AIM # 3 JAS 2017 | Page 16

Issue 3 Connect JAS 2017 That’s an important life lesson, and so is being able to grow your food. Especially since in future, people who can grow food will become extremely rare. Even professionally then, it could be a valuable skill to have. ‘Well, we don’t believe in the ego that gets attached to a profession. We just want our children to learn to eat well, and know what it means grow good food.’ What a monumental aim to have. Inspiring indeed! Start Your Own Kitchen Farm Even In A Balcony - Message from Palisa When I lived in apartments in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney I found it extremely soothing to be able to- Pot up some compost and blood/bone and plant seeds. The beauty of this is you can choose exactly what you will want to grow and eat. I started off with a few herbs, flowers like sweet pea and marigold, tomatoes and strawberries, graduating to rarer varieties, citrus and fruit trees - all in pots! Make sure you look where the light falls on your balcony, make a note of where on the balcony gets the longest amount of daylight. If your balcony doesn't get any light then plant broad leafed edibles like - penny wort, mint, (most herbs do well even if they don't get much sun as long as it receives daylight, regular watering and admiration)  Spend time with your plants, they respond to communication and give mutual admiration. To get your kids involved plant strawberries and flowers, or anything with colour and a bit of fruitiness. Find what is local to the country you live in and plant that. Good way to find out, is go for a walk around your neighbourhood and look at what people are growing in their gardens. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot grow that on your balcony with a big enough pot! Email us your questions for the featured family or to nominate a family to be featured here. 16