Jonno wrote:

While the water restrictions are on it may be smart to try hydroponics
for growing various vegetables. Hydroponics doesn't require much in the
way of materials if you are smart. Look at the sites below for easy ways
to grow things this way.
It is possible to grow things in pots using cheap scoria, easily
available in Melbourne, or any inert materials as a medium, to hold
roots suspended can be used and an old kiddies bath which can be
periodically flooded with the biological "chemicals" used. Pots are
stood in the bath and the plant return large amounts of produce for the
small amount of space used.

Its also easy to make a 5 inch tube from pvc, insert a light weight
growing medium into it and grow strawberries or flowers like petunias
from the sides, only using a watering can with the hydophonic solution
to keep it wet twice or more times a day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics


The chemicals are not chemicals as such, as they are found in all soils.

They are salts which dissolve in water which plants take up into the
root system.I,ve done some research and these sites are fairly easy to
understand.


http://www.autopot.com.au/

http://www.foothillhydroponics.com/booklet/booklet.pdf

As I'm into electronics it is quite easy for me to adopt various
automatic watering systems etc to do this sort of stuff.
But to keep it simple it is as easy as using your own head to work out
what is required.


There is also Aquaponics , which allows you to grow fish or yabbies to
eat as well as some really nice veggies

it takes a bit to set up by the looks of things but is extremely saleable

one place to start for info is http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/ they
have a Forum there with heaps of info

is should point out that i have never done aquaponics but that's mostly
because i've only just found out about it and we are moving in a few
months so i thought it would be better to wait till then

cheers
Pete