Every time we eat a salad of lettuce from our garden, my husband and I find ourselves saying things like, “This lettuce is amazing,” and “There is no comparison,” and “This is ridiculously delicious.” Lettuce nerds we may be, but the discrepancy between store bought lettuce and the stuff we pick and eat right away is enormous. It turns out that it’s also really easy to grow, even if you don’t have room for raised beds in your yard. Since reading Andrea Bellamy’s great book, Sugar Snaps and Strawberries, I’m on the hunt for every overlooked space around our house. Come summertime, I’m hoping that I’ll have troughs and pots and trellises teeming with herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Even if you only have room for a window box or a pot on your balcony, you can grow your own lettuce (and more). I’ve discovered so many inspiring balcony and small-space gardeners in the past couple of months, and will profile a few of them in an upcoming column. It’s a revelation and a revolution!   Continue reading →