Homegrown and Plastic Free
Nothing beats the taste of homegrown seasonal produce that’s been lovingly tended and picked for optimal ripeness. The sweet juice of perfectly ripe berries, the distinctive aroma of sun ripened tomatoes and the crunch when you bite into a freshly picked cucumber just can’t be matched by supermarket produce.
There’s never been a better time to learn how to grow your own food. With the cost of living rising, being able to ‘shop’ in your garden is a great way to beat the price rises at the supermarket and cut down on plastic packaging.
Winter is the perfect time for planning and building no-dig garden beds ready for spring planting. They are easy to construct and provide nutrients to plants for a long time as they slowly break down into beautiful garden soil. They can be constructed on almost any surface, from lawn to driveways, making them an ideal way for renters to get growing.
If space is limited or you just want to start small, consider a pot of fragrant herbs in a sunny window, sprouts that need no soil at all, or microgreens. The possibilities are endless!
On the Barwon South West Zero Waste Map, you can filter the ‘Learn To’ category to find opportunities to ‘Learn to Grow Food’. Community Gardens and Neighbourhood Houses can be a great way to connect with experienced growers, other learners, and everyone in between.
If you would like a great book to guide your month-by-month and week-by-week gardening to-do-list, it’s hard to go past Peter Cundall’s Seasonal Tasks for The Practical Australian Gardener, available online, second-hand. This classic Australian gardening book will hold your hand as you learn to grow food, flowers and indoor plants.
Gardenate is a great guide for anyone who wants to explore what to plant when. It’s customisable, searchable and FREE to use. View online, set up regular email reminders of what to plant now or download the phone app.
Gardeners are a creative bunch and growing your own food can lead to all kinds of reuse, up-cycling and recycling as you expand what you grow and how you grow it.
Get growing and taste the difference!