MY WONDERFUL (LESS THAN) ONE-ACRE FARM
I've been inspired by a childhood book to think about my edible growing possibilities
The way the world has been going in recent weeks has had me contemplating the possibilities of my garden in a new way. A keen kitchen gardener, I always intended to include things to eat and now, in a world of panic buying and fear, it seems more relevant than ever. The reality is, of course, that a tiny back garden can never allow one to be self-sufficient, even if the whole thing was put down to potatoes, it could only supply a fraction of the calorific needs of a family. But in an uncertain world, it most certainly has the potential to make the food in the cupboard tastier and provide the odd vitamin.
When I was a child, I had a book called McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm. It told the story of a man with lots of children, who was sold an 80-acre farm for just 10 dollars. Once the deal was done came the catch – the 80 acres were vertical, stacked one on top of each other, like a pack of cards.
But the soil was miraculously fertile: throw down an apple core and a tree would grow before your eyes, plant a quarter and it would grow into a dollar. The children would run along the rows – one sowing watermelon seeds, the next one watering and the last picking the fruit as it grew. The farm was a success and they all lived happily ever after. Back at home I've a mere sliver of ground, but the principle of growing the good stuff fast still appeals. My productive zone already boasts a few low-maintenance goodies: rhubarb, now growing fast, and a dwarf currant bush as well as various perennial herbs. I'll be adding more edibles; plants that are compact, fast-growing, flavoursome and, ideally, high yielding. Rocket and radishes are obvious choices, as are soft herbs like coriander and basil, while www.su ons.co.uk has a range of speedy salads. Compact first early potatoes can be harvested in just weeks from planting – I’m treating myself to ‘Rocket’ and ‘Charlo e’, planted one per growbag. I’ll also grow rainbow beet and fast-maturing carrot ‘Adelaide’ in pots.
It’s humble, but the process is comforting and, calories notwithstanding, the activity of gardening is good for the soul. And if my efforts mean that I can avoid even one dash to the shops, it will count as a success indeed!