Rent or Own?

Do you rent or do you own?

If you rent:

1. Pots are fantastic for having a garden - they take up little room and can grow more than you would expect. The downside to pots is the need watering, a lot of watering, so if you go out of town for the weekend plan to have a back up or move them in the shade so they don't wilt.

2. Ask your landlord if you can plant a garden - I have many a friends who rent and have their own little plot of land that they were allowed to garden on, it is Portland after all.

3. Work with the city - Portland Parks and Recreation has community gardens all over the city that you can rent a plot of land in. Be warned though, they are popular and often full so put your name on the list now rather than later. More information here.

If you own:

1. Decide how much time you have and want to invest in gardening - an hour a week or an hour a day can make a big difference in what type of garden you design

2. What kind of garden do you want? Directly on the ground or in raised beds and pots? Of course this also begs the question - do you plan to be in your house for awhile or just a few years? There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that can go into building a garden so if you plan to move in a few years I wouldn't start your urban homestead until you are ready to stay put. I have no idea how a garden affects the saleability of a house but it is something to keep in mind.

3. Watch your yard for awhile. Does a certain area get sun all day and other areas none at all? Does your dog have a special spot they like to go in the yard? How about kids - do you want them in the garden or do they need to be kept out? There are creative ways to work with all types of spaces and lifestyles you just need to think about them first and design for what suits your needs best.

4. How much money do you want to invest? Gardens are lovely and fill our tummies with unbelievably good food all year if you plant them right but they aren't free. They take time and money to keep running.