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Fire Escape Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

After my final fall planting on October 3, 2009.

I have my vegetable garden on my fire escape set up with three self watering containers that I built out of recycled materials. I also have 12 hanging herb planters.

Here’s what in the containers:

  • Kales and swiss chard
  • Cherry tomatoes and lettuces
  • Jimmy Nardello’s sweet pepper and Chile Releno

    • The herbs that I have planted are

  • Apple mint
  • Chervil
  • Greek oregano
  • French tarragon

    • On one side there are four soda bottles and one coffee container planter.The other side has six hanging planters made out of soda bottles.Also have lettuce planted in a Dr. Bronner's container.The self watering containers and hanging soda bottle planters.

    Video of my final fall planting on October 3, 2009:

    Video of the fire escape garden on September 15, 2009:

    Check this video of the initial set-up on May 23, 2009:

    One thing that I constantly hear from people is that they don’t have the space to grow their own food. The space is there you just need to get creative and utilize it.

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    Home > Fire Escape Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces
    • Dear Urban Gardener, You are an inspiration to me. If you can grow vegetables on your fire escape, I can certainly grow some on my acre of land. The only problem is the deer eat mine, but I suspect that's less of a problem for you in Manhattan.
    • Mike Lieberman
      Yup Bob. The fire escape is a built in deer deterrent.
    • so great! video is awesome, love the accent too!
    • Mike Lieberman
      Thanks Zachary. The gardening I just started, but have been working on the accent for 30+ years.
    • haha! just posted on farm to table and will throw on facebook in a bit! the
      video is hysterical but great too
    • I'm glad you are opening people's eyes to gardening in small spaces. Small spaces do have their advantages, too -- keeping your garden manageable and your costs lower, plus you get to enjoy all the color and greenery on your fire escape/balcony with all the sustainable benefits!
    • Mike Lieberman
      Thanks for the comment Meredith. That's a great idea for a post. Thanks!
    • thehopefulhoe
      I LOVE this! I have literally JUST begun planting some over-wintering stuff in my tiny courtyard garden, and a patch of 2m x 3m allotment I have been given here in the UK. Trust me, I am not your typical gardener, but I am determined to give this a go. Like you say, if you can do it in that tiny space of yours, I can definitely give it a shot. Well done!
    • Mike Lieberman
      Thanks. I'm not your typical gardener either. It's my first time. Who wants to be typical? Send me some pics when you get everything planted and set up.
    • Micky
      Thanks for your videos. I have an itchy green thumb and an empty fire escape right outside my bedroom window. I'm inspired!
    • Mike Lieberman
      Thanks for the comment. Get it done and forward along the pics. Would love to see it.
    • I usually complain about the size of my roof garden/terrace (about 2x8 meters)...now I'll take your garden as an inspiring example!
    • Mike Lieberman
      Thanks for the comment and for visiting. I'm expecting to hear back from you about your new garden.
    • It's quite old actually, now still flourished with the freshest and greenest herbs. Not for long though, as I don't cover the terrace during the coldest months. Usually they're fine but I'd love to enjoy them during winter too..
    • Mike Lieberman
      This week I'm going to make some kind of cover. Still figuring out the with what part.
    • Looking forward to read a post on that..

      Alice
    • Mike Lieberman
      Me too. Haha.
    • you guys are awesome
    • Haha..it's awesome that I found 2 awesome websites in one day, this one and farm to table! I'll be visiting often
    • Just saw this link via Apartment Therapy - what did you do (are you doing) with this beautiful garden in the winter months? I had a great little herb garden started, but when the winter came, no matter how hard I tried, it just went kaput. I'd love any suggestions!
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