Saying Goodbye to My Balcony Garden: Dealing with Space Constraints while Renting
Navigating Gardening as a Tenant: Signaling Potential Eviction?
Gardening in a rental property can present various challenges due to space limitations, temporary nature, and restrictions put in place by landlords. However, with an adaptive mindset, it's possible to carve out a green oasis on even the tiniest balcony.
My latest challenge in my joyous but hectic journey of gardening while renting has arrived in the form of concerns regarding the stability of our old, wooden building's balconies. The property managers have implemented new regulations limiting the number and size of planters each unit is allowed. Although I understand the reasoning behind these decisions, downsizing my beloved balcony garden has left me conflicted.
Gathering Joy from Horticulture
Dating back to the construction of my simple triangle planter, gardening has offered a myriad of pleasures over the years. From the excitement of witnessing new seedlings sprout up, to the butterflies fluttering around my blooming plants, every moment spent nurturing my garden brings a smile to my face.
- The excitement of watching seeds sprout
- The delight of seeing fruit on my plants
- The joy of getting my hands dirty with soil
- The satisfaction of observing bees enjoy my flowers
Navigating the Challenges of Urban Cultivation
Although gardening has brought unparalleled joy, it has also presented obstacles to overcome. Perhaps the most frustrating of these are the Stellar Jays, who seem to delight in making a mess of my balcony while burying their peanuts in my planters. Not only do they create chaos, but they also trampling my plants and seeds, often leaving me crestfallen. I've tried various methods to scare them away, from fake owls to crows, but these cunning birds always figure out the ruse eventually. Another challenge lies in maintaining the garden properly, requiring regular watering, pruning, and repotting, along with an investment in quality potting soil and plants.
Saying Farewell to My Balcony Oasis
Upon facing the necessity of downsizing my garden, I had to weigh the joys against the challenges, determining whether to keep my garden despite the constraints. Thinking through this, I decided that in this chapter of my life, the challenges had outweighed the joys, so I opted to dismantle my garden. I hope that having more open space will provide an opportunity to rest, relax, and perhaps make up for the loss of my plants.
Dismantling my Garden, Sustainably
While saying goodbye to my garden, I aimed to minimize waste. I managed to uproot some seedlings and pass them on to a friend for their garden. I emptied my planters and yielded them to a neighbor, and some were sold via classifieds. I also gifted the soil to my Buy Nothing Group, as I worried it might be difficult to dispose of it properly. There are still a few items I'd like to part ways with, but I plan to rehome them locally or recycle them accordingly. I'm glad that there wasn't much waste generated during the dismantling process.
Bracing for the Future of Renting and My Green Thumb
Whether this is the end of my gardening while renting journey or a pause, only time will tell. For now, my indoor plants are happy to have my undivided attention.
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Just like this:
Gardening while renting presents unique challenges, such as space limitations, temporary nature, and restrictions imposed by landlords. However, by adopting an adaptable mindset and embracing strategies like use of containers, selective planting, vertical gardening, and efficient layout, renters can cultivate thriving gardens that provide therapeutic benefits and personal fulfillment[1][2].
Sources:
[1] Urban Garden Design. (2021). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Container Gardening. GardenTherapy. https://www.gardentherapy.com/blog/container-gardening/container-gardening-advantages-disadvantages/
[2] The Balance. (2021). Container Gardening for Renters. The Balance. https://www.thebalance.com/container-gardening-for-renters-3306070
- After adopting an adaptable mindset, renters can use containers, selective planting, vertical gardening, and efficient layout to cultivate thriving gardens in limited spaces, providing personal fulfillment and therapeutic benefits.
- My balcony garden, which began with a simple triangle planter, brought me joy through seed sprouting, butterflies, and the satisfaction of nurturing my plants. However, challenges such as Stellar Jays and restrictions on planter size required me to dismantle my garden.
