Home-grown Organic Herbs, Vegetables and Fruit
Caralyn Lagrange of A Garden Path
When a quest to restore my health became a life’s passion I found that growing organic herbs, fruit and vegetables was not as hard as I thought. The methods I have developed suit most people, even those with injuries, illness and disability. They are also relevant to our warm, dry climate.
Yet before my cancer diagnosis in 2001, I had failed miserably at producing food. Then, one year later, when I began to grow a few herbs in pots, everything fell into place. I learnt to work with nature and as I nurtured my plants; amazingly my garden and I both began to thrive.
“A Garden Path” in Bedfordale now grows enough organic herbs, fruit and vegetables to feed my household. Along with fresh eggs from the chickens and milk from Molly, the Jersey cow I really feel I am living the good life. My herbs and vegetables are some of the healthiest plants you will see. They are growing vigorously and are not riddled with pests and disease. How did I achieve this?
Creating “A Garden Path”
First, I worked on understanding local conditions such as water supplies, sun and wind direction and existing flora and fauna. Then I set about establishing micro-climates using fencing, windbreaks, shade and logs. My gravelly soil was not an issue. This is because I garden above ground, in raised beds, pots and wooden boxes.
Essential Considerations
To develop healthy “living” soils I used leaves, animal manures, grass, weeds, newspaper, wood ash, straw and crushed mineralised rocks as inputs. I did not use artificial fertilisers, synthetic chemicals and any chemical substance, whether natural or man-made, that I thought would harm soil organisms, especially earthworms. Earthworms are my friends that till the soil; they produce vermicast and vermiliquid, both rich in nutrients readily absorbed by plants.
I planted native flowering plants amongst the herbs and vegetables to attract local birds and insects. I also allowed nature to establish a balance between pests and predators. I resist interfering. Aphids, caterpillars and slaters play their role in creating healthy eco-systems; slaters break down organic matter, and aphids and caterpillars attract beneficial insects and birds. I even leave native wasps nests alone as they are effective garden predators.
I found other, more subtle ways of managing my garden and avoiding problems. Mixing plant species confuses pests and reduces the spread of disease. Having plants at different stages of their life cycles is another effective management strategy. Herb and vegetable flowers attract beneficial birds and insects, and plants setting seed contribute to future crops.
Certified Organic Horticulture
To be a Certified Organic grower I had to take things a little further. I fully compost animal manures before using them to grow food. I don’t use any artificial fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and genetically modified seed. To meet audit requirements I also must demonstrate that I care for the environment and work towards sustainability.
A Garden Path Today
A Garden Path is now a working farm and demonstration garden open to the public through open days and workshops. It showcases organic food production alongside environmentally friendly, healthy and sustainable living. A visit will enable you to see waist-high vegetable beds, culinary and medicinal herbs growing in boxes, trellised vines, dwarf and espaliered fruit trees as well as fodder plants grown specifically for cattle.
You will see how poultry, micro-climates, “living” soils, diversity of plantings, worm farming, composting and seed saving contribute to sustainability. I have started programs for no-till pasture, soil erosion abatement, mini-nature reserves, fire-retardant fodder and shelter belts, and greywater piped to ornamental gardens.
To further promote my message I wrote Gardening and Eating for Living, a book that explains how to set up an organic garden. It also provides details of where you can find inputs suitable for organic growing.
Call Caralyn on 9498 1555, visit the website www.bedfordale.com or email agardenpath@bedfordale.com for details of workshops, open days and how and where to purchase her book.
Caralyn is Vice-President of the Organic Growers Association and was a finalist in the 2006 Government Environment Awards. She was awarded an Australian Government Community Water Grant to install greywater recycling systems.
Other information and support can be obtained through the Organic Growers Association of Western Australia (OGAWA).
PO Box 7043 Cloisters Square
WA 6850
enquiries@ogawa.org.au
When a quest to restore my health became a life’s passion I found that growing organic herbs, fruit and vegetables was not as hard as I thought. The methods I have developed suit most people, even those with injuries, illness and disability. They are also relevant to our warm, dry climate.
Yet before my cancer diagnosis in 2001, I had failed miserably at producing food. Then, one year later, when I began to grow a few herbs in pots, everything fell into place. I learnt to work with nature and as I nurtured my plants; amazingly my garden and I both began to thrive.
“A Garden Path” in Bedfordale now grows enough organic herbs, fruit and vegetables to feed my household. Along with fresh eggs from the chickens and milk from Molly, the Jersey cow I really feel I am living the good life. My herbs and vegetables are some of the healthiest plants you will see. They are growing vigorously and are not riddled with pests and disease. How did I achieve this?
Creating “A Garden Path”
First, I worked on understanding local conditions such as water supplies, sun and wind direction and existing flora and fauna. Then I set about establishing micro-climates using fencing, windbreaks, shade and logs. My gravelly soil was not an issue. This is because I garden above ground, in raised beds, pots and wooden boxes.
Essential Considerations
To develop healthy “living” soils I used leaves, animal manures, grass, weeds, newspaper, wood ash, straw and crushed mineralised rocks as inputs. I did not use artificial fertilisers, synthetic chemicals and any chemical substance, whether natural or man-made, that I thought would harm soil organisms, especially earthworms. Earthworms are my friends that till the soil; they produce vermicast and vermiliquid, both rich in nutrients readily absorbed by plants.
I planted native flowering plants amongst the herbs and vegetables to attract local birds and insects. I also allowed nature to establish a balance between pests and predators. I resist interfering. Aphids, caterpillars and slaters play their role in creating healthy eco-systems; slaters break down organic matter, and aphids and caterpillars attract beneficial insects and birds. I even leave native wasps nests alone as they are effective garden predators.
I found other, more subtle ways of managing my garden and avoiding problems. Mixing plant species confuses pests and reduces the spread of disease. Having plants at different stages of their life cycles is another effective management strategy. Herb and vegetable flowers attract beneficial birds and insects, and plants setting seed contribute to future crops.
Certified Organic Horticulture
To be a Certified Organic grower I had to take things a little further. I fully compost animal manures before using them to grow food. I don’t use any artificial fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and genetically modified seed. To meet audit requirements I also must demonstrate that I care for the environment and work towards sustainability.
A Garden Path Today
A Garden Path is now a working farm and demonstration garden open to the public through open days and workshops. It showcases organic food production alongside environmentally friendly, healthy and sustainable living. A visit will enable you to see waist-high vegetable beds, culinary and medicinal herbs growing in boxes, trellised vines, dwarf and espaliered fruit trees as well as fodder plants grown specifically for cattle.
You will see how poultry, micro-climates, “living” soils, diversity of plantings, worm farming, composting and seed saving contribute to sustainability. I have started programs for no-till pasture, soil erosion abatement, mini-nature reserves, fire-retardant fodder and shelter belts, and greywater piped to ornamental gardens.
To further promote my message I wrote Gardening and Eating for Living, a book that explains how to set up an organic garden. It also provides details of where you can find inputs suitable for organic growing.
Call Caralyn on 9498 1555, visit the website www.bedfordale.com or email agardenpath@bedfordale.com for details of workshops, open days and how and where to purchase her book.
Caralyn is Vice-President of the Organic Growers Association and was a finalist in the 2006 Government Environment Awards. She was awarded an Australian Government Community Water Grant to install greywater recycling systems.
Other information and support can be obtained through the Organic Growers Association of Western Australia (OGAWA).
PO Box 7043 Cloisters Square
WA 6850
enquiries@ogawa.org.au
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