Make your own backyard Eden

Now that the new year has dawned upon us, let us bring along the lessons we learned from the past, eliminating the bad and enforcing the new.

In this fast-growing world, we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves, often purchasing items of nature, while we could simply grow them ourselves.

In a world where concrete seems fast in the race to replace the creator’s gift of earth, there is one thing we should all have in our homes; a kitchen garden.

Not only are you assured of a year-round supply of fruits and fresh vegetables, but there’s the confidence that none of your produce has been tampered with in any way.

A healthier you

A diversified, well-cared-for kitchen garden, and your consumption of its resultant healthy produce, will, in time, reveal a healthier you; a person more in touch with self and the surroundings. As for the little critters that that might attract, take it all in stride, for plants would never flower without them.

Size doesn’t have to be an issue in this case. You need to work with what you have, and if a 5x5 piece of earth is what it is, then turn it into your own little Garden of Eden from which all life flows.

Just as the birds and the bees are attracted to flowers and fruits by their bright colours, so are we humans, and if we allowed ourselves, we would reflect that brightness from within ourselves.

Magnificence of colour

Many would argue that aesthetics come hand-in-hand with useless things. Not so. A flowering hibiscus tree will display a magnificence of colour from stamen to sepal. And when it’s not pleasing your eyes, the tea made from the hibiscus flower will both soothe and energise you.

A functional garden need not be mundane. Imagine a time when all plants have borne fruit while others are only budding. The bright yellow of the orange, the red of the tomato climbing away at the fence, the purple of the passion fruit and egg plant; the plum green leaves of spinach and sukuma wiki... the bright orange of the carrot. Who says health is dull?

If you have any pets in your home, the best thing would be to mesh in your garden, and, of course, have an access door or gate.

If possible, have the top meshed as well. It will keep the birds from destroying your fruit. Also, vegetables such as tomatoes, passion, pumpkin and butternut might find their way to the top, forming a sort of canopy from which you can pluck their fresh produce.

Since we’re going all-out this year, why not have a centre-piece, say, an avocado or mango tree. Not only will they seasonally provide you with great fruit, but will, once they grow to a great big size, keep the ground beneath moist, even in the very hot seasons. Here, you can plant the more delicate veggies and grasses like lettuce, spinach and wheatgrass.

Awe of beauty

Sure, a flower or two never hurt anyone, but isn’t it so much better when you can gaze in awe of its beauty and then later make a tea out of it?

Go on, make the garden of your dreams… and then take from it whatever you please. This year, let’s all fuel, with conviction, the fervour to embrace Mother Nature and all its goodness, only slightly modifying what is not beneficial to our health and beauty.