Balcony Beans and Other Good Things...

From the City...

Our little balcony garden is a hotbed of excitement these days.  We had a great feed of green and yellow beans which we didn't have to supplement with ones from the market and our bean plants from Nate are exploding with flowers and little buds!  We've also been eating no shortage of basil and our little green zebra tomatoes are just about there, I'm just a little fearful that they might get picked early because a certain someone in the family thinks they're balls and he's just dying to play with them.

-amelia

Before and After

From the City...

Our dinner: before and after

Much to my surprise, my little balcony has provided the ideal growing condition for my greens. I can't seem to keep up with them! Which is pretty great cause Sime and I are now eating at least a salad a day. Sadly, my other little plant babies aren't doing so hot. Something is eating its way through my basil, my tomato looks sad and my herbs are protesting living/growing in Toronto by simply not doing anything. They are the exact same size as the day that I planted them.

I pillaged my sad little basil plants to make this salad dressing. It's really gooooooood.

bunch of basil

about a tbsp of honey

about a tbsp of dijon mustard

1/2 cup olive oil

a good splash of balsamic vinegar

salt / pepper to taste.

I pureed the whole mess in my food processor, dumped it on my greens and then ate my balcony salad on my balcony. Our own version of eating local.

Balcony Makeover.

From the City...

I'd much rather have a big yard to putter in but when push comes to show, my little balcony here in Toronto gets the job down quite nicely. Here is the before and after.

I now have allof my herbs growing nicely; thyme, oregano, cilantro, mint, basil, rosemary and parsley. Three cherry tomato plants nestled in with marigolds, an assortment of lettuces which are my favorite because I snip them everyday for a little saladand my mothers day jade.

If you really focus on all the green you can almost pretend you don't see your neighbor throwing garbage off her balcony.