Involving the Kids in Growing Food + Learning Where It Comes From
We love the idea of having our own little patch to grow fruit and veggies, and of course, enjoying the fresh produce we’ve grown ourselves.
For one local Highlands family, our veggie-liscious dream has become a reality with a little help from the experts at Turf 2 Trees Horticulture.
Inspired by a love of potager gardens and a desire to show the kids where their food comes from, the patch that Turf 2 Trees Horticulture created is a total work of art, a mini farm, and a solution to drainage woes all in one.
And we’ve got a peek into how it all went down.
1 :: A Vision Brought To Life
The vision for this veggie patch was all about symmetry and sustainability, with a design that would not only work for the family but also make gardening a fun, educational experience.
The client had always enjoyed working in produce gardens but wanted something unique for their own home.
They reached out to the crew and Turf 2 Trees Horticulture who’ve worked on creating potager-style gardens in past projects and had the skills to make this dream a reality.
There was lots of experimenting with materials and design to come up with a solution that would last.
The first step was to connect with local steel fabricator, Absolute Welding. Sean and his team created long-lasting retained steel garden beds, requiring minimal effort while ensuring maximum durability.
The result is a perfectly structured patch, where every plant has its place, and crop rotation is made easy. It’s a system that works seamlessly, allowing the family to tend to their veggies with ease.
2 :: Solving Challenges With Smart Solutions
Building a veggie patch isn’t always as straightforward as it seems, and this project had its own unique challenges.
Located at the bottom of a hill, the property was prone to flooding during severe rainfall events.
So, in addition to creating the veggie patch, the design needed to address this drainage issue.
By carefully planning out the garden layout and positioning the beds to divert water away from the house, Turf 2 Trees Horticulture was able to tackle the drainage problem while creating a functional and gorgeous garden.
3 :: A Layout Designed For Ease
Another standout feature of this veggie patch is its smart layout.
Every aspect of the design has been carefully considered to make sure the garden is easy to access and maintain.
Berry bushes, vines, and other crops have their own dedicated trellises and support structures, making it simple to manage the garden while keeping everything neat and tidy.
Steel and bird netting structures were added to keep the pesky birds away from the produce, providing extra protection.
The layout also ensures that the garden is accessible for the client’s farm buggy… see ya later, wheelbarrow! It’s all about working smarter, not harder, with space for the buggy to easily navigate around and access the crops.
4 :: Sustainability At Its Core
This veggie patch has been designed with sustainability at the front and centre.
The client prioritised soil health and eco-friendly features, like composting, mulching, and using an advanced irrigation system.
The irrigation system is fitted with an injection system that applies fertiliser and soil treatments through the watering system.
They’ve taken advantage of the latest technology, with real-time weather data from the Bureau of Meteorology used to adjust the watering schedule according to the current climate conditions.
Like, how cool is that?!
And of course, composting is a key part of maintaining a healthy garden. The patch is always being fertilised and nurtured to keep the soil in top shape for growing.
5 :: Happy Clients, Happy Garden
The finished veggie patch has been a smashing hit with the family, and the results speak for themselves.
“I love seeing the kids wandering out into the veggie patch and eating tomatoes, peas, berries, and fruit straight from the source,” says the client, who finds joy in watching the little ones enjoy the fruits of their labour [hehe get it!].
The client couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and how the design and functionality have come together beautifully.
It’s a garden that’s not only lovely to look at, but also practical, and it’s one that the whole family can enjoy for years to come.
Thanks to the expert care of Turf 2 Trees Horticulture and their well-thought-out design, this veggie patch shows how the right planning and materials can turn a dream garden into a practical, sustainable space.
If you’re dreaming of your own veggie garden [and we bet you are after seeing this!], get in touch with Michael and the team at Turf 2 Trees Horticulture to get it off the ground… well, on the ground actually.
***
This article features friends and advertisers of The Fold Media.
We strongly believe in the businesses and information we share with you on The Fold and we fully endorse the content we create and share.
We’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses, and it is our sincere hope is that it helps create more awareness for these local businesses, helps keep them top of mind when locals and visitors next need their products or service, and most of all, contributes to creating a strong and thriving local community and economy.
We are so grateful to the local businesses who choose to work with The Fold Media. Without their belief and support in what we do, we wouldn’t be able to keep doing what it is that we love to do. Which is to create and share information about people, places and businesses in our wonderful region. We want to help everyone #LoveLivingLocal and make the most of this wonderful place we are lucky enough to call home.
And to you, our readers? We want to say a big THANK YOU to you. Firstly for taking the time to read this article, but also for supporting local businesses in general, as well as our sponsors who help make The Fold Media possible.
Together, let’s continue to support our local business community, in turn supporting their team, and our wonderful community overall. So let’s all choose local, whenever we possibly can.