The Urban Backyard Supermarket
“Growing your own veggies is the first step to self-sufficiency.” – Clive Blazey, The Diggers Club
Why ‘shop’ anywhere else when you can grow such a bounty in a small urban space? Today’s harvest …
A selection of veggies and herbs harvested from our kitchen garden including jap pumpkin, garlic, leek, zucchini, eggplant, shallots, red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, herbs and lettuce.
Regardless of what size your balcony or garden – if it’s tiny or spacious, abundance is not only possible – it’s easy to achieve. It doesn’t cost a fortune in materials … backbreaking labour … expensive equipment … or too much time. Simple frugal gardening practices can help you save money while you grow.
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Tags: Frugal gardening, grow your own food, Small kitchen garden
Tips for Growing Nasturtiums
Have you heard the saying: “Be nasty to nasturtiums“? There seems to be some truth to this because these low-maintenance carefree herbs thrive in a poor, dry soil without a lot of water – or work … making them a plant of choice for many thrifty and busy gardeners!
These wonderful herbs are really easy to grow from seed, root divisions or cuttings (and will also root in water or in a pot with loose sandy potting mix in a shady spot).
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Tags: Companion plants, Flowers, Herbs, how to grow, Medicinal plants
Do you grow herbs? They can provide a whole heap of benefits from culinary to medicinal uses and even a splash of colour and fragrance … but some herbs really earn a special place in the garden because of the added value they provide.
One herb that’s easy to fall in love with and is an absolute winner in my book are colourful nasturtiums. Whilst many think of these as pretty flowers, these attractive herbs have an amazing array of benefits to offer you.
There are several types of nasturtium but the one I can never get enough of in our garden is ‘Tropaeolum majus’ (commonly known as Indian Cress) – not the ‘Nasturtium Officinale’ that grows in water and is often referred to as watercress!
Nasturtiums – More than just a pretty face!
Aside from stealing the limelight in any garden with their dazzling display of colour, Nasturtiums are one of the most multi-functional plants I know.
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Tags: Beautiful gardens, Companion plants, Flowers, Herbs, Medicinal plants, Pest management, vegetable & herb gardens
Don’t you love it when it rains?
… and hate it when it rains TOO MUCH?
How do you find a balance with harvesting a valuable resource and preventing problems associated with excess water?
All gardens need adequate moisture but periods of heavy rainfall, storms and runoff can bring you a truckload of challenges including:
- waterlogged plants;
- leaching of soil nutrients;
- erosion; and
- pest and disease problems.
Garden Design & Management Tips to Minimise Problems
I’m into ‘designing out’ problems whenever I can … so a bit of thought and planning can help reduce the impact of water-based problems. These are some of the strategies I use in my garden to help avoid these issues … Continue Reading »
Tags: Anaerobic soil, Clever design ideas; Tips & Tricks, Drainage, Fertilisers, Mulch, Pest & disease, Problem Solving, watering, Waterlogged pots
If you’re serious about saving money in your garden, then growing plants from seed is definitely the smartest choice. It’s about 10 times cheaper than buying seedlings!
The reality is though, we’re often busy and don’t always have the time, knowledge or space to raise plants from seed. If you DO buy seedlings, how can you avoid wasting money on unhealthy ones or those that are destined prematurely for the compost?
I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and been seriously cheesed off after ending up with ‘dried arrangements’ not long after planting what appeared to be ‘healthy’ new seedlings!
I hate wasting money and time on plants that cark it with no warning - especially when I give them my usual love and attention.
I figure ‘failures’ are just learning opportunities! So over time, I’ve done some digging to find out what contributed to my unplanned compost additions. I hope sharing my experiences will help you avoid ‘dried arrangements’ at your place … Continue Reading »
Tags: Save money, seedlings, tips & tricks
I come inside after a hot morning’s work in the garden … I’ve been adding bags of manure, organic fertiliser, lucerne, sugarcane mulch, seaweed and compost tea to our main shade tree by our house to try to save it. I hope it’s not too late …
It’s not happy since we trimmed some of its surface roots which were ‘inconveniently located’ where our new paving needs to be. In protest, it started to drop its leaves … not many at first so we didn’t take much notice.
Then a few more fell and as its solar panels became few and far between … we suddenly realised our plans for an outdoor room may have compromised the shade and beauty that we wanted to sit under. We didn’t realise our actions could cause the tree so much stress. Maybe we should have kept the patchy lawn instead of pavers. Hindsight is a humbling teacher!
Highly motivated to delay any sudden death, I started telling the tree I’d nurture it back to health and make up for cutting its root off! It didn’t seem at all convinced … more leaves and skinny branches dropped on the lawn. I felt guilty and sad. Perhaps similar to not valuing your health until you get sick?
It’s still not looking good. The tree needs a tonic (so do I!) so I deliver more seaweed and hose in the manure tea. I set up a soaker hose as it’s been hot and dry lately which hasn’t helped. It needs a lot of love.
When I finish foliar spraying the kelp on the remaining leaves, I smell like some foul thing that’s been lying on the beach after too many days in the sun. I hope it’s worth it!
That’s when a visitor pops by … I walk out onto the verandah in the hope that the fresh air will disguise the odour. I move a little hoping he’s standing downwind of me. He’s either too polite to comment or ‘smell’ is not one of his stronger senses! Either way, I’m grateful. After his sudden departure, I stand back and look at the tree again near our entrance … and realise now how much I value it. Continue Reading »
Tags: Problem Solving
Having a garden is not all about doing … one of the wonderful things about outdoor living spaces is finding a nook to sit and reflect … to observe, sip a glass of wine or grab a mug of steaming coffee and the paper … and just ‘be.’ So what does your reflective space look like?
Where's your favourite perch? Or what do you dream of it being like?
“The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” – Hanna Rion
Take a Seat!
Whether you love formal, country charm, something modern or rustic – in this busy life, a place to relax is essential. Continue Reading »
Tags: Beautiful gardens, Clever design ideas; Tips & Tricks, small garden design, small garden design ideas
Short of space? Renting or on the move and need a mobile garden solution? Or perhaps a health issue means you need a little more flexibility … Get some inspiration from these ‘pick up and grow’ creative ideas for micro gardens.
If your soil is too poor or difficult to dig, a mobile solution in a compact space might be an easy solution.
Wheelbarrows are ready-made gardens on wheels – if yours has seen better days, rusted out or you want to make the most of the sunny spots you have, they are a great idea! Continue Reading »
Tags: Container gardening, portable gardens
Save money by learning some simple skills, developing neighbourly connections and working with nature for an abundant garden.
If you’re serious about saving money in your garden and still want beauty and abundance without it costing the earth, there are some clever ways you can grow your garden for free.
Frugal gardening is about ‘thinking outside the square’ – with some basic skills and knowledge there’s no need to spend a cent at the nursery to grow your edible or ornamental garden!
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Tags: Frugal gardening, how to grow, Plants for free, Propagating, seeds & seed saving
I’d like to share a secret I use in my garden to get great results … strong, healthy happy plants … and something that saves me time and money. It’s gardening by the moon!
OK, that may sound a little strange if you’ve never heard of it before, but if you are already familiar with your climate zone and are planting in the right season, then you may want to maximise your gardening success by working with nature’s lunar cycles … and by that, I don’t mean getting outdoors with a shovel in the middle of the night!
“Gardening by the moon has been practiced for many thousands of years and is not about planting at night but about being in harmony with natural growth patterns.” – Sheree Scott
How Does Moon Gardening Work?
The moon has four ‘phases’ or ‘quarters’ – each last about 7 days. Continue Reading »
Tags: how to grow, Moon gardening, planting, tips & tricks
