If you imagine "companion planting" to be a pleasant potter around the garden with a friend, you may be on to something. But it is also a system of buddying up the various plants in your garden to help control pests, maximise planting space, assist with pollination, encourage growth and improve yield. It can even enhance the flavour of your produce. I went along to a … [Read more...]
Drought adaptation DIY style: steps to save water
January was not for chickens in the Cape – extreme drought and fires saw the gardens shrivel up and die. So sad to witness and feel the distress all round. Once our veggie plants got stressed the diseases followed. Watching your water consumption with Stage 3 water restrictions and growing food without the farmer’s concessions calls for innovation. How to capture each … [Read more...]
Putting a stamp on healthy veggies
Together with a set of stamps on 12 August 2011 celebrating six kinds of nutritious, easy-to-grow vegetables, the SA Post Office will issue a free recipe booklet containing recipes that feature each of the vegetables as the main ingredient. Customers who buy six or more stamps will receive the recipe booklet. The Philatelic division of the Post Office is confident that the … [Read more...]
Nourishment for the coming season
It was almost time for the Global Working Day for Earth, when the largest number of people across the planet ever in living memory would be doing something for the earth. My lucky number 7 had arrived just before the auspicious 10-10-10 date and this day I was a year older. And a year more grateful to still be granted my share of this planet's precious resources. I … [Read more...]