"Trish Brown" wrote in message
node...
We're just about to embark on our first-ever veggie patch and I wondered
if anyone might have some tips for us? The reason we haven't started
before is that our block is boggy and spongy when the winter rains come,
yet arid and awful in the heat of summer. It finally dawned on me that a
raised (about 60cm or more) bed might be the answer! So, that's what
we'd like to do: build up a well-raised bed and then see if we can
reduce the grocery bill by growing some veggies.


Sounds good to me. What is your native soil like? How much sand? How much
clay?

I've read lots of material about permaculture and no-dig gardens (they
come with a recipe for layering that seems pretty impossible - I mean, I
don't know any sheep, so I won't be getting sheep-poo any time soon...)

How far are your from the racecourse or any riding stables? Horse manure and
stable bedding can be excellent cheap sources of organic material. Yes they
can have seeds but so can anything that is not hot composted. What about
gathering grass and clippings from your neighbours? Any tree loppers around?
Look around you and picture cheap sources of organic matter - some person's
rubbish may be your treasure.

My thoughts were to lay something drainy ('aggregate'? chitter? etc?)

I wouldn't put in any non organic aggrgates, you want it all to rot down in
the end and some of your veges will put down very long roots.

and then pile on some organic mix soil (purchased at Great Cost from a
local bloke who sells it). We've got some recycled planks to make the
walls of the garden and a few years' worth of rotted grass clippings for
mulching.


Check out the options. Buying in bags will always be more expensive than in
bulk. Buying ready-to-go will be more than getting the components and
waiting.

Is there anything else I should know? What can I plant nowish (within,
say, the next month)?

Not a very good time, most of your winter veges should be in by now and
established. Particularly if waiting for things to rot I would wait a few
months and start with your summer veges in spring - say early September in a
frost-free area..

And is there anything mentioned above that sounds
wrong? I'd be *really* grateful for any feedback you can offer and hope
this might prompt a bit of a discussion on the ways in which others have
started their gardens.



Some general hints

1) In one small volume a great starting book:
The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Garden - Clive Blazey & Jane Varkulevicius
(Digger Club)

2) Join Hunter Organic Growers Society (HOGS) The next meeting (free) is
Saturday 14th June on Kooragang Island. I will give you details if you are
interested.

David