Earth Boxes
by Maggie Davis

Have you ever thought about vegetable gardening but didn’t want to spend a lot of time or money? Perhaps you don’t have space in your backyard or you’re just not inclined to spend a lot of time digging in the soil or fighting off garden pests. One practical alternative is an “Earth Box”, available at www.earthbox.com. Several years ago a friend gave me one of these boxes and I tried it on my deck, planting it with salad greens that could be quickly harvested just outside my door. I discovered that I could grow more per square foot in this box than in my garden. And I didn’t have to share the crop with the rabbits or deer. Now I have a total of 4 on my deck, in addition to my usual vegetable garden in the back yard. Right now they contain arugula, mesclun, parsley and basil.

The earthbox contains a reservoir for water in the bottom which keeps your crop moist for approximately a month. When more water is needed you just have to pour a couple of gallons into a pipe that sticks out of the soil. I find that the steady moisture makes my yield incredible and keeps my plants healthy. I also like having the growing season extended by keeping fall crops going until very late on a sheltered porch or deck. Happy Gardening!