I am one of many college students who are living on campus this summer to work and do my internship, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t made my summer placement as homey as possible. I have my collection of mugs, art pieces on my walls, and my very own herb garden that I started in my dorm room. Now you might be asking yourself how I began a dorm herb garden in the middle of Massachusetts, but it was surprisingly easy, and after reading this, you’ll be ready to start your sustainable summer today.
I knew that when I set out to have a dorm garden, I wanted to make sure I got plants that could actually survive indoors, and I didn’t want to get too many and overwhelm myself. So, I chose three of my favorite herbs, basil, spearmint, and sage. I chose these herbs because they are super versatile and easy to grow indoors. I got mine at Home Depot during a three for $12 sale, so this hobby is not only sustainable, but affordable. Next, I made sure that I had the drip trays and a watering can. These two items are super important for your plants. The drip trays allow excess water to drip out of the holes in the bottom of your planter so you don’t overwater, and it’s easy to dump the water out to avoid root rot. I also got a mini watering can so I can slowly water my herbs to avoid drenching them, and I recommend getting one with a thin spout so you can make sure that you get the roots and not the leaves.
Sunlight is the other key to successfully cultivating your dorm garden. All of the plants I chose thrive in sunlight and heat, which is perfect for a New England summer. At first, getting enough sunlight for my plants was easy. I simply kept my window open and placed the pots on the windowsill. But as the heat got stronger, so did my need for an AC unit in my dorm, so now my window is perpetually shut to keep my AC secure and my dorm room cool. If this is your experience, or if you live in a super cloudy area, don’t worry. There are tons of options for plant lights you can buy online that use LEDs that are made to mimic the sunshine your garden needs. In fact, I’m ordering one today, and Amazon has tons of affordable options.
I chose basil, spearmint, and sage not only because I knew they could thrive, but also because some of my favorite recipes use these herbs. I got basil so I could make my own pesto to top my pasta, spearmint to perfect my iced tea recipe, and although I mostly got sage because I love the smell, it also goes great with sausage pasta bakes, one of my favorite foods to make and enjoy. With an herb garden, the possibilities are endless, and growing your own food is a hobby that is both sustainable and delicious.