Have you recently found yourself longing for something to care for after having to leave your childhood pet back home? Do you want to spruce up your dorm room with some décor that will prove to be a self-funding investment? Well, have we got the article for you.

With the help of the ANU’s very own Vege-Table, we have found you the perfect plant to roast your potatoes with in the summer and one that just happens to be Canberra’s number one, winter-loving, un-killable flowery friend – both of which can be grown in your new room!

Parsley and Rosemary
Parsley and Rosemary are two of the easiest herbs to grow – all you need is a bit of sunlight and water – making them low maintenance and simple to look after. I recommend growing these near a windowsill as they do require a fair bit of sunlight. Now, on to the recipe:

Garlic & Herb Roast Potatoes
You can never go wrong with crunchy, warm roast potatoes. What makes them even better though, is the coating – which is made out of herbs that you can easily grow in your own dorm room.

You will need:
Baby potatoes
1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced parsley
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon maple syrup
Pinch of salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Set aside.
2. Make fine slits in each baby potato, but do not cut all the way through.
3. In a large bowl, combine prepared potatoes with olive oil, parsley, rosemary, garlic, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Coat well.
4. Place potatoes on baking tray, put in oven and roast for 20 – 25 minutes.
5. After 25 minutes of roasting, cover potatoes again in a mixture of olive oil and crushed garlic and place back in the oven. Cook for an additional 25 minutes or so.
6. Once cooked, sprinkle potatoes with remaining herbs and serve immediately. Sprinkle with more sea salt if necessary!

The Money Tree
Although it may be ridiculously hot right now, it won’t take long for Canberra to do what it does best — get unbelievably cold! It can be difficult to find indoor plants that are suitable for (occasional) sub-zero temperatures. However, the Jade plant (more commonly referred to as The Money Tree) is perfect for these kinds of conditions. Getting its nickname from its coin-shaped leaves, the Money Tree is said to activate exactly what we all need this semester — good financial energies! Similarly, ancient feng shui principles say that placing Money Trees in East locations of any room will encourage positive vibes to flow upon your scholarly pursuits.

According to getbusygardening.com, you’ll have to be more mindful of over-caring for your Money Tree than neglecting it. It’s important to note that you should only water it when the soil is absolutely dry as too much moisture can lead to rotting of the roots. Just place it in front of a window, err on the side of under-watering it and you may just find yourself running into a lot more money and HDs this semester!