| In the past most people grew their own food; now | | | | more, consider an allotment. If you are growing |
| we are dependent on an unsustainable and polluting | | | | vegetables for the first time, start in a small way and |
| agriculture. If we do garden at all we should consider | | | | experiment with different crops and different |
| planting fruit trees and growing vegetables between | | | | positions in the garden. |
| the flowers. Most gardens are too small to grow all | | | | There is one further problem to be mastered. How |
| our vegetable and fruit requirements; however what | | | | can we successfully grow fruit and vegetables |
| we do grow is at least under our control, and can | | | | without modern pesticides and fertilisers on which so |
| allow us to keep to organic principles in the process. | | | | much food production has come to rely? Fertilisers |
| How far is it possible to have a garden that provides | | | | can be replaced by compost and by an understanding |
| a reasonable amount of food? Almost every garden | | | | of what makes a fertile soil, which are addressed in |
| has enough space for growing a small quantity of | | | | the subsection below. |
| vegetables and one or more fruit trees. Herbs can of | | | | As regards alternatives to pesticides, it is important |
| course be grown in all corners of a garden and inside | | | | to learn ecological methods of pest control. Here are |
| the house as well. | | | | some examples of what you can do: |
| \The first decisions to be made relate to fruit trees. | | | | • Encourage natural predators—spiders, |
| These can be very productive and can provide some | | | | hoverflies, ladybirds, and dragon-flies all prey on a |
| to all of our autumn and winter fruit needs, | | | | wide range of insect pests. Birds, toads and |
| depending on the size of our garden. If you have no | | | | hedgehogs are also effective predators of slugs and |
| fruit trees at present, it is worth planning their | | | | snails. |
| positioning such that shading in particular is | | | | • Use ashes, lime or sawdust around plants to act |
| care¬fully considered. The choice of fruit or nut | | | | as barriers. |
| trees (e.g. apple, pear, plum, hazelnut or walnut) is a | | | | • Use aromatic plants—garlic, onions, marigolds, |
| personal one, but it is worth finding out what is likely | | | | and tansy—these repel some insects, and the |
| to grow well in your local climate and soil. Fruit trees | | | | plants can also be made into natural sprays. |
| are probably the best crop to go for if you have | | | | • Time your planting to avoid the worst seasonal |
| enough space, as they require little maintenance— | | | | infestations. |
| only yearly pruning and limited feeding. | | | | • If necessary, use weak soap solutions with small |
| Certain vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach and | | | | amounts of vegetable oil. |
| lettuce, are very produc¬tive in quite small areas. | | | | Some other ways of avoiding the use of pesticides: |
| Peas and beans can be grown up hedges and garden | | | | • Choose only healthy plants and seeds. |
| fences. By carefully selecting the varieties, it is | | | | • Give plants the right soil conditions, light and |
| possible to harvest a succes¬sion of fresh | | | | moisture. |
| vegetables and fruit throughout the year particularly | | | | • Rotate annual crops. |
| with the use of a conservatory, greenhouse or | | | | • Grow a diversity of vegetables and flowers. |
| cloches. If you have a small garden and wish to grow | | | | |