There’s only one problem: I have no yard.

Well, to be fair, I do technically have a yard. It’s just so unsuitable for gardening that I can’t use it. Hard, clay soil that bakes in the sun does not make a good garden bed. On top of that, my house is surrounded by trees, and they cast long shadows over the entire property.

So what’s a plant lover like me to do? Grow everything in containers, that’s what!

Over the years, I’ve developed a pretty good system that allows me to grow a wide selection of plants. I put all my containers in the driveway, the only part of my home that gets enough sun at any given time. I use high-quality potting soil to overcome the limitation of clay soil in the backyard. As the sun’s position moves over time, I can move my containers so they always get the most light.
My container garden is filled with blossoming flowers, culinary herbs, and vegetables such as tomatoes, peas, radishes, and even broccoli. I always have a few ambitious projects going. Right now, for instance, I’ve got orange tree, dragon tree and jojoba seedlings growing slowly in their pots. I don’t know where I’ll put those plants once they start to reach several feet in height, but for now, I’m just enjoying watching them grow.

I find gardening, even in small containers, very rewarding and relaxing. It’s an excellent way to relieve stress while learning more about nature and how our food grows. It gives me a reason to spend long hours outside, enjoying the breeze and the warmth of the springtime sun.

Container gardening is a great choice for people who can only grow plants on their porch or balcony. I used to live in an apartment with only a balcony, and I managed to grow dozens of flowers and tropical plants in containers or hanging baskets. So it’s definitely possible even for those with very little space.

Don’t let anyone tell you that gardening is an expensive hobby. It can be, but only if you buy starter plants from nurseries and shell out for hand-glazed ceramic planters or the latest gadgets. I start virtually all my plants from seed, packets of which usually cost no more than $2.00. For containers, I use buckets from the dollar store with holes drilled through the bottom for drainage. I also use old cardboard boxes lined with trash bags. They work very well; right now, I have enough carrots and radishes growing in boxes to last me for months.

The most expensive part of container gardening is the potting soil. It’s worth it, though, to invest in quality soil that contains a slow-release fertilizer. Organic potting soil is also available if you prefer. Other than that, all you need is a cheap pair of garden gloves and maybe a hose for easy watering.

If you’re looking for an emotionally satisfying outdoor activity, why not give container gardening a try? You’ll get to see tiny seedlings pop up through the soil and grow into beautiful mature plants, some of which will produce healthy food for you and your family. Once you try it, I guarantee you’ll be hooked for life.

The game began after my mom and I decided to read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. In the book, the themes always come back to being grateful for what you have and believing in what you want out of life. By complaining, we found that we weren’t acting the way that we wanted to be living. So whenever we fell into that negative trap filled with moments of nagging, frustration, hurt, or simply grumpy, we decided the best way to pick ourselves up and brush it all off was by playing the grateful game.

Ready to learn how to play? All you need is you and another person to participate to turn your mood around and learn to put certain moments into perspective. Since you’re reading this, I think it’ll work best if we were partners: reader and writer. The rules are simple: one, there are no judgments! I’m sharing what I’m grateful for, and these sentiments are all my own specific thoughts and opinions, and the same goes for you, the reader. So there’s no need to feel pressured or embarrassed by what you’re grateful for. And two, be grateful. Now, let’s play.

First, we each think of something that we are grateful for. It can be something as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee or the warm weather or could be as grand as being able to afford to buy something special without having to worry about money. The possibilities and choices for what you can be grateful for are endless, just remember to feel the feelings associated with being grateful. When you feel grateful, what comes to mind? Happy? Joy? Being blessed? Blissful? Content? Appreciation?

Begin to let those emotions come to you as you think of those things in life that you’re grateful for. I know that even as I write this, I’m savoring the peacefulness as it comes to me. Has your mood already started to lift as the joy of being alive fills you? Good! And if not, that’s okay too. Just keep reading.

Once you’ve come up with a list of at least three things, you take turns sharing what you are grateful for. We each start the sentence with “I am grateful for.” Because we’re not actually together right now, I’ll begin.

“I am grateful for… my strong, healthy legs that allow me to run as few, or as many, miles as I want.”

Then you could repeat the same sentence or tailor it to something similar. And after that, you would share something new that you appreciate in life. So you would say,

“I am grateful for… a healthy, strong body that allows me to walk anywhere I want.”

But then you would add something new to the chain of gratefulness like,

“I am grateful for… learning something new, like the grateful game.”

And I could alter your sentence to “I am grateful for… getting to teach you something new. I am also grateful for… my favorite candy, sour patch kids” It may be silly, I know, but remember there are no judgments!

Then you could share what your favorite candy is plus something else that you appreciate in life. Even though this is just a few statements tangled together to make up a game, its effects can make or break your mood. Because while we’ve been busy chatting about our favorite candy and our appreciation for good health, we’ve forgotten about what it was that we were whining about in the first place.

Easy, right? Even if you don’t decide to make this part of your daily habits for improving a mood, I challenge you to try playing this at least once. You may end up teaching this to someone else who then passes it on to the next person. Or you may not ever think twice about this. Either way, I hope that you find yourself feeling a little more appreciative of the life you’re living.

On the side, I’m a self-taught musician, proficient in guitar, banjo, piano, and accordion. I love my bike and my skateboard, they are the best way to get around. Ever.