Where do we stand

Gardening is a simple but very important way we can all achieve major reductions in carbon emissions.

Many of us live on once productive farmland and unfortunately much of it is now lawn. We can all assist in the reduction of many environmental problems by simply turning some of this lawn into a garden bed and producing some food.

There are many benefits to be achieved from growing some of your own food, like healthy living from the exercise, a reduction in our own ecological footprint and a contribution to a healthy, diverse local ecosystem.

It doesn't matter whether you live in a subdivision, a town house, a unit or even an aged care facility, we can all get out and make a difference by growing a little bit of food. Whilst gardening can prove a little tricky at times, by following a few simple rules your plants can flourish and produce successfully, it doesn't matter whether they are in a garden bed or in a selection of pots on the balcony or courtyard. You may only manage a few lettuce, but that equates to three fewer products that have to be sprayed, packaged, and driven hundreds of kilometres to get to your table.

Above: Kindilan Community Child Care Centre - the delights of growing, harvesting and eating your own produce.

Great changes in the Great Lakes

At Kindilan Child Care Centre a ‘garden of joy’ has been created by staff and parents. In their garden the staff and children grow lots of fruits, vegetables and herbs. They collect rainwater in their water tanks and use bore water as well to water the gardens.

Children plant seeds, nurture and harvest the gardens and save seeds for next season's crop. The children are actively involved in nurturing Mother Nature.

Over to you

Healthy soil

This is the key to healthy plants. Healthy soil will eliminate many of the common gardening problems by protecting plants from pests and diseases. Good quality compost is an essential part of healthy soil. Compost improves soil structure, helps soil hold moisture, increases microbial activity and provides essential nutrients for the plants. If soil lacks these vital nutrients and living organisms, or is too acidic, or too alkaline, then the plant will suffer. It is also important to try not to step on garden beds as this forces the air out and compacts the soil, thus destroying its water and air channels.

Break it down

Compost is created by the decomposition of organic waste with the assistance of living organisms. The average householder with the help of a good composting book, compost bin and compost turner, can have great success making their own good quality compost. It is a reasonably simple matter of collecting things that have once lived, for example, lawn clippings, dead flowers and vegetable peelings and mixing them all together. Whilst meat products can be composted, it is not advisable for the average householder as constant high temperature monitoring is extremely important. Compost can also be purchased from landscape suppliers and small quantities can be purchased from nurseries and hardware shops but as with most products please be aware the quality will vary.

Worms to work the soil

Earthworms are ancient creatures, and their benefits to our soil have been known for thousands of years. Worm farms can be easily made at home, bought from the local council or other local distributors. Worm farms can be small enough to fit on a balcony or in a courtyard.

Chemical free

Organic gardening or chemical free gardening is a very low-cost and safe way of growing plants whether or not they are for human consumption. Organic growing avoids the possibility of home gardeners exposing themselves to harmful chemicals found in many synthetic chemical pesticides, fertilisers, fungicides and herbicides.

What not to use

Artificial fertilisers and petrochemical based pesticides should be avoided. Even though these products appear to be an easy and quick-fix solution, they can contain many toxic chemicals which are harmful and many do not discriminate between pests and beneficial insects. Making your own green pest-repellent remedies is a more eco-friendly option.

Fertilisers

Organic fertilisers are generally slow release but produce far less green house gasses. There are many new products on the market and many of these are now Certified Organic. The following is a list of some organic fertilisers readily available: sheep manure, cow manure, chicken manure, horse manure, blood and bone, fish wastes, compost, vermicompost, rock phosphate and rock dust.

Companion planting

This planting method has been around for centuries. It is the technique of carefully choosing and growing plants that are beneficial to each other. Aromatic plants can be placed next to plants that are susceptible to pests - plants like lavender mask the smell of the other plant. The use of pest-repellent plants like garlic and nasturtiums in our gardens will also assist in the reduction of pest damage to our plants.

Involve the whole family

Why not build a vegetable garden with the help of children? This is a wonderful project for the whole family and children are never too young to help. There is so much for them to learn about, like seeds, planting, growing and caring for plants.

Precious seeds

Seed saving and the use of non-hybrid, open-pollinated seeds is very important. Up until recent times nearly all gardeners and farmers selected and retained seed and the seed bank was once extremely strong. Now many of those plants that were grown around the turn of the last century no longer exist. Today seed saving is not popular and we are generally faced with chemical companies selling cheap, mass produced hybrid seed that when grown for seed, either reverts back to its inbred parents or is infertile. Therefore it is very important to grow and save our non-hybrid precious seeds as they are the food of the future. It is very important that we support organisations like Seed Savers in Bryon Bay that are dedicated to saving as many seed varieties as possible. There is currently a Great Lakes group setting up a local seed saving network, and anyone interested should contact the group for further information (see below). Non hybrid and certified organic seeds can also be purchased locally.

Rainwater tanks

Collect rainwater by installing a rainwater tank and use it to water plants. A deep watering early in the morning will assist plants throughout the day. In contrast a little water often, will promote root growth near the surface and may lead to unnecessary plant stress due to the soil drying out on hot days.

Soil cover

Organic mulch is extremely important as bare soil can be washed away or dries out quickly, therefore we need to water our gardens more often. Try to use light coloured mulch like pea straw, Lucerne, or sugar cane as this will not absorb the sun's heat. It is also a good idea to add an organic fertilizer prior to mulching to help prevent the depletion of nitrogen in the soil. You should even mulch bare gardens as this stops carbons escaping and increases earthworm activity.

Native needs

Indigenous plants are those from our local area and should be planted to increase diversity in our gardens. They are the naturally occurring plants that have evolved in the local soil, under local climatic conditions and are therefore well adapted for our daily and seasonal temperature changes. Indigenous plants are important as they are also the food source and shelter for much of our native wildlife. It should be remembered that native plants are from Australia-wide and may not be suitable for our specific area.

Find out more

Websites

www.seedsavers.com — non-profit seed saving exchange organisation
www.itsalivingthing.net.au — NSW Environmental Trust
www.ecolife.net.au — Australian guide to healthy living

Books and magazines

Easy Organic Gardening and Moon Planting by Lyn Bagnell
Recycle your Garden by Tim Marshall, ABC books
Companion Plants and how to use them by Helen Philbrick and Richard Gregg
Pest-Repellent Plants by Penny Woodward
Organic Gardener Magazine ABC
Organic Gardening by Peter Bennet
The Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow
The Seed Savers Handbook by Judy and Michel Fanton
Backyard Self-Sufficiency by Jackie French
Waterwise Gardening by Kevin Walsh
Indigenous Plants of Greater Taree, Greater Taree City Council
Common Indigenous Trees of the Wallamba Valley and surrounds, Dyers Crossing Landcare

Videos

Guide to Practical Organic Gardening, Peter Cundall, ABC TV
Kids in the Garden — Dig it, ABC kids DVD

Next: Agriculture Guide