Guide to growing your own food

 

1. Start your own container garden

This is a great way for those with limited space to begin growing food plants. There are many herbs, vegetables and fruits that grow well in containers. Start out with a mixed planting of herbs such as thyme, rosemary, basil or garlic chives. Or try growing your own strawberries in a pot or hanging basket, strawberries are one of the best fruits to grow in a container.

2. Start a no-dig vegetable garden

Potatoes are one of the best veges to plant in a no-dig garden. This is for those with a little more space, and is the easiest way to begin your vegetable garden. This method reduces the need for weeding, returns organic matter and life to the soil and is the best way to start your own vegetable garden from scratch. You won’t need to dig up your garden bed, and you can grow all kinds of vegetables and fruits in a no-dig bed. Try strawberries, pumpkins, potatoes and beans as these will all establish very well in a no-dig garden. Tips on No dig vegetable gardening…

3. Start your own Worm Farm

Starting your own worm farm is one of the best things you can do if you’d like to begin growing your own food. Worm-farming is a great way to make your home and garden more sustainable, it’s a sustainable way of dealing with organic waste, and an excellent resource for any gardener. A worm farm will take care of your kitchen waste, allowing you to recycle nutrients back into your soil. Your worm farm will also supply you with a steady stream of organic fertiliser and soil conditioner for your garden or pot plants, an invaluable resource for the home gardener! Worming your way into the garden…

4. Plant a fruit tree

Try growing your own native bush tucker, there are so many wonderful bush tucker fruits that are possible to grow yourself. Great native fruits to grow yourself are Davidson’s plum, Lilly Pilly, Lemon Aspen or even a Native Raspberry! Check out our article on Bush Tucker for Beginners.

Or for something more traditional, try growing your own citrus tree. Most citrus will do well in the garden or in a large container, and a common sight in the traditional Australian quarter acre is the familiar and prolific Lemon tree.

Citrus are fairly easy to grow yourself and are one of the best fruit trees for those starting out.

5. Sign up to Seed Savers

Seed Savers is a great not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sharing seeds and knowledge, and preserving our food heritage. This is a great way to find rare and interesting heirloom fruit and vegetable seeds, and one of the best ways to get hands on and learn about growing your own food. You may even find you want to start your own Local Seed Network as a way to connect with other people in your area who are interested in edible gardening. Find out more about Seed Savers here.

 

 

https://www.localharvest.org.au/learn/a-quick-guide-to-growing-your-own-food/