Written by Jenny Catton
If you’re worried about the environmental impact of your fresh fruit and veg, then buying it from the supermarket might not be your preferred choice. Many of the fruit and vegetables on offer at the supermarket have been flown thousands of miles, are grown using a host of different pesticides and are presented in an excessive amount packaging. A good alternative to supermarket-bought produce is to grow your own.
By growing your own fruit and vegetables you’ll not only help the environment but will probably save money too and have a great supply of organic produce for you and your family to enjoy. And you don’t have to have an allotment or large garden to grow your own fruit and vegetables – many can be grown successfully in containers or window boxes or even in hanging baskets. For example, potatoes and strawberries can be grown in pots, salad leaves and herbs do very well in window boxes and tomatoes are ideal in hanging baskets.
If you need to protect your plants from slugs or other pests, avoid using chemical pesticides. Instead, choose natural pest-control methods such as netting or slug traps.
Once your fruit and vegetables begin to grow, you may find that you have a glut of a particular item. Rather than throwing away the surplus, try trading with a friend or neighbour. You could even agree in advance what you will each grow so that you have a good selection that you can swap with one another.
For more information about green gardening, visit: www.kitchengardeners.org
