WHY GROW YOUR OWN?

Gardening offers many benefits and feel-good moments, but few match the pleasure and satisfaction of harvesting food that you have grown yourself. A tomato or strawberry, warm from the sun, which never makes it anywhere near the kitchen because you cannot resist popping it in your mouth for that explosion of sweetness. A fistful of beans or sugar snaps, picked until the bunch feels substantial enough to feed however many diners you are catering for. Fresh herbs to scatter over your lunch, mandarins picked and peeled on the spot, carrots pulled wonky but sweet from your vegie beds. All these simple acts make the heart sing, and your body thanks you as you present it with real food, whose provenance you know every detail of.

Those of you who already grow food may find inspiration in the following pages to do more in your patch, whether it’s a traditional garden in the ground or a collection of pots on a balcony. There is also climate-specific advice from experts living in that zone, and some ideas from Costa on getting the kids involved. And if you are a newbie, the next few pages are particularly for you, designed to break down the task of getting started into something simple and achievable.

When it’s all stripped down, all you really need to kickstart your journey into edibles is a packet of seeds or a tray of seedlings, a bag of soil and a pot. Add sunshine and water, and you’re off. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!