If You Never Ate A Bite, It Would Still Be Worth It.
Image: The experience of gardening is just as important as a successful harvest (and possibly more).
People who know me, know how passionate I am about food and cooking. I have always had a home veggie plot and spend a considerable amount of time planting seedlings, watering, weeding and of course my favourite – harvesting.
When I was a child living in my parent’s home, I would watch my father dig trenches for the rows of corn, eggplants, tomatoes, zucchinis, broad beans, cauliflower and broccoli that we most commonly grew. I took note as he threw down some chicken poo or blood and bone and watched with great interest as he shook the seedling roots free from their little black pots and tucked them gently into the earth. I took note of him watering the seedlings every day and the delight and pride my parents displayed at sharing the resulting produce with family and friends.
My parents didn’t really understand the science of soil health - things like PH balance, biodiversity, holistic gardening principals, soil nutrient function and the importance of microbes and so on, yet they still managed to have a plentiful harvest each season. For a long time, I didn’t understand these things either and to be honest, I still have a lot to learn.
Just like I learned the basics from my parents, I try to encourage my children to learn from me and from play.
Images: My daughter at 18 months old learning to love tomatoes.
I have noticed that among the foodie community, particularly online, there is a lot of cultural cred up for grabs by demonstrating a sophisticated knowledge of all matters regarding the domestic veggie plot. In any one blog thread, it is easy to identify the Peter Cundall, Harry Dodson, Costa-Georgiadis and even the Jamie Durie wannabees. Fascinating as all the technical stuff is, I love the fact that to grow something nutritious and edible one needs little more than a patch of dirt, a tiny seed, some type of compost or fertiliser and a bit of sun and water.
So, to all you readers out their who might be interested in growing some food, don’t be put off by all the rules, the technical terms, and the fancy garden gadgets. Just dig a hole or fill a pot with dirt, plant a seedling, give it a drink and watch and wait.
Images: My son and daughter connecting with the earth that grow's their food.
Most importantly, don’t be disheartened if you don’t succeed at first, the process of gardening will bring you so many benefits – even if you don’t eat a single bite of it. Adults and children that engage in gardening or play in nature reap so many benefits. Experiencing wonder in response to beauty, learning to recognise the natural rhythm of the seasons, discovering the origin of food and appreciating the diverse interconnections within the web of life is meaningful and pleasurable. So even if your plant doesn’t grow the first time, you have still gained so much. Hopefully, you will be driven to try again and begin a lifetime of curiosity with growing food to nourish your body, mind and spirit.
Here are some resources to get you started:
Books:
The Beautiful Edible Garden by Bennett Leslie (ISBN 9781607742340)
Kitchen Garden Cooking with Kids (ISBN 9781920989491)
The Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide by Stephen Albert (ISBN 1419655795)
Vasili’s From the Garden to Kitchen Book
Websites:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/gardening-planning-an-edible-garden
http://sustainablelivingguide.com.au/garden/grow-your-own-food
Short Courses:
http://www.horticulturaltherapy.com.au/
https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/learn