How to Grow Fresh Vegetables if you live in a Big City

[inremembranceofruth]

Indeed we are shamed in comparison. How many times do I hear HOME-owners say "I don't have room...?! Dismal - the trash, the styrofoam, etc. Yet, incredibly resourceful. We are blessed that you share such perspectives with us. I am going to counter ridiculous bureaucratic regulation (and) those of us (including myself) who don't think we have the opportunity to grow food...with this video. In gratitude.

[marcdaddy33]

nice video... but how is it that you can go onto thteir properties without any issues from the residents or police?

[thejuicefiend]

I live in Japan which is very similar to South Korea in many ways. Both these countries are net food importers. However, on an individual basis (particularly older generations), self sufficiency is a very important part of life.

Loved how you took a few seconds away from the vegetables to show us the car parking spot!

[yolandasotolopez]

Thank you for posting. This is great to see.

[yolandasotolopez]

thank you for the post

[rsmatth]

Hello there! Long time watcher, first time responder. I was wondering where all the people were? It seemed like the city was completely empty. Also, do the people not mind that you film all over? If so, I think that's very cool. Keep on doing a great job!

[lorsparky]

@Lleanlleawrg A small patio, that is - I missed a word there!

[lorsparky]

@Lleanlleawrg I'm in the same boat as you. I have a small but the wind is high because this area is flat grassy lands and some farm land. The wind snaps plants I try to grow out there, so I brought my plants indoors. Only big problem I've had indoors so far is insects. I brought home a bad plant (apparently) and got a spider mite infestation. That set me back a bit but I'm still growing. Now to figure out how to get rid of the fungus gnats. I don't have windows that get a lot of light, either.

[Lleanlleawrg]

I have precisely "absolutely zero" outdoor space I can utilize. Not even the roof. Would you recommend having some containers indoors? Though my windows face mainstreet which doesn't offer a lot of light, and during winters here i get perhaps and our and a half of diffuse sunlight for six months of the year. Still doable? I wouldn't think so, but my plants seem to be doing fine. I guess where there's a will there's a way, huh?

[amusingisthedawn]

Imagine how nice of a world it would be if the mindset of the less fortunate people was instilled into the wealthy. No one would go hungry.

[clarissamck]

I love it. Take note America.

[online4videos]

Wow. This video makes me think how easy I have it to grow food here, and that I should do more of it.

[Matyme]

There is always a way! I love it!. Thanx for the motivation. =)

[ykeunice]

Korean here. Veges are not expensive at all. I think there are less varieties of veges though in my opinion.

[hoofmama]

growing veggies and flowers nurtures my soul. I think that is pretty universal and people who are inclined will do it anywhere...stairways, tiny patios, whatever. Cool video...thanks for sharing this with us.

[Sliptodance]

Hey I've got better growing situations than that but I'm in the UK and a warning has been sent addressing a buildup of perceived refuse on my property. Someone dislikes glass panes and containers so much that they report a refuse problem rather than honoring the virtue of growing your own food. Seoul's got the right priorities.

[GettingThereGreen]

@Sliptodance wow, that is sad.

[VonLeachim]

@Sliptodance perception eh ... refuse perhaps not being useful..if u can proove use ?!

[Sliptodance]

@VonLeachim I have pipes intended to use for irrigation, containers for holding water, wooden beams and glass for cold frames for plants, insulation material intended for keeping the temperature of plants up, and an amount of organic material in a state of decomposition. My hostile neighbour has interpreted my collection as an environmental hazard and given a report to the local council. I'm told to move it within a week, (but I'm scrambling to build it into a horticultural unit instead.)

[EarthyPlum]

thanks for the field trip john. wonderful!

[BikeManDan1]

That was incredibly interesting, thanks John

[franzb69]

looks like a whey protein jug

[area62310]

thanks for this video john. It is very much the same situation in Tokyo. To have a space to even place your containers with good sun is a luxury... Still there is always a way, through trail and error. If you are dropping by Tokyo, would be happy to take you to the markets and streets, or where to go for good living foods ;D cheers.

[tripvids420]

that would be so fun to explore that place!

[FeverIAm]

Excellent video!!! I grew a bunch of food last year on my balcony here in Canada; it was amazing to have a totally fresh salad every day for 4 months! I am thinking I'll be investing in some indoor growing facilities. Here in canada it is designed for medical marijuana (not something I am interested in) but the technology is awesome for growing veggies year round!

[BigBearBloo]

Love the overseas video's John! Thanks! And yes, it DID get me thinking about adding some containers. I have a few really sunny spots that just might do well... :)

[BalconyGrow]

If you have ever checked out my channel, you'd know that I used to live in an apartment where all I had was a small balcony. I grew all kinds of stuff there that shocked my friends. I lived on the second floor so i didn't have to worry about vandals. I did one time find a basket ball up there though.

[VonLeachim]

brilliant vid.

..wondering if someone was growing in the toilet bowl that was part way up the steps...

[steviebboy69]

@VonLeachim yeah i saw the dunny up on the stairs too. i was wondering if it had something growing in it.

[VonLeachim]

@steviebboy69 @steviebboy69 great minds .....

yeah , c'mon john :) ... we need to know.. :D

[steviebboy69]

@VonLeachim yeah i guessed that you knew what a dunny is. i guess its aussie slang for toilet. now thats definately and outdoor dunny.

[growingyourgreens]

Don't Think they were growing in that dunny.

[VonLeachim]

@growingyourgreens .. any chance if your still ovr there go put some plants in it :D

[Hushpuppy57]

Awesome example of use of space and so many people growing stuff in their yards!

[jesusislord614]

You would never see that in America because people would steal it. That is so awesome. Thank you for sharing.

[growingyourgreens]

Do really people REALLY want to steal plants? If they do, you are feeding them! Please put some plants out and try to grow some plants, and put them out as en experiment. To see what happens... I was very surprised that rarely, if ever is the food that I am growing in the front yard is stolen. I did make a video about "How to stop people from stealing your home grown vegetables in your front yard garden".. Which would be a good watch if you hadn't already seen it.

[Tommyr]

@growingyourgreens John, sometimes people will just destroy things just to be cruel. In certain areas of the country (U.S.) you have a lot of A-Holes and you just can't grow things like you do in your front yard. Sadly, a lot of people just can't be trusted. So a lot of us grow in our backyard gardens, out of site from the street.

[ericagoss1]

@growingyourgreens great idea, John. I have some extra tomato and pepper plants to give away. I'll put them in front of my house with a "free" sign.

[GettingThereGreen]

@growingyourgreens two summers ago someone stole plants right off my front steps. A coworker of mine told me someone DUG UP and stole some plants from her house LOL. but in general I don't think people steal plants. It's amazing how much growing people are doing in Seoul! fitting vegetation in whereever they can. I think in my city if you were infringing on the sidewalk or side of the road, you would get into trouble. but I think the moral of your video is "no excuses"!~Amanda

[nadoop]

@jesusislord614 My grandmother planted watermelons in her front yard last year, and only a few survived, and the ones that did survive were STOLEN! They also stole many of her roma tomatoes.

[jesusislord614]

@nadoop Isn't that just one of the most disgusting things about being an American. I am so sorry she went through that. We are putting up a 6 ft fence this year just to protect our garden. It shouldn't have to be that way.

[diva123abc]

@jesusislord614 I live in mid city Los Angeles and have had nothing stolen out of my front yard yet . Not even the huge tomatoes everyone could see last summer(over a pound each). My friend who has a bigger garden outside his fence on the hell strip has only had collards, a cabbage and a huge succulent stolen. Even I know not to grow collards n cilantro in my front yard. Too much temptation. So maybe its just your neighborhood.

[HELLCATZ2]

How inspiring! Thank you for taking time out of your vacation to educate us on a beautiful culture. It shows we are only limited by our own imagination. I'm off to the dump to see what I can recycle as containers.

[amyo11]

Awesome and interesting video! I have a fairly large backyard garden but am seriously going to put some containers out front. Why am I hiding them always?

[101011b]

I know the apartment complex that I live at (unfortunately) if I were to plant in containers people wouldn't be respectful enough to leave them alone.

[lotusblossomed]

Reminds me how blessed we are here in the U.S. Very interesting vid, John, thank you for sharing all this with us. xo

[jsbattlenet]

hmmm do you think that they are growing more because there aren't as many produce markets available in that area? at least not as much as what the US has available.

[growingyourgreens]

There are many produce markets available in that area. There are many street vendors selling produce in many streets.

[jsbattlenet]

@growingyourgreens so then they are just doing it just for themselves. Nice to know. I to would like to see more people in my area growing for themselves. Its Embarising to see so many relying on the supermarkets.

[Tanyia48]

This was great to see. Thank you for doing this. Always good to see how others live and do what they have to in this world. Hugs

[MajorRager76]

they need to put John on PBS the victory garden has sucked for almost 10 years now time for a change

[foreseengust]

Are vegetables really expensive there? It seems like they are doing it out of necessity. Some of those spaces look unsafe to grow food in.

[growingyourgreens]

Vegetables were fairly inexpensive there.

[ASFx2600]

Wow its neat that so many people have gardens there. Here in Vegas it's exciting when I meet a new person who also has a garden since it's so rare hah.

[lostisyourconstent]

why so quiet 0.O??? where all the ppl???

[Mrig12000]

@lostisyourconstent its only 35 views as of me viewing this Im sure they will come

[lostisyourconstent]

@Mrig12000 what????? i mean where all the people in the vid XD

[Mrig12000]

@lostisyourconstent O lol well we saw that lady harvesting and a truck moving thats all people I noticed

[growingyourgreens]

This was filmed during the weekday when people are at work... I was on vacation :)

[paidskn1488]

AWSOME!

[stalkerv334]

things would never work in america that way ! america is the most retarded country in the world !!!! imagine, growing on new your on the side of the road..some lunatic comes and pisses on your plants, N maybe, noooo!!!

and where are all the people???..You are walking like in a deserted city, where sand ppl live :D

[chadsshow]

Very cool south korea.