The power of the garden.

At the Royal Easter Show * with my Mama. (Thanks to my sister Ms B for the photograph).

*When the country comes to the city. It’s the major agricultural show/fair in our state.

I grew up with a backyard veggie garden. To be honest, I was not always so fond of it nor as proud of it nor as grateful for it, as I am now. I wanted an in-ground swimming pool like the neigbours had. As children, we did not pay enough attention to what our parents were doing out there and we used to beg our mother to buy iceberg lettuces instead, but our parents continued to grow food at home, give away surplus, swap seeds – this left its mark. That garden helped feed us and to keep us healthy. The garden and our mama still does.

The imprint of that garden is evident in all the things I hold dear to me – family, good health, good food, generosity. Michael Symons in One Continuous Picnic calls the backyard garden the haven of suburban rustics- this in no way is meant to be derogatory. In this book, he chronicles food history in Australia from the time of us whiteys being here. The pattern that emerges is that Australian eating, has always been supported by some kind of industrial process; be it the British Empire or cheap fossil fuels. Food has always travelled to the population and we expect that. There has never been a peasant class, save for the Dungaree Settlers in the Hawkesbury and the suburban rustics! For the majority of the population, the link between work, the land and food has been displaced (or actively avoided!!!) Indigenous cultures in Australia obviously understand this link – in ways better suited to this landscape too – and shamefully, we have learnt little from them…..me included. If anyone out there knows anything about bush tucker in the Blue Mountains, please let me know.

If you can grow food where you live, even in a window box or a small container, I cannot urge you enough to do it. Grow. Grow. Grow. Do not under estimate the effect this simple and sustaining action will have on those around you. My youngest sister lives in London and until very recently, she has shown very little, almost no interest in gardening but with her birthday coming up….and when asked by us, if there was anything she might like for a present (give us some idea please!!!), she said “Anything that would help me with a garden.” My mother did not thrust her arms into the air with victory, however she knows now, that all her children know, that every home needs a garden especially a kitchen garden. She also knows skills can be learnt, if the willingness and enthusiasm are there.

On related matters, this appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday. Thanks Helen for emailing me the link.