Edible Gardens

The benefits of growing your food

Growing your own fruits and vegetables has many benefits:

Save on grocery bills
Seasonal staples ready to pick and enjoy
Healthier as they can be grown with little to no pesticides or chemicals
Premium taste – the taste you enjoy from a freshly harvested fruit or vegetable is better as they are free from chemicals, have not been over handled or started to age whilst being moved through a supply chain process.
Satisfaction of feeding yourself and you family with the freshest produce
For those with children, teaching them to grow their own food is a lifetime skill that will bring them health benefits and satisfaction

What is an edible garden?

An edible garden consists of flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, berries and even grains. Basically anything that you can grow and eat.

Edible Gardens can be small enough to fit in a pot or large enough that they span garden beds or even paddocks. Space can be a factor when planning an edible garden however most people can maintain and harvest from an edible garden regardless of the space they have.

Considerations when planning your edible garden

The main considerations when planing your edible garden are:

Soil – well drained soil rich in organic matter creates the best environment for any plant to grow.
Size of your space.
Types of edible plants you enjoy – planting for the season is the best way to achieve success in the garden. Take the time to discover what edible plants will grow best in each season and choose the ones you enjoy the most!
Maintenance and access – Raised garden beds provide easy access to plants and can also help with soil drainage. They can have benefits in detracting some pests particularly if they are protected by netting.
Infrastructure – what will you need to tend to your garden? Garden tools, access to water, appropriate light etc. This may mean you need a shed or space for other equipment to be stored close by and easily accessible.
Companion planting – companion crops, nursing crops or intercropping is the practice of growing particular plants together so they can support each other in some way. Benefits when plants are well ‘companioned’ include deterring pests, enhancing flavour, attracting beneficial insects, improving growth and reducing excess nitrogen. Excess nitrogen can have detrimental effects to to growth and can attract specific pests.

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