There is absolutely nothing like eating a fresh vegetable or using fresh herbs in a recipe. Unless you are consistently purchasing your produce from a CSA, farmers market, or otherwise from a fresh food source, you are likely eating produce that is potentially weeks old, and chemically ripened. Even if you make an effort to purchase produce that is listed as from the United States, there are still workarounds where food imported from thousands of miles away can be marketed as local, just by proxy of being imported and distributed by a “local” distributor. It is actually very hard to eat fresh produce routinely.

In the summer months it is possible to grow a wide variety of food outdoors, more than is possible in a small indoor space. Outdoors, with a garden plot or an otherwise spacious place to create a garden, you can grow enough food to last yourself through those warm months. If you have the space, you can grow squash, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, herbs, leafy greens, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, fresh fruits, really anything that can be grown within the limits of your growing zone.

Unfortunately as the days get colder and light becomes more scarce, growing ample food outdoors becomes more of a challenge. During the dead of winter, this task can be impossible. All is not lost though, as it is still possible to grow many different kinds of foods indoors, and with a little bit of planning, you can grow enough staples to incorporate fresh vegetables into your daily diet all winter long.

An obvious start to an indoor garden can simply be an indoor herb garden. Indoor herb gardens can occupy a windowsill, or take up a whole room. You can even think of potted herbs growing indoors as houseplants. You can grow fresh mushrooms indoors, and with some fast-growing species of mushroom, like the oyster mushroom, mushroom crops can grow frequently enough to eaten throughout the winter. Compact pepper plants, like jalapeño and chili peppers grow well indoors because they don’t take up much space. You can grow leafy greens like spinach and lettuce indoors, no problem. Determinate, compact tomato plants, like a Patio tomato grow fine in a small indoor space. Potatoes can even be grown indoors, although they take up a little more space and need some extra care to ensure they are adapting to an indoor environment.

Growing indoors is pretty similar to growing outdoors. You’ll still need the same lighting conditions and temperature regulation. Luckily you already probably keep where you live at an acceptable temperature, but these are all factors to consider. As your living space likely does not have wind blowing through it regularly, you may need to get a fan for your tomatoes, potatoes, or otherwise larger growing plants. You may need to water more or less than outside depending on the humidity levels of your space. Take what you know from growing outside, and apply that knowledge indoors. Do you notice wilt? That can be a need for more water, or maybe some air movement from a mechanical fan. Do you notice yellowing on your plant’s leaves? You may need to water less. Are your plants stunted in growth? You may need a grow light to ensure ample growing conditions.

Growing food indoors is fun, a good way to experiment with your gardening knowledge, and a fantastic way to incorporate actually fresh produce into your diet throughout the winter months. Start out with a basil plant, or some chives. These are simple to grow almost anywhere. Figure out where in your living space plants may grow best, and observe your plant’s growth over time. Before you know it, you’ll be growing enough staples indoors to add fresh flavor and nutrients into almost every wintertime meal.