For months I’ve been meaning to write a review of One Magic Square by Lolo Houbein, and then today I heard a great interview with her on the radio. She has a new book! Outside the Magic Square: A Handbook for Food Security. Who can resist a title like that? But that’s not the...
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Crisp, fresh-from-the-vine cucumbers are the epitome of warm summer evenings. From the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, cucumbers can be pickled or sliced and depending on the variety, can be cylindrical or elongated in shape. Traditionally thought of as an out-of-control vine rambling across the yard, it may surprise you to know that cucumbers also grow...
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Sweet potatoes are a wonderful source of Vitamins A, E and C, as well as fibre, and are actually a member of the convolvuli (morning glory) family and not at all related to the ordinary potato. They have a rich indulgent taste and have no cholesterol or fat. Great with a roast, cold in...
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Though you may assume that, like the water loving herbs in my last article, all your herbs will benefit from being planted in organic, loamy soil in a sunny area, then fed and watered well, actually some herbs positively thrive in barren conditions. Native Mediterranean herbs like marjoram, thyme, oregano and rosemary grow best...
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Following on from Growing A Container Herb Garden, here is some more specific information about growing particular herbs. The following herbs all like similarly moist conditions, so could be grouped together in pots, or grown in the same container – though it is probably advisable to grow mint in its own pot, as it...
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Container herb gardens really are the business. Wherever you live in the world you can take account of your climate and your cooking needs, and get together suitable edible plants in one place, ideally within easy reach of your kitchen. A container herb garden is quite simply a collection of herbs in one container,...
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Growing mushrooms in the home garden is not a new phenomenon – in fact, the Chinese have cultivated home grown mushrooms for more than 1,000 years. There are over 14,000 species of mushrooms but only 250 of them are edible. The exceptional flavour that fungi adds to meals can come with a hefty price...
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Vertical gardening is just plain trendy right now, and it’s definitely a trend worth considering. If you’re green as well as green fingered (and I’m guessing as you’re on Sustainable Suburbia that’ll be about right!) this method of food growing will suit you (up and) down to the ground. The carbon footprint of this...
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Peas come in such a wonderful variety which makes growing them a rewarding and fun thing to do. They grow in a wide range of conditions and like many vegetables, need good rich improved soil and full sun. They are grown in the cooler months and also throughout spring which gives a good cropping...
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No food grower’s garden is worth its salt without a glorious bounty of tomatoes, and they taste even better with a pinch of salt! This is ironic, as botanically a tomato is a fruit – ie a seed bearing ovary. More commonly used as a vegetable, tomatoes are a mainstay of savoury dishes around...
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Although rhubarb looks like psychedelic celery, its striking bushy green foliage against its purple-red stems is a bright addition to the veggie patch or wherever you decide to plant it. Rhubarb is easy to grow and can be grown from crowns or seeds. By choosing crowns, which are a fleshy bundle of roots, you...
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Growing your own food is not only self-satisfying and rewarding, but it also provides food security. Using organic methods to grow food ensures that it is free from chemicals and contributes to a healthy environment. Organic gardening nurtures ecosystems and maintains the health of the soil, insects, water and people in the environment. With...
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Editors note: Between this article and reading Barbara Kingsolver’s discussion of asparagus in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, A Year of Food Life, I am determined that I will be growing asparagus in my garden very soon! If you like Asparagus, you are not alone. It may surprise you though, to know that you will be...
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Those of us who live in suburbia usually have the benefit of additional space around our homes. This is conducive to starting a vegetable garden, which can be just one part of a sustainable lifestyle. Whether we are installing solar lights in our gardens or growing cucumbers (or buying them from a local organic...
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Your basic green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), also known as runner beans, string beans or snap beans, are one of the most popular backyard vegetables, partly because they have hugh yields over a very small area, and partly because growing green beans is so easy. Both the immature pod and the leaves are edible. The...
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