Rebuilding a garden…. and our health?

One year ago, November 2008, saw a decent storm waltz through Brisbane.  It absolutely devastated The Gap, and out where we live on the north side of Brisbane we copped a fair bit of it as well.

Our acreage property had trees down and damage all over, none to our main living accommodation, but the main shed had a gum across it and we ended up clearing nearly four skips or more of wood.

Unfortunately, my portable gardens were completely destroyed. Some taking flight while others were just damaged from the water and wind.

Starting this month, I am beginning to finally rebuild them. This time however, with 2 years under our belt on the property I want to make them more permanent, more productive, and ultimately to bring back part of family life I had when I grew up – the self-producing garden of health!

I have always missed the homegrown produce that was made from our small garden in NZ, my dad was very diligent at it and for my entire life at home, I remember the food that just seemed to taste better.

As life has gotten busier and through all my travels, I have rocked from living completely off mass-produced foods to times of using accessible farm / homegrown produce. From baking my own bread (by hand) to storing fresh food for later use. If I always had (read: made) the time I know I would be better for it. So too would my family.

This time around, I am reading and learning more. Seeking more facts and seeking out experience from people that live a sustainable life. While yes I want to see climate change addressed and corporates take more responsibility, the reality is that politicians are fair weather policy makers and business only changes when the mass market demands it. To some degree I like the fact that with effort change is made by the people. I don’t rely on populist policy makers to have the balls to make change.

The first part of this has been reading magazines and manuals about organic produce and general Australian temperate climate gardening. Debates on native or introduced species and ultimately to a better understanding of heirloom seeds and a better understanding of how by turning my plot into a more self sufficient ecosystem I am doing more for the environment than buying a few carbon credits.

I am going to start writing more about this journey under the section Gardening and Self-sufficiency. Like everything there is learning in it, some which will no doubt relate to my business and other ventures.  More importantly, part of our reasons for quitting inner city living for the space of some acreage was to add quality of life. This garden is to enhance that.

After a year of restructuring and changing the nature of my business following some fundamental shifts in the national and world economies, I feel now is the right time to look much closer to home.

I am researching a frightening fact about garlic (a staple in most of my cooking) which will be one of my next posts, and other thought provoking tidbits.

Watch this plot….

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