We decided to make a veggie garden in our backyard when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 as I wanted an optimal diet and found it really hard to find organic produce and anything with no added chemical stuff.
We do not live in the city, but in a small country town with limited access to organic foods so we had to do something ourselves.
When planning the garden we wanted to make sure the soil was good enough regarding adequate drainage and nutrients in order to produce enough of what we wanted for a long time.
We set up a large raised garden bed and decided on a no-dig type of garden to minimize the ongoing work.
You never have to dig this garden as digging the soil upsets the soil structure, reduces its ability to hold water and to pass nutrients onto the plants.
This no-dig type of garden takes care of itself once it is set up and all that is required in order to maintain the condition of the soil is a layer of compost a few times a year so that suited us very well.
Once we decided on the position and size of the garden we just created a border of sleepers around the outside perimeter and the first thing we did was lay a thickness of 10 sheets of newspaper down all over the patch, then hose it down and punch drainage holes about every square foot.
We then added a layer of lucerne hay about 2 inches thick and covered that with a mixture of animal manure and blood and bone or equivalent, to a thickness of about ½ inch.
Next came a 4 inch layer of straw and then a layer of compost over the top.
This will eventually break down into rich soil.
Planting can be done straight away.
We looked at what grew in what season, purchased our heritage organic seeds and planted tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, cucumbers, pumpkins, onions, radishes, lettuces, herbs and heaps more accordingly.
We also put in apricot, peach and nectarine trees and a grape vine.
I couldn't believe the difference in the taste of our fresh picked food compared to the supermarket produce.
All our kitchen scraps went into the compost heap which when broken down went back into the soil.
We fed the plants with organic fertilizer and believe it or not, despite the homemade recipes for insect spray we have never had to spray for pests.
Lots of birds came into the garden and I guess they took care of the pests for us.
Now we also have bird nests and baby birds every year.
We always produce enough for ourselves and friends and it is so rewarding just being able to step out the back door and pick delicious fresh food.
The garden came very soon after my breast cancer diagnosis and the fact that I was being pro-active and doing something positive towards my healing was very therapeutic.
If I can do this, anyone can as I am no natural gardener and with today's rising costs having your own veggie garden saves lots of money and is of course more nutritious therefore much better for your health.
We do not live in the city, but in a small country town with limited access to organic foods so we had to do something ourselves.
When planning the garden we wanted to make sure the soil was good enough regarding adequate drainage and nutrients in order to produce enough of what we wanted for a long time.
We set up a large raised garden bed and decided on a no-dig type of garden to minimize the ongoing work.
You never have to dig this garden as digging the soil upsets the soil structure, reduces its ability to hold water and to pass nutrients onto the plants.
This no-dig type of garden takes care of itself once it is set up and all that is required in order to maintain the condition of the soil is a layer of compost a few times a year so that suited us very well.
Once we decided on the position and size of the garden we just created a border of sleepers around the outside perimeter and the first thing we did was lay a thickness of 10 sheets of newspaper down all over the patch, then hose it down and punch drainage holes about every square foot.
We then added a layer of lucerne hay about 2 inches thick and covered that with a mixture of animal manure and blood and bone or equivalent, to a thickness of about ½ inch.
Next came a 4 inch layer of straw and then a layer of compost over the top.
This will eventually break down into rich soil.
Planting can be done straight away.
We looked at what grew in what season, purchased our heritage organic seeds and planted tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, cucumbers, pumpkins, onions, radishes, lettuces, herbs and heaps more accordingly.
We also put in apricot, peach and nectarine trees and a grape vine.
I couldn't believe the difference in the taste of our fresh picked food compared to the supermarket produce.
All our kitchen scraps went into the compost heap which when broken down went back into the soil.
We fed the plants with organic fertilizer and believe it or not, despite the homemade recipes for insect spray we have never had to spray for pests.
Lots of birds came into the garden and I guess they took care of the pests for us.
Now we also have bird nests and baby birds every year.
We always produce enough for ourselves and friends and it is so rewarding just being able to step out the back door and pick delicious fresh food.
The garden came very soon after my breast cancer diagnosis and the fact that I was being pro-active and doing something positive towards my healing was very therapeutic.
If I can do this, anyone can as I am no natural gardener and with today's rising costs having your own veggie garden saves lots of money and is of course more nutritious therefore much better for your health.
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