PUBLISHED 26 MARCH 2020
Sustainability during self isolation
Cultural practices
As we enter an unprecedented period of “social distancing” and “self isolation” our focus moves to our homes, our living spaces. Many who have been confined to solitude or reduced human contact have documented the experience which can be distressing and demoralising. We have been living in a disposable society where instant gratification fuels consumerism which politicians encourage because it builds a strong economy. Now the time has come to pause and look at how we can sustainably manage a situation which we never expected and never prepared for. Over the past year we have become more aware of the impact our waste has had on the environment and there has been a global response to reduce plastic use. The next step is to actively contribute to improving our quality of life and to help mitigate the effect of over consumption. Growing food from home is not only possible, it is not difficult, it is fun, and it is very rewarding.
For the foreseeable future it seems that imports will be heavily reduced so growing our own fruit and vegetables makes a lot of sense. The community can come together to share their food and to swap when they have excess. This will also be a good time to start making our own preserves, jams, jellies, relishes, chutneys, and pickles.
Home gardening
The word horticulture is derived from the Latin hortus (garden) and colere (to cultivate). Cultural practices include everything involved in planting preparation, planting, post planting, and harvesting activities. Plants are grown for food, ornamental, or practical purposes (e.g. to support other plants or to stabilise the soil).
Gardening has many therapeutic benefits along with the practical. There is a long list which includes: exercise; reduced blood pressure; a source of vitamin D; healthier food; stress relief; sense of community as food and tips can be shared; increased levels of happiness; improved self esteem; better quality of sleep; financial advantages; something to nurture. Gardening allows ruminations of past events and anxiety about the future to be released as senses are engaged bringing us to the present. This can be restorative like hitting a reset button!
Let’s get started
Establishing goals
The first thing to consider is what you need from the garden and whether you want to employ organic or inorganic methodologies. A self sustaining garden is organic; this approach is holistic and uses homemade compost and mulch, gathering seeds and other forms of propagation, and making fertilisers and sprays. Using inorganics may be easier for some people and is also a very good option. There are no rules about strictly choosing one or the other.
The purpose of the vegetable garden is primarily to provide a food source however the other benefits may be just as valuable. Gardening need not be confined to vegetables as this time is also an opportunity to establish rain gardens and ornamental gardens.
Garden bed or raised garden
Garden beds can be a defined area in the ground where the soil is dug up, turned over and worked with compost to prepare for planting. A very simple garden has no edging and the soil is mounded in the centre to allow water to settle in the trenches on the edges. Raised gardens are popular as they enable an easier way to control weeds, soil compaction is less likely due to good drainage, they provide a barrier for many pests like slugs and snails, and it is much easier on a gardener’s back. Due to superior drainage raised gardens can be planted earlier in the season and the plants survive for longer. Raised gardens come in many different shapes and sizes. They can be terraces built into slopes or structures built on top of flat surfaces with innovative designs that bring beauty and splendour to an area. Some may find a use for an old bath tub, barrel, pots or anything that will hold soil (e.g. hollow concrete blocks). It pays to look at the materials used as many of them may contain toxins not suitable for food however they may be suitable for other plants such as companion plants like the marigolds which repel aphids and greenflies from vege crops.
Plant choice
Once garden areas have been decided it is time to look at the crops you would like to grow. Seasonal planting is the first consideration, perusing the list of appropriate plants for our region and those suitable for the conditions of your garden will form the basis of what you ultimately choose to grow. Fruit trees are an asset to any garden and they can generally be planted any time of the year on Waiheke if planted correctly.
Record keeping
Keep records of planting with as much detail as possible as this will become a valuable asset to you and your friends in the future. You will be able to monitor what has worked for you and what hasn’t; it is not always easy to determine why these things happen. Keeping records may help you figure it out in the future although sometimes it will remain a mystery. The truth is there is much more about gardening that we don’t know than what we do and for this reason it is best to employ cultural practices that work with nature instead of resisting it.
For the next few weeks we shall look in depth at cultural practices and how to create gardens (from concept to harvest) in order to enhance our self sufficiency and to improve our well being.
