5 Eco -Friendly Balcony Garden Ideas
Before beginning any home projects or making any purchases, it’s important to consider the impact it may have on the environment. A recent study from Science noted that we have already emitted enough CO2 to be halfway to the doubling point of 560 parts per million, and the planet could reach that threshold by 2060 according to many emissions scenarios.
By choosing to make more environmentally conscious decisions wherever possible, you can reduce your carbon footprint and promote the health of the planet. Below are five tips for creating an eco-friendly balcony garden that is both good for you and the planet.
- Plant an herb garden
Get easy access to fresh herbs by growing them right on your balcony. Herbs tend to be sold in plastic packaging, so it’s truly a win to be able to walk out onto your balcony to access an abundance of flavorful ingredients. Try planting both annual herbs such as fennel, dill, basil, cilantro, and parsley and perennial herbs, such as oregano, mint, sage, thyme, lavender and rosemary.
- Plant a vegetable garden
Vegetables can thrive in balcony gardens. Make sure to grow your veggies in containers that offer good drainage and that they receive optimal sunlight and water. Some easy vegetables to grow in containers include: peppers, beans, tomatoes, carrots, beets,lettuce, cucumber, radishes, peas, and eggplants.
- Upcycle materials
You can upcycle unwanted materials by transforming them into useful products. By repurposing materials instead of purchasing new ones, you are saving resources. This is important as each day, 80,000 acres of forests disappear from the earth and more than 20,000 tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean.
- Install solar panels
Power lighting on your balcony or even capture enough energy to use throughout your home by adding solar panels to your garden balcony. A standard single solar panel can typically cover about 5 percent of your household electricity needs. The railing is a great place to seamless install solar panels on your balcony.
- Add a compost
Your balcony can be a great place to add a compost, which can then be used to fertilize your herb or vegetable garden. Composting saves you money and is great for the planet as it eliminates the need for fertilizer, which can be a hefty expense.
Check out the visual below from Apartment Guide for more eco-friendly balcony garden ideas:
