自己在家种植经济健康蔬菜

A trip to a shop for fresh produce is getting more expensive. So with that in mind, some green-thumbed New Yorkers are cutting out the middle man and growing their own veggies.

But in the depths of winter, growing fresh vegetables requires a bit more expertise.

One way is to use a method dating back to ancient Egypt. It's called hydroponic gardening. Some gardeners claim it is the perfect way to extend the growing season by planting vegetables in small spaces such as inside apartments.

Britta Riley, who has been hydroponic gardening in New York City for three years has started an online community to promote what she calls "window farming." Riley says people can grow nutritious food year-round with just a few simple items from their local hardware store.

"One component that you are going to need in all hydroponic situations is you are going to need a pump to deliver water to the plants' root systems. You can use water pumps, or in our case of window farms, we are actually using air pumps because they use less energy. You are going to need a timer of some kind to turn that pump on at regular intervals so it's not running all the time and getting the plants all soggy."

Riley says you can grow everything but root vegetables, corn and wheat with hydroponic gardening. You just have to be aware of factors such as light, humidity levels, and how cold the window area gets.

If you are lucky enough to have a little piece of land or even a fire escape, there are two other ways to grow your own food when the weather outside turns cold.

Kennon Kay, Director of Agriculture at Queens County Farm in Floral Park, New York, says the easiest way to extend the growing season is to use quick hoops or something called a cold frame.

"Quick hoops are a really affordable easy way to extend the season in your garden. Just go to your local hardware store and get 10-foot lengths of PVC-a half-inch PVC electrical conduit. Sink those into the ground about every five feet, 10 inches on either side. And at each pole, we use rocks just because they are readily available. We fill bags of rocks to use as weights. But you can use sandbags or anything you have around. What that will do is secure the remay which goes over the top."

Another way Kay says you can grow your own vegetables in winter is with a cold frame.

"A cold frame is a very simple construction-a box essentially with a lid that can allow for sunlight to penetrate, so that can be glass or ploycarbonate."

Depending on how much space you have, Kay believes this method is ideal for growing vegetables in apartments.

"If you have a small fire escape, you can construct a small box about yea big out of wood. And as long you have about six inches of soil in that and a lid that can protect from snow, wind and the elements but still allow sunlight to get through, then you are good to go."

Both Riley and Kay say knowing what grows best in your region and in which climate is key. It is something Kay calls seasonality.

"During winter months you have to be conscientious of what you are growing. You can't grow melons and tomatoes in New York City during the winter, but you can grow really tasty, healthy greens like spinach, lettuce, arugula, mustard greens, kale (and) collards."

Sprinkled with a drizzle of olive oil and a few tomatoes, these fresh, homegrown leaves will make for a crisp, healthy salad-even in the depths of winter.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.