Aaron Hodgson & Rebecca Tyndall | GARDENING FOLK to buy second-hand and recycle our own unwanted items to others. “We have been retrofitting our home to be more sustainable over the past few years. We have water tanks that provide water to the whole house, including drinking water, as well as solar panels and many other features that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle.” They are also connected to mains water to supplement if the tanks run dry. The jewel in the crown, though, is their garden, which is something worth emulating — and they’ve proved it’s a satisfying and easy road to take.
Rebeccan helps River search for strawberries
Aaron in the composting and worm juicing spot
Espaliering apples in small spaces has proved successful
Aaron and Rebecca’s top tips 1. Growing produce in your front yard attracts great interest from neighbours. It creates good communities by starting conversations, trading and giving away excess produce. Great-looking vegetables inspire others to take on their own edible gardening projects. 2. Well-aged leaf and wood mulch is great for vegie gardens as it lasts much longer than straw, is best at reducing evaporation and greatly improves soil quality. 3. Be creative with small yards by maximising space using vertical walls, front yards and verges. Don’t be afraid to change things around in your yard to allow more space for growing. For example, instead of a Hills Hoist taking up space, install a retractable line in a side passage. 4. Allow plants to self-seed as a cost-free way of gaining new seedlings; excess seedlings are easily removed or given away. 5. Growing unusual fruits and veg can be fun and interesting but it’s best to mainly stick to produce you regularly eat and trade.
Good Organic Gardening | 37