Bringing the Spirit of Nature to Your Urban Life

City-dwellers have a particular challenge. We love nature too!

But from the high floors of an appartment building, nature seems far away!

This instructable was created from my own experience as a city dweller who loves nature! I hope to inspire more city-folks to build nature and sustainability into their appartement spaces. While this particular instructible is designed for those lucky enough in the city to have a small balcony, this can be scaled from large terraces down to simple window sills.

The concept is to experience the abundance of nature in a myriad of ways, on a small budget and small scale. No extravagance is necessary. Reduce, reuse and recycle! And experience the:

• sensorial
• nutritional
• sustainable

...benefits of nature, in the city!

These are my basic recommendations. But you should work on the scale that is best for you.

For a balcony of not more than 2 sq meters:

Basic Elements

• 1-5 Small to Medium size pots of your choosing ( I say small to medium as this is sufficient for a small balcony. But if you have a larger space, feel free to use larger containers). 10-30 USD
• Soil, enough for your containers 10 USD
• One solar-powered light feature (could be fairy lights, a ball light or spike light)
• One clothesline, enough to span your balcony ( or terrace or windowsill...) 2USD
• One container dedicated to rainwater harvesting ( small to large, depending on your space) 5 USD

(Think about buying your garden items at the local Goodwill or other charity shop. You can even use plastic water bottles for hydroponic gardening, large tin cans, old kitchen recepticles..be creative!)

Budget: about 20-40 USD

Additional elements

-Natural materials like bamboo and jute are great, but other, less expensive materials work just as well. The point is to envelope your balcony for a zen feel of peace, privacy and calm.

-A large glass bottle, jug or just a simple mason jar for brewing of lemonaid, sun tea, herbal tisanes, etc...

-One comfortable chair (kitchen chair, foldable card table chair...)

-One small stool, small table or crate...

--Hummingbird feeder, butterfly puddling station, pinwheels...(get your kids involved here!)

Budget for various items: 20 USD

Step one

-Choose any of the following

- aromatics and herbs such as mint, rosemary, lavendar or parslay... you can start from seeds or more mature plants.

- edible plants such as spring onions, chives, ginger, lettuce... can be started from kitchen scraps (my favorite idea!) or seeds.

- flowerering plants of your favorite color or variety. Or consider succulants depending on your region. Easy-to-care-for ones for balconies include geraniums, marigolds and tea roses...

Sustainability note:

From your selection of aromatics, herbs and edible plants,even if it is just 1, you will be able to enjoy a harvest for making teas, salads, infused oils and more...

In addition, selections such as mint, spring onion and lavendar are fairly hearty and should survive the city winter. Cover with aerated plastic shower caps or bags during the colder months.

(I planted leeks last year from kitchen scraps. I left one to go to seed. Planted one seed, and I now have a little leek growing. Yes, very small! But so good for the soul! see photo)

Of course, small container gardens can also include, cherry tomatoes, peppers, beans, etc and are fantastic, expecially if you have more of a terrace area. For our purposes, my instructable is designed for the smallest size spaces that are more typical to city dwellers.

I suggest 3 basic elements for natural sustainability from your city nature experience.

1) Solar light

2) Simple clothesline

3) Rainwater harvesting recepticle

A simple solar light ( 5USD or less!) can last literally years! While they won't light up your entire appartment at night, they can offer enough illumination in a space to make it manoeverable, saving on the necessity of using electric light in the evening hours.

A simple clothesline is essential to my life and to sustainability! A line that can stretch across your balcony space is perfect. This can even be adapted for window sills with a small, inexpensive tension rod that can be used to dry small light items like dishtowels, under garments and light weight shirts. Dry even a pillow case in the sun, and bring that beautiful scent of spring into your home!

Rainwater harvesting. This is the one that few people think of, but if you place even a small recepticle (flower pot, bowl, plastic sheeting directed into a bottle, etc...) and harvest rainwater, this can be used for future watering of plants in the hotter season and even balcony cleaning.

Budget 7-10 USD

The Environment element of your nature-in-the-city is designed to make the most of the small space from the point of view of the plant life you have selected, the other natural elements like rocks, pebbles, sand... and your harmony with it. You are part of nature too!

For this reason, Step 3 is designed to make your balcony space a tranquil, sensorial and calming space incorporating comfort, natural final touches and even flavors into your space. All the elements of a backyard sanctuary can be incorporated here.

For this Instructible, we are suggesting three basic elements to complete your space:

• comfortable seating and table
• enclosure for privacy
• The final decorative touches like textured rocks, shells, sand and pebbles can be added at this time. You could also consider: pinwheels, windchimes, even bird houses, hummingbird feeders, or butterfly puddling stations...

This Instructable is a labor of love. I know how difficult apartment living can be and the importance of the sun and breeze on our faces, the sound of birds and the humming of bees. Create a simple space. One plant, or ten. One natural element or a dozen. A simple cup of tea or a gallon of sun-made lemonaide. And dry that laundy in the sun! Then, just sit back, and listen to the city birds sing!