Greetings Planet Ish

[teenyweenyems]

Wow, what a truly magnificent place! Greetings one and all. I guess my parents were a bit "the Good Life" - many of the first photographs of me are shared with various goats in the living room (?!). Mum used to keep bees, make yoghurt from goats milk, grow lots of fruit and veg etc., make Lord only knows what kinds of alcoholic beverages from various things. I have fond memories of making wool, lace, etc. as a small child.

Gradually my family (me included) slipped into "modern" life, and having recently had a young family of my own, I have a growing desire to revert to a more simple life filled with more simple pleasures. Sadly those golden years as a toddler seem all too far away and with 2 children, a full time job, a part time degree and a house with no garden (only a 10 foot square patio area), I must confess I am at somewhat of a loss to know where to start!

We've overhauled our eating habits, eating organic, free range (we're veggies anyway) and local wherever humanly possible, but would love some advice from those of you who can cast your minds back to when you first set out upon your voyage of selfsufficiencyish...

Best wishes,

Emily

[hamster]

Hello! Gosh, you sound busy! Just thinking of having a full-time job AND a young family AND studying makes me feel tired... Well done you!

Aside from one small bed I also have only a patio to grow things on too - I'm planning on growing lots of tomatoes and herbs and salad in pots and grow bags (and I seem to have diversified into various other things out of sheer curiosity).

[ina]

Hiya, and welcome! Like Hamster, I would start with containers of herbs and salads - particularly the cut-and-come-again varieties. That gives you the satisfaction of something homegrown with every meal... Runnerbeans or climbing French beans can grow vertically (up the house wall), so don't take up much space, either. And strawberries or tomatoes in hanging baskets!

[hedgewitch]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I'm another isher that grows produce in containers. I have growing at the moment (apart from herbs):

Spinnach
Peppers
Chilli
Tomatoes
Beans
Cucumber
Raddish
Rocket
Lettuce

And I've just sown:

Courgettes
Loofahs
Sunflowers
Lettuce (different type)
Aubergines

I basically started off with what foods I buy and use the most often.
Composting is another good thing to start with as you don't need much room - I made a post on making your own container composter which is really easy (if I can do it......) and it's a fab way of recycling.

I'm sure there will be lots of tips and tricks you come across browsing around here and it sounds like it's in your blood anyway!

[teenyweenyems]

Thanks for the welcome guys - I didn't realise container growing had quite so much scope (was saying to my husband at dinner how much I'd love to grow my own spinach. Mmmm), but now feel fully enthused to get out at the weekend and beg, borrow or steal some pots and growbags and get started. I also now have plans to grow scrummy beans up the hideous wall right outside the kitchen window... Was going to go for a clematis, but that's not edible so loses out to the beans every time.

I'm sure the children will be most keen to get involved in anything to do with growing strawberries as well. I remember "my" little strawberry patch with great fondness when I was a toddler.

Thanks for the encouragement - I shall let you know how I fare (and will probably be back soon asking for help with the practicalities!), and will definitely have a further forage around the site for more top tips.

Emily

[red]

welcome

[Shirley]

Hi Emily

Welcome aboard

[kiwirach]

G'day Emily.....i'm just starting my journey, and having no outside space at all....1st floor flat with no balcony, so i've just got myself an allotment and hope to get the seedlings i'm raising into the ground very soon!!.

loads of lovely helpful people here....all the best with your vege growing.

[old tree man]

Hi and welcome

Russ

[oldfella]

Hello Emily One busy lady well done You.

[Millymollymandy]

Hello and welcome!

[Thurston Garden]

Ahoy Emily!

[Peggy Sue]

Hi I'm local to you, and my first growing ventures were good old cherry tomatoes. Just made me feel great eating them straight fromt he bush sitting on the doorstep in the sunshine.

Ironically last year the toms were a disaster due to the horrible summer I guess, but thanks to the new allotment I had loads of other stuff to feel good about!

Hope your patio is sunny

[Sky]

Hello and welcome