[025] A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GROW YOUR OWN – WITH SARA VENN – Sustainable(ish)

[025] A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GROW YOUR OWN – WITH SARA VENN

Today’s episode is all about Growing Your Own. It’s the stereotypical image of sustainable living isn’t it? The kind of Good Life image of being self sufficient in veg, and the temptation is to go all out right from the start, take on a huge allotment plot, and then before we know it it’s taken over our lives. 
Sara Venn has been on the show before back in Episode 4 where we talked about the power of community gardening and projects like Incredible Edible and she got in touch me a the start of this year to ask if I’d be interested in doing an episode on Grow Your Own Lite, or maybe Grow your Own(ish).

 This episode is for you if you love the idea of growing some of your own fruit and veg this year, but you’re not sure if you’ve got the time or space, or what you should be growing.
And it’s for you if you’ve tried before and failed.

It’s packed full of really practical tips for those ordinary mortals amongst us with busy lives, and families, but who want to work out some ways to incorporate a little but of grow your own activism and  pleasure into your routine.
As ever, if you enjoy this episode, please do share it with your friedsn and family, and on social media and let’s spread the sustainable(ish) word!

Enjoy.

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Some of Sara's Top Tips

  • Begin with the end in mind - only grow what you like and will want to eat!
  • Think about how much time and space you have 
  • There's no shame in buying seedlings and bringing them on rather than trying to grow from seed
  • Feed anything that's flowering (e.g. tomatoes, courgettes etc etc) weekly with an organic tomato feed
  • Get your kids involved
  • Beg or borrow tools to start with
  • Grow stuff that's expensive in the supermarket and that is more likely to have been air-freighted e.g. soft fruit, mange tout etc
  • Avoid plastic labels and re-use wooden lolly sticks instead
  • Remember that plants die and don't get discouraged! Even professional nurseries expect to lose 10% of their plants
  • Avoid compost containing peat

ACTION
YOU CAN TAKE AFTER LISTENING

  • Buy a pack of dried peas from the supermarket and have a go at growing some pea shoots
  • Get the family together to talk about what you'd most like to have a go at growing 
  • Make a plan!
Are you tempted?
I know I am - I'm definitely going to have a go at pea shoots and mini cucumbers, and might even have another try at tomatoes...
How about you?

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