Starting A Garden & Other Tips

Gardening is an absolute pleasure – it is good for the soul to be out in nature, contributing to the environment and creating something which is both beautiful and practical.

If you feel that your green thumb is a bit broken, our friends at oily rag are here to remind you how easy it can be to get started in the garden, with fantastic rewards. Spring is also the best time to think about starting a garden so you can enjoy the harvest for Christmas. Here are some tips:

An oily rag garden need not be any larger than six or seven metres square (it actually can be a lot smaller). It would have four or five garden beds bordered with treated or hardwood timber, and the soil raised about 300mm above ground level. Raising a garden in this way makes it easier to work in (a major consideration for those who would otherwise find gardening a chore), and it allows the soil to drain freely. Having a number of beds allows crop rotation and the opportunity to “recondition” the soil in the bed(s) not being used.

The ideal garden should be sited to collect plenty of afternoon sun. The sun warms the soil, and the warm soil then acts as an incubator for growth. The site should also be sheltered from chilly winds – preferably fringed by protecting trees and shrubs, but not so close that they block out the sun or that their roots invade your garden and steal valuable nutrients.

Once the site is right, the next thing to attend to is the soil. If your soil is heavy clay or infertile then lots of ‘goodness’ will need to be introduced. You can of course buy various composts and fertilisers at your local nursery, but those living off the smell of an oily rag can avoid the cost by finding their own sources of goodness.

Animal manures make excellent fertiliser, but most will need about 6 weeks for the material to dry otherwise it may burn the roots of young plants. Other sources of goodness are blood and bone (dead carcasses), haystack bottoms, sawdust, straw, vegetable matter, seaweed, lake-weed, and leaves.

For free sawdust, try a local wood-turner, joiner or timber-mill. These guys have heaps of wood shavings and dust and they are normally glad to give it to you because it costs them money to remove it. Make sure the sawdust is from untreated wood.

Seaweed and lake-weed can be collected while on a family outing, a sack full of leaves can be gathered from your own yard or from a local park, and haystack bottoms from farmers – as can the various types of manures (piggeries and horse stables are a goldmine for the manure collector).

Getting the site and soil right is critical to a happy and productive garden. With the basics in place your garden will produce much more than your family alone can eat!

Karen from Palmerston North has this recipe for a homemade alternative to commercial sugar soap for wall cleaning. You need: 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup of laundry detergent (unscented is better), 1/2 cup sugar, and 1.9 litres hot water.

Mix ingredients well then apply to walls with a sponge, terry cloth (which is a towelling fabric with loops that can absorb large amounts of water), or a microfibre cloth. Rub gently until clean and wipe dry (you can rinse if you wish, but most of the time it is not necessary). Be certain to clean from the floor upwards, in sections, and wipe off any dribbles. This is not the same formula as commercial sugar soap, but works just as well.

John has a simple low cost and quick stuffed spuds meal. “Scrub potatoes and dry. Bake in a hot oven (220^oC) for about 45 minutes until the potatoes are soft – or zap them in the microwave.  Once the potatoes are cooked, scoop out the flesh and mash up with any cheap filling that takes your fancy: cheese, cooked mince or sausage meat, tomatoes, or whatever else is available in your garden. Put mixture back into the potato jacket, drizzle with olive oil or smear with butter, reheat then serve.”

Don’t forget to let us know if you have a favourite tip to share with readers, or a question – you can contact us via the website at oilyrag.co.nz or by writing to Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

By Frank and Muriel Newman. Read more here.