Resources to help you plan your edible garden
This is the resources list from our Inspiration for Small Spaces workshop, run in April 2011 as part of our Autumn Gardening Workshop Series.
What to grow
Garden Grow: Month by month planting guide for New Zealand’s climate zones
GardenNZ Grow Your Own guides: Growing information organised by plant type
Koanga Institute: Information about heirloom seeds, and online seed ordering
Organic Vegetable Gardening by Xanthe White (month by month edible garden planning, planting and maintenance advice, tailored to New Zealand gardens)
Edible Garden Planner by Diana Anthony and Jon Muller (how to grow organic fruit and vegetables year-round in New Zealand and Australia)
Growing Vegetables Year-Round by Dennis Greville (another New Zealand-written book giving month by month advice and detailed information on growing different types of vegetables)
How to grow
How to Grow Your Own Food by Hamilton Permaculture Trust
Creating and maintaining healthy soil
Growing in containers
The Edible Container Garden: Fresh Food From Tiny Spaces by Michael Guerra (contains information specific to container growing for a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit trees)
Making compost
Create Your Own Eden: composting information and free courses
Companion planting
There are many companion planting guides online and in books. Wikipedia’s chart is a good place to start.
Organic pest control
Dealing with garden waste
Living Earth: Green waste drop off points
Greenwork: Green waste collection
Inspiration for growing in small outdoor spaces
Vertical growing
Pocket gardening in a fabric shoe storer
Turn old guttering into a wall garden
Creative reuse
Upside down hanging planters from old soft drink bottles
DIY
Build a mini greenhouse using an old window
Make your own sub-irrigated planter
Inspiration for growing indoors
Growing somewhere else
Community gardens
List of New Zealand community gardens and contact details
List of Auckland community gardens and contact details
Yardsharing
Where to find advice
Urban Pantry: We add material to our site regularly, so check back for the latest
Ooooby: Join the online community for people who grow their own food in New Zealand to get access to loads of information and experience
In Christchurch the City Botanic Gardens are hosting Saturday sessions in 2011 on edible gardens for schools. Next one on 11 June. Book via Botanic Gardens Information Centre – may interest your E-newsletter readers?
Rhys
28 May 2011
Great resources Emily. Another book I'd recommend is 'Fresh food from small spaces – the square inch gardener's guide to year round growing, fermenting and sprouting' by R.J. Ruppenthal.
Mariana
21 Jul 2011
Thanks Mariana. I've read 'Fresh food from small spaces' before and it is a great resource.
Emily Harris
21 Jul 2011