By Fatima Halloum
As the price of fruit and vegetables continues to rise, a Werribee horticulturalist is sharing his top tips for growing an edible garden in urban spaces.
Craig Castree says his main goal is to help people learn how to become self sufficient by encouraging them to grow their own food.
“It’s very simple, pull out a weed and put in a food plant, it only takes five minutes,“ he said.
“People think they need to know much more than they currently do to be able to grow food and that’s not the case.
“I try to take the jargon out of gardening, to show them how simple it is. They’ll be gobsmacked in six weeks at how much food they’re producing, how many less weeds they’ve got in their garden, and how nutritious and flavourful the food is that they produce.“
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, food prices rose between nine and 10 per cent over the last twelve months, mostly driven by hikes to fruit and vegetables.
With “huge shortages“ projected for tomato and stone fruits like plums and nectarines, Mr Castree believes it’s important for people to be aware of how their food is grown.
“We’re headed into a path of uncertainty, food security does not rest in supermarkets,“ he said.
“Now we’re being faced with a shortage of staff or labour to be able to pick the fruit from the trees or harvest the crops from the ground.
“[And] more shortages and price increases due to the rising cost of fertiliser, and chemicals being used to grow food, and now the flooding rains that we’re faced with.“
Mr Castree says one of his top tips is to companion plant, which involves growing fruit and vegetables that go well on a plate together, in the same area of ground.
“People get all enthusiastic and they put everything in at once and then all of a sudden six weeks later, they’ve got way too much lettuce,“ he said.
“Don’t become a farmer, because that’s a lot of hard work.
“Just plant one thing every day of your life, it takes far less time than you think.“
Mr Castree will also be sharing tips at the Victoria State Garden for the the State Rose and Garden show on December 10 and 11.
