Julia Roberts, Ready to Get Dirty

Spring is right around the corner, and I know that means different things for everybody — some are excited to be able to run and bike outdoors in comfort again, while others immediately start dreading swimsuit season. And, plenty of other just can’t wait to get dirty — among that group is Hollywood A-lister, Julia Roberts.

The actress recently gave an interview to the U.K.'s Mirror, and I have to say, she sounds surprisingly down to earth. She talked about why she skipped the Oscars (her husband, Danny Moder, had just gotten back in town and she felt it was more important to spend time with the family). And, she discussed the organic garden she has at their solar-powered home in Malibu.

"The children love it and I think it’s the best training for them,” Julia said. “I think when children know their food sources, they’re more inclined to eat what they’re growing because they’re so proud of it. To watch my kids eat kale is a pretty proud moment for me as a mom."

Julia isn’t the only celebrity getting her kicks from growing her own food. Pierce Brosnan has bragged about how great his kids are at composting (his five kids know all about which foods get composted, and it all goes in the garden), and Finola Hughes’ super green home has two composting centers in the garden and four rotating vegetable plots in addition to the 50 organic fruit trees.

Even celebrities who might not have their own gardens like getting in on the act. Daryl Hannah famously got herself arrested three years ago protesting the destruction of an urban garden in Los Angeles, and Colin Firth’s eco-friendly store in Chiswick, England, has a wicked cool vertical garden growing on it.

If you’re interested in getting started gardening yourself, rest assured, it’s easy. There are lots of ways to do it, even if you don’t have a spacious plot in your backyard. Or if you don’t have a backyard at all. Treehugger explains the differences between hydroponic gardening and aeroponic gardening, and tells you how a Hortuba table will let you grow vegetables in a tiny little space.

And, if you’re not all that interested in gardening, you might still want to consider composting. It saves a ton of waste from going into your garbage (I just got a composter a month ago, and I’ve been amazed at how much can go in there). You probably have a friend or neighbor who would love to use the nutrient-rich soil!

Photo courtesy of peppysis via flickr.