Not every homestead is bathed in perfect sunlight. Some of us are working with north-facing beds, dappled light, fence shadows, or just a few good hours of sun each day. That doesn’t mean you can’t grow food. It means you grow differently—and often more thoughtfully.

The first step is not planting. It’s observation.

This fall I finally faced the question every apartment or condominium gardener asks at least once: How do I make compost without a yard, without spending a fortune, and without making the neighbors hate me?