# Gardening and outdoors

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by MDN1988 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Saturday, 20-Dec-2008 23:41:16

Hi all. I was wondering if any one on here does gardening, like growing their own vegetables and things like that? I am looking in to container gardening because I live in an apartment but wanted to grow some of my own vegetables. I was wondering how easy it is to do, especially without sight?
Also, I was wondering if there are any outdoors types of people on here that camp or hike or backpack a lot and use camping equipment like camping stoves and such without sight? Camping and hiking are things that I would like to do, but I never did them but would like to find out if there are certain techniques you all use or if you go with a sighted person?
Thanks,
Misty

## Post 2 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Thursday, 01-Jan-2009 13:04:43

Wow Misty. It seems you and I have the same questions. I too would love to do container gardening but don't know much about it and how it works. I am actually planning to take out a book from the library and read up about it. I wish I could do regular gardening outside but I live in an apartment. Luckily, we have a balcony so I can always put my gardening out there. I really hope someone could write about their experiences. I saw this commertial on the food network about a spice garden and how you can grow your spices in your apartment. I was tempted to order it but thought I'd wait till I could read up on the subject before attempting it.

## Post 3 by MDN1988 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Saturday, 03-Jan-2009 22:10:06

Hi. Yes I have the same problem. I live in an apartment, and all my windows are north-facing so it may be harder to grow plants because that is the side where the least sunlight comes in. I don't have any other windows on the south or west side like I have read you are supposed to put your plants because there is more sun light. I guess I will have to get some grow lights or something. I would like one of the aerogarden things that has the lights and everything build in and you just put the seeds and soil, but they are very expensive.
I am looking for some good books as well, even though I will have to scan them. Either that or I may try national library service. I did find some sites though that told me a little about gardening. The only thing about NLS is that I won't be able to keep the book. I want to get a book that I can keep in case I need to look up anything while I am growing the plants. I would also like to learn how to preserve the vegetables, fruits, or spices that I grow and how to properly store and can them. I guess I will find books on that subject as well.
I also hope people can post their experiences with this and also with camping and outdoor activities.

## Post 4 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 04-Jan-2009 4:37:59

I read about a website that the University of Missouri set up. It is geared to people with disabilities who want to do gardening, and this might be a good place for you both to start. I don't have the address, but it was called gardening for every body. Try googling it, and see what you find. Good luck.
Lou

## Post 5 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 04-Jan-2009 8:56:40

That's cool and thanks for any info on this that was/will be posted here. *smile* I'm also interested in gardening sometimes. My dad has a garden and some trees in the front and back yards, but he's usually not too patient a person when it comes to walking someone thru what to do. But I think it'd be cool to learn to grow my own food and I'm thinking containers might be easier to start off growing them. I'll also check out the site suggested in post 4, and I've also been looking at books about growing things. If y'all have access to Bookshare, there are some useful books on there. If not, I don't know. But I have a book called "Grow It Again", about regrowing scraps using the ends of vegetables. It's actually a kid book, but it does a good job of explaining what to do for each thing, and I think it tells how to grow them in a container. So I think that would be a good book to check out/buy.

## Post 6 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 04-Jan-2009 19:19:52

Many years ago, the Guild for the Blind in Chicago had published a book about taking care of plants called "Your Green Sceen." I don't know if its still available or not.
Lou

## Post 7 by MDN1988 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Sunday, 04-Jan-2009 23:22:30

Hi. Thanks for the suggestions. I will look in to them.

## Post 8 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 06-Jan-2009 16:15:17

I think the hadley school for the blind might have a course about container gardening. just go to:
www.hadley.edu

## Post 9 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 08-Jan-2009 12:47:22

I'm glad this thread is getting so much attention. I've always kind of wanted to garden, but assumed I have a black thumb. I think I tend to over water...smile! Both my mom and grandma are and were great gardeners.

## Post 10 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 23-Jan-2009 18:55:06

I'm not too great at watering plants and normally get the water anywhere but the plant. Does anyone have any ideas for this? I like planting seeds and vegetable plants though. About the only thing I haven't been any use at is lettuce.

## Post 11 by MizAngie (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 23-Jan-2009 20:44:32

Hi, Misty,
I am a country girl, so camping and gardening are my thing. I am not an expert gardener, but I do pretty well, i think, lol. You can go to your local garden plant store, and buy plants that are meant to grow in pots on a patio or portch, such as tomato plants. But, for gardening in plastic bins, i reccomend going to wal-mart and buying some of their bins that are maybe a foot deep by a couple feet wide. Then buy some planting soil with Miricle grow in it. You will need to place some wholes in the bottom of the plastic bin for drainage purposes, and then put in the soil. Then you can plant your tomatos, peppers, herbs, letice, and what ever else you would like to grow. Then you can place your plastic bins outside on the patio. I would reccomend buying smaller plants that do not need cages to help them stand up since you may have limited space. I hope this info will help you to get a start. Hope this helps.
Blessings,
Angela

## Post 12 by MDN1988 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Saturday, 24-Jan-2009 3:57:36

Thanks for the info and tips.