Growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs can be one of the best ways to live sustainably and to have fun outside too! By growing your own produce you can cut down on transport costs and greenhouse emissions, maximise taste, freshness and vitamin content. Permiculture and growing vegetables: Essentially, permaculture is based around the idea of working with nature rather than against it. In terms of growing your own vegetables this refers to conceptualising, planning and managing the planting of fruit and vegetables to maximise a year round sustainable harvest. Some things to consider when designing your garden are: Location Many plants have different requirements in terms of sunlight, soil type and level of protection to wind. Peas for example need protection from the wind, while some lettuce varieties can grow in part shade. You will get the best out of your garden if you take these elements into account. Planting Regimes Planting the appropriate crop at the right time can make a substantial difference to how successful your home grown fruit and vegetables are.

Organic Fertilisers One of the most effective and cheapest ways to add vital nutrients to your soil is through decomposing material from sources such as compost. (for information on composting techniques, please see pages 7-9). Blended with your garden’s soil or potting mix it (with occasional ‘topping-up’) can provide ample fertiliser to soil structures. Additional organic fertilizers include: Fish emulsion: Is fertilizer made from processed fish products. Many variations are available commercially including carp based emulsions (a freshwater pest species), which are considered appropriate in organic gardening. Seaweed extract: A fertilizer available in ether liquid or granules derived from seaweed. Animal manure: The most common types used are chicken, pig and horse manure which provide excellent nutrients for your garden. Companion Planting Many fruit and vegetables plants benefit from propagation next to other plants (such as herbs) that serve as a biological control of pests (like insects), this is known as companion planting. Some of the many herbs that act in repelling pests include:

HERB PEST THEY REPEL PLANT WITH

Sage and Mint White Cabbage Moth Cabbage, Tomatoes, Carrots

Basil Flies and mosquitoes Tomatoes

Catnip Fleas, ants and rodents Eggplant

Garlic Aphids Roses, Raspberries

Coriander Aphids All Vegetables

Bay Leaves Weevils and Moths Beans or Grains

Seed Saving Seed saving can help you maintain a variety of vegetables that you particularly enjoyed or are suited to your specific needs (e.g. high yield). Depending on the vegetable, seeds

can keep from 1-5+ years, making it a very sustainable activity. When collecting seeds from your own crops remember to:

• Collect seeds from fully ripe fruit. • Wind dispersed seeds (e.g. carrots, beetroot) are ready to be collected when they

are dry and easily separated from the flower head. Shake them into paper bags. • Spread collected seeds out and sun dry prior to storage. This is to reduce

moisture the content. • Remove the flower or other non- required part of the plant. These can attract

mould and fungus. • Store seeds in glass or plastic sealed jars.

For more information:

Clive Blazey The Australian Vegetable Garden: What’s New is Old. Clilve Blazey, Jane Varkulevicius The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Garden The Diggers Club www.diggers.com.au Jackie French, www.jackiefrench.com New Gippsland seed farm, www.newgipps.com.au Eden Seeds, www.edenseeds.com.au