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Thread: self sufficiency... well partial anyway ;-)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Yorkshire, UK
    Posts
    37

    Smile self sufficiency... well partial anyway ;-)

    Hi
    I've searched for related topics but not found what I'm looking for... I'd like to be able to grow a good chunk of our fruit and veg (but I'm not expecting to be able to manage full self sufficiency due to kids/life etc)
    What I'd like to know is are any of you managing it?
    Can you grow a good variety?
    We're looking at the middle chunk of North Island for a property.
    That Wanted Down Under programme once showed a visit to a market with humongous size strawberries but I couldn't find out if they we're grown in super heated watered greenhouse factory thingy etc.
    Anything shared appreciated x

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    37,824

    Default

    There are lots of people on the forum who grow a lot of their fruit and vegetables, and when you're there, you see boards outside people's gates where they're selling off the surplus. Do a search and you should find old mentions of gardening. I remember a whole thread - I'll have a hunt, too.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    37,824

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Palmy- from US
    Posts
    2,516

    Default

    I (in the middle of winter) have in my garden:
    broccoli, leeks, onions, broad beans, beetroot and spinach

    My potted herbs include:
    rosemary, thyme, chives, sage, basil, coriander, parsley, mint

    and we have a lemon tree

    Mind you I live in a tiny flat with a (totally guessing) 50 sq metre backyard.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    192

    Default

    You might want to check out: http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/index.php

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    1,785

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    I'm just starting on my garden this year as it's taken this long to get a place of our own. The previous owners grew heaps. We're in Cambridge with a quarter acre section and if I wanted to (read, could be bothered!) I'm quite sure we'd be able to be near to self sufficient in fruit and veg from it- look for somewhere with established fruit trees ideally. Here you can grow everything- it's amazing!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    1,785

    Default

    PS- don't forget you want a NORTH facing garden here ideally

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Yorkshire, UK
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Ha the North facing garden throws me sometimes until I remember! Cheers everyone, I've got some good stuff to go on there ;-)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    2,691

    Default

    We have no garden to speak of in our current rental, but have a 9m sq deck so we are severely limited compared to other places we've lived. However we currently have large plastic troughs on our deck and a few buckets. We are right now growing 2 varieties of rosemary, huge quantities of flat leaf parsey, chives, garlic chives, potatoes, beans (of some sort - brought home from school), spring onions and spinach. In the summer we also grow mesclun salad mix in buckets, rocket, basil, coriander and mint (which I don't grow over winter as it invades all bare soil in the containers). We also have a small lemon tree, and for the last 11 months I've harvested about 6-8 ripe lemons every 6 weeks or so. I keep a worm farm in my garage, so refresh the soil nutrients in the tubs with worm wee and worm casts every few weeks.

    It is very common for people to grow at least some sort of foodstuff here...the high UV levels make it an optimal environment for many seasonal veggies & fruits. Our Asian neighbours aren't the slightest bit interested in gardening, but even they grow their own chillies in a pot on their deck because they are ridiculously expensive to buy in the supermarket.

    Happy Gardening

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Yorkshire, UK
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Thanks. I watched a tv prog not related to emigrating, but the presenter had just had a hol and the locals there gave him a 'treat' of boiled cabbage. A treat because veg of most desriptions were hard to grow, which lead me into creating this forum.... strange how my mind works xxx

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