Garden

Now don’t get me wrong I am not naturally “green fingered” and being in a foreign country with a foreign climate growing my own good has been (and continues to be) an interesting journey. But one I continue along, learning as I go. And have found nothing more rewarding, or as fresh as growing your own.

And given we had (minor) success in suburbia growing in small raised boxes and pots, the prospect of having the space to grow more was exciting!

This place already had a few dwarf fruit trees (approx 12-18months old) surrounding the enviro tank; 1 lime, 1 lemon, 2 oranges and 2 that I am yet to work out what they are (even if they are a fruit tree?). As well as an ill fated passionfruit vine; Unfortunately the vine had been transplanted from a pot to the ground (when the previous owner left) and it didn't take too well… not a complete loss on our part as it did fruit before dying back and it was in the most inconvenient spot and would have been moved eventually.

So with the additions of a lemon tree; to mark the spot where Griff (our beloved staffy) is and a dwarf mango tree; which was a house warming gift from friends. I set my sights on my first immediate project- the veggie patch.

Having such a large house garden and not utilising any of the space productively just seemed like a  a “waste” to us. So as we were hiring a dingo for the weekend (for another project), we also hired the rotivator attachment and set upon an area approx 5m x 15m… 75m² of potential home grown food! And although it was late in the season to start, we still had relative success. Growing lettuce, capsicums, eggplant (aubergines), bok choi, zucchini (courgettes), cherry tomatoes, some carrots and beetroot, a reasonable strawberries crop, french beans and even a few butternut pumpkins (butternut squash).

Now the position of this veg patch was midway between the house and the pig pen- so that I could pass through and inspect daily. And it was just off the underground enviro run off and on the downward slope (minimal grade) so that it was wetter in winter… unfortunately this also meant it was wetter in summer. And closer to the creek, therefore the soil content was more clay like. SO between the compaction, caused by walking in the garden-maintaining and picking meant the level was lower again. So attempt 1 was waterlogged, ruining the last of the plants…

So attempt 2 this year; again a late start- this time due the wet autumn. I built a few boxes (from the wood from the dismantled granny annex) to house my garden beds. And have built up my stock of seeds and (hopefully) knowledge of what to plant, with what and when. We also now have a better understanding of the property (and how it performs through the seasons). So have more plans and plants to come- more fruit trees, herb garden, fruiting vines as screens, potted plants for the patio and hopefully a composter, to make the most of our green waste and endless supply of manure.