Gardening tips from readers

Shanna Lopez, 35

Chief executive officer

One thing I like about gardening is how similar it is to real estate. Instead of plotting buildings on a piece of land, you get to plot which plants will best fit the terrain taking into consideration the direction of the sunlight. Gardening has been therapeutic for me during this ECQ and I tend to “talk” to my plants every morning. Just like everything in life, gardening entails a lot of patience, dedication and TLC. I’ve always worked on being self-sufficient as I believe this is the road to sustainability.

This pandemic brings everyone back to a slow-paced life—making time to enjoy mornings instead of rushing off to work, preparing your own food from scratch, taking pleasure in household chores and in everything around you and spending more time with the people who matter most. Just like before when everything was simple, being more self-sufficient is one of the keys to survival. The most basic way to do this is to grow your own food. Not only can it sustain you and your family, but it can also help you save a lot of money, improve your health and reduce food waste and environmental impact. When you grow your own food, you’re 101 percent sure that what you’re eating is safe and chemical-free. These experts share some tips to help you get started.

Enrique San Juan, 34

Convener, Mt. Manunggal EcoVillage

Basil is a fun starter plant. It thrives in well-drained soil, so the container can be a small cup or those food containers with plenty of drainage. You can place it near a window, perhaps on your kitchen counter. When sowing the seeds, cover them evenly with about one half inch of soil. To propagate, gently uproot the young four-inch basil plant that has not flowered yet. Roots will start forming for at least the next seven days once you place it in water. Transplant the basil directly into a bigger container once a healthy root system is apparent. It is best to add compost in the beginning and it doesn’t have to be rich. This allows the basil to reveal more intense flavors. Basil loves to have some early sun. It prefers to have the gentle eastern rays. Avoid placing it in an area where it gets exposed to heat from midday to afternoon. Water the base when the soil feels a bit dry. There’s no need to plant from the top of the plant or the leaves. Basil can grow to about 12 to 14 inches so keep them at least 12 to 16 inches apart. They can be greater neighbors with tomatoes. So this should make your caprese salad easier to prepare. Have a stack of grilled tomatoes, grilled halloumi cheese and basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic reduction.