love the can-do tenacity of this site, it’s fantastic! I’m still not entirely sure why you’re hell bent on growing things upside down? I’m fairly impressed when my veg manage to grow the right way up!

Great. Thanks Hibai. The self watering containers have been great so far – effective, low maintenance and producing wonderfully. My cherry tomato plant is starting to bear fruit and will likely harvest some of them pretty soon.

Thanks for following and hope you are enjoying.

That's awesome. Good for you. My sentiments are exactly the same. What did people do 600 years ago. They didn't get a fancy piece of paper that said they could grow food or anything like that. They just did it. Our lives have lives have become so “complex” and mired in BS that we constantly look towards others to get the simple things done.

Love what you are doing and keep up the great work. You're inspirational.

That's awesome. Good for you. My sentiments are exactly the same. What did people do 600 years ago. They didn't get a fancy piece of paper that said they could grow food or anything like that. They just did it. Our lives have lives have become so “complex” and mired in BS that we constantly look towards others to get the simple things done.

Love what you are doing and keep up the great work. You're inspirational.

Hey Mike,

I have been gardening for years and recently relocated to Jersey City where I am trying my hand at container gardening. I came across your site after doing a little research. I know you try to garden on the cheap (as do I now that I am unemployed!) so I wanted to make sure you knew about freecycle.org. Check out the website and register for your local area. I just swapped some tomato seedlings for some pepper seedlings last night and met a new neighbor to boot. Best of luck to you and keep it up… I am anxiously watching my squash blossoms and anticipating a rewarding harvest! Hope LA is treating you right.

Best,

Destené

I have a balcony in the back of my apartment – just outside the French Quarter in New Orleans. Last year I started growing herbs, peppers and tomatoes. One of the first things I learned was to get the right variety to grow in containers. I tried to grow Creole tomatoes, and they did not respond well. This year, I tried zucchini, and didn't have good results either. Lots of blossoms at first, but no zucchini. A neighbor planted a variety of tomato called “Patio”. They kept to a small size (for tomato plants) and they were full of green tomatoes within a month to 6 weeks. I replaced my zucchini with patio tomatoes and will see what happens (our first frost here is around Dec. 15). Next year, when I re-plant, I will definitely be trying the self-watering containers. Food is an important part of the New Orleans culture. There are certain things I will not cook unless I can use ingredients from my own garden.

Hey Mike, I live in a townhome but grow food in my balcony: I have 4 or 5 different kinds of pepper, oregano, Italian basil, tomatoes, parsley, mint, and this year, trying eggplant and cucumber but those are much more slow. What I am amazed about is the peace and calm I feel when I water my plants or see a new fruit every day! I take so many photos of these silly plants it's quite ridiculous ! I hear your passion …..

I just found this blog, and I love it! I've been trying to grow vegetables at home too… even though I live in my parents' house and probably going to leave in a year or so… it'll be one of my returns for food and lodging
I've grown two tomatoes and one okra from seed so far – and three or four chilis, lots of fenugreek, basil, coriander and spinach. I'm loving it! My friends can't understand why it's so exciting to me… but it is! I've planted onions and more okra, I'm looking forward to doing more.
I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Hi Mike, great Site. I live in San Francisco and there's a large movement out here and in other parts of California to start turning the sidewalks into Gardens in residential areas . Its great for people
that don't have backyards or fire escapes and helps stop rainwater from flooding the sewer systems and running into the ocean as run off . It builds good neighbors and neighborhoods

Mike very nice blog! I'm struggling with cabbage worms right now. I'm also blogging about my Thrifty and Green Experiences in Wyoming. Currently I'm on a five day journey to BUY NOTHING. You can check out my little musings at:
http://www.christinemccreedy.blogspot.com

Great website and thanks for sharing. I got the topsy turvey plant on my porch and doing great also

You're an awesome dude. I also like your 365 ways to go green. Thanks for sharing all this. I started balcony gardening 2 years ago and wondering what to do with the old soil.
see my bacony from last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/migirl/3698030898/

Greetings from Germany.

Bravo Mike:

You are who Authentic Haven Brand packages our premium soil conditioner teas for…Look forward to your growing success…Annie

hi Mike. I am new to container garening. I tried it last year but wasn’t succesful. I love the self watering idea. My question is the green way… WHERE do you get food quality FREE containers? I am disabled and anything free works for me and if this works out for me, I will get my grand kids involved too!

You’re really awesome! I just came across your site while I was trying to figure out how to set up my new worm bin. I love sustainable living, and eventually want to open an organice business, with the idea of eventually being completely off the grid. Thanks for the ideas, and I plan to check your site often =)

Denny

The problem with squash, cucumber, and melons is that they need help polinating. In my garden, I haven’t seen any bees and the only fruit I have actually produced are the ones I hand pollenated. It is fairly simple, but you need to check daily, which is why mine were so limited.

Another thing i recomend is a gardening journal to keep track of what works and to plan changes that you can make. Every fail is a success in learning.

Kathylynn67, i use food container i buy food in. yogurt cups butter tubs milk jugs juice cartons egg cartons(especially the bio degradable cardboard egg cartons) i also use toilet paper tubes paper towel tubes cereal boxes etc… the list goes on if i can buy it from the grocery store and its biodegradable i use it for my planting containers if its a hard plastic i use it for watering

This is great stuff, Mike, but then you knew that already. You are preaching the same message I am trying to do over on my Blog and podcasts. keep it up!

Steve
http://www.borntofarm.com

Thanks Bill. I experimented with hydroculture without much success mostly due to my lack of taking care of it. As for growing indoors, my current apartment doesn’t get much direct sunlight.

WOW. You are AWESOME! My friend told me about your website, and of course, I’m here! Just in time for my own garden I’m about to start soon! I was gonna give away my sons custom wooden sandbox I gifted him for his 5th Birthday because it was getting to be way too messy. Instead, my brilliant friend suggested me turn it into a section for me growing my veggies! I’m OBSESSED! Can’t wait to start, and thank you for creating this website!

Thanks so much for the inspiration! You’ve motivated me to start growing my own as well

Hello Mike,

My name is Susie and my son Carlos and I are new composters. He started at school with a 2lr coca cola bottle and a mystery seddling that now has sprot high but we can’t tell what it is yet. In order to be supportive of this new hobby I purchase a larger container and organic poting soil. We live in Vancouver, BC Canada in a small walk up apartment with no balcony or fire scape stairs like yours. He is composting without worms and i wonder if you could tell us if the decomposers he used added to a bigger container would enough to keep it active? Please let us know. Your site was the only one that was clear enough and informative for me to understand without feeling like a dork. Thank you for your site.

Susie & Carlos

Hey Mike,
I’m actually a neighbor of yours.
Have about the same amount of space to deal with as you do. I hit a wall with brainstorming how to get highest herb/plant yield with such small space this spring. Then a friend pointed me to your YouTube channel.
Such a huge inspiration, especially knowing you’re probably a 10 min. bike ride away.-Giangabriel

Hahha. Yea a 10 week bike ride away not 10 mins. There’s def lots you can do and ways to get creative.

Keep me updated on what you wind up doin.

How is California working out for you? I tried it and i hated it …maybe because I was in the OC . Well I’am back in NYC but i do miss the Sunny Days..

Cali is definitely an adjustment from NYC, especially if you are out here alone. Makes it more challenging to connect with people.

Hm, not sure about optimal time to plant a fruit tree. Will ask around.

We planted our fruit trees – grafted peach, nectarine, plum and apricot – in December, 2009. Had fruit in 2010. Worked out well. We live in the I.E.

I am so glad I have found your site,love it ! I have been thinking of growing my own vegetables for awhile now & reading & seeing what you have done has motivated me. I do try & buy seasonal organic when I can as I also hate that most of our fruits & vegetables have pesticides. I also loathe the “bad seed” Monsanto Corp.
Keep up the great work !

I live in Puerto Rico and I am being blessed for finding your site. I’ve been wanting to start an organic garden with my children and thanks to you I know how to start a simple an inexpensive one. Thanks again and keep up with post and the exelent work you are doing.

Canarsie? My best buds are from there…long time ago.

Been growing food in a community garden for a few years but am considering taking the next step and getting into composting now. Thanks for the great tips to avoid bringing worms into my apartment and for an excuse to use my drill!

Thank you! I’m thinking vegan, and your page is helping push me. Food comes from the earth, not a box!
Regina Dorich, Michigan

Hi Mike! I find your site very useful and motivating. I’m from Puerto Rico and in here we need a change! I study environmental engineering and I am very motivated to go green and grow my own garden. First, I am very interested to make a garden with water bottles but I have no idea how. I remember a year ago I saw a project in New York that people did their garden in the windows with bottles of water. is a very interesting project and I can motivate others to change. have any idea how I can start? and I have A LOT of bottles of water!!! lol What other materials you think Ill need?

Thanks for the information Dee.

Nice. Canarsie represent!

Nice. Glad to connect and keep it BK.

 love your site. im an old hippie, tree hugger, bunny hugger. i love seeing how much the younger people today care about the world. i feel like my generation did something right after all.

maybe if you woulda taken a fancy course you woulda realized those  containers you’re growing in heat up and off gas into your soil and then get absorbed by the root systems of your  precious lettuce. which you then eat.  douchebag

Thank you. Keep me updated and holdin it down in the BK.

Nice. Good stuff Ali. Try harder

Keep me updated on your progress.

Hahhaa. That’s a much appreciated compliment.

Brooklyn’s in the house. Represent. Represent. Good stuff. You’ll find out soon enough if you have enough sun. It’s all part of the fun. Keep me updated.

Ugh, pests suck. Figuratively and literally. You can still harvest and eat the lettuce. Just be sure to rinse it off. You can try to mix up some Dr. Bronner’s soap with water and spray your plants down everyday. Follow it up by spraying them down with water about 15-20 minutes later. It might take a few weeks, but that should help.

Lemme know how things proceed.

has anyone had flies.. yes actual flies attack their garden? i’ve seen horse flies and regular house flies eating at my plants and my soil…. I tried the soapy water method and even got some venus fly traps planted in the buckets with the plants, but they keep coming back! I dont think ladybugs will help, cuz they only attack smaller pests… but any suggestions?

Hm, not sure. Hit me up with an email and I might be able to put you in contact with someone who can answer that for you.

Hi, I love your  site, it’s one of the most non-boring gardening sites I’ve seen.  It’s good to see other young people that love growing and nutrition.  I’m a nurtition & food science student, which is what got me into gardening.  Keep up the good work! 

Thanks for all the help!! I am a Queens qirl (never had a yard) who moved to SF and began planting in my yard here. Its an amazing feeling to enjoy the literal fruits of your labor. I am a cook who lives with three other  cooks. food is so important and I cant wait to get back to the east coast and share all I have learned and hopefully they will feel compelled to grow their own food or at least make better choices in food.

Dude, what a truly wonderful and inspiring web site. Really cool DIY projects. The self watering containers sound doable. I’m really glad I stumbled upon your site. You got me thinking about how to use my vegtable gardening avocation for some sort of good works/giving back project. Actually, as I am sitting here staring at the screen, I’m also thinking since we are SoCal neighbors and there’s a underutilized backyard where I garden that could be expanded. You think you’d like to try growing stuff in a raised bed in a backyard that gets 6-8 hours sunlight in the summer? Something to think about. Thanks for all that you do. It really makes adifference.

I wholly support what you are doing, and agree with most of your views.  However, I’ve come across several blog posts, which seem to be taken out of context, and somewhat misinformed.  

I feel as if there was not enough research done into the topics you are discussing.  I think it somewhat discredits the arguments you are posing.  For example, take the post on the judges ruling about consuming  what you cultivate not a fundamental right.  I certainly see where you can bring this point up in argument, but it was stated as if that is exactly what the judge said.  For me, this discouraged me from taking anything you said to heart.

I hope you consider this and add more research into your posts, so that they can be fully informed and therefore more persuasive. 

Mike, I found your website really helpful and I’m writing a paper on the subject of organic gardening. Don’t worry, I’m citing all my sources properly so you’re getting the credit for your work, but I thought you’d like to know how useful and informative your site is. I’m sure I’ll reference it often when I start my own container gardens.

Mike, I trying to conduct a science experiment about how the change of gravity affects plants. Any ideas to get started?

Your website is awesome. I’m looking forward to trying out the tp roll seed starters. I recently was working on an urban garden/farm in Berkeley, and am continuing on my farming journey. It is always inspiring to see how others are growing, and I greatly appreciate your mission to spread knowledge and awareness on growing locally, organically, and space-consciously.

Keep on growing!

Best,
Stephanie

I’ve been receiving your newsletters.  Thank you for all the BEST info!!!

Have you yet discussed growing plants upside down?  And why this works?
Also, about reflective mulch?

Wishing you a wonderful growing season!