by Joanne Newel
Spring has sprung “down under”, and things are afoot in the garden.
Recently, we decided to postpone moving house until after the girls start school in late January (no need for two major life stresses all at once!), so we thought we might as well make the most of upcoming summer weather and start a veggie (and fruit and herb) patch. Oh, and a compost. Why not? If we’re so inclined, we can always bag up the compost and cart it to our new house, and transplant any still-producing veggies – unless we feel like sending good karma to the new owners of this house and leaving the compost and veggies here for them.
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The girls were thrilled at our decision. They love anything to do with gardening, and jump at any chance to don their gardening aprons and gloves, fill their watering cans, and “ooh” and “aah” at any signs of new growth. I actually think most children start off life with this desire to connect with the earth, and I feel strongly that it’s something that should, wherever possible, be nurtured.
I’ve also been itching to start a compost heap, feeling guilty and wasteful for throwing away any food scraps. We ended up buying a flat-pack compost bin because it would be easy to dismantle when we move house, and the girls soon made the most of the box it came in, turning it into a little cubby (see picture).
So, now, I feel thoroughly virtuous, even if the daily trip to the compost bin isn’t the most pleasant experience. I’ve even bought a special little compost bin for keeping in the kitchen – it comes with biodegradable cornstarch bags so that you can throw the filled bags into the bigger outdoor compost bin. Good news for a neat freak like me!
We then began planting some seeds in seedling trays. I knew the girls loved gardening, but the breathless delight they took in the whole process made my heart beam. Every morning since “grand planting day” we’ve sprayed “our babies” with mists to keep them moist, have chatted to them, have squealed with joy when a new baby arrives, and have marveled at how each type of vegetable seedling looks so different from the next.
We’re all looking forward to bumper crops of lettuce, cucumber, zucchini (courgette), rainbow chard, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin, watermelon, beans, carrots, parsley, basil, and coriander (cilantro)…to name but a few!
But, you know what? That bounty of fresh, tender, crunchy and energy-filled veggies, fruits, and herbs will be just the icing on the cake.