Wai Not Go Green?

Food, Food, Glorious Food! Featured in the Carterton Crier Feb 2009

The first thing that struck me on arrival at Helen and Alf Dew’s ‘Open Day’ was the veggie patch where the front lawn used to be!  Alongside the beetroot bees were busily working the flowers on the onions being grown for the local heritage seed company. Helen said carrots will follow on from the broccoli and cabbage, the last of which she’ll harvest this week.  

The driveway, where climbing beans, peas and espaliered fruit trees mingled with flowers led to mixed plantings of food crops and flowers in a series of ‘rooms’ framed by a very productive grape vine behind the house.

Peas in the newly established berry cage had sprouted from the straw mulch placed around raspberry canes, opposite the raised bed shared by blueberries and strawberries. 

Sheltered by the potting shed, hot-house and feijoa tree, the main food plots are bordered by a restful lawn, planted in fruit trees.  As we gathered there Helen shared the story of the garden’s 54 years of development and demonstrated her method of compost making.  “Supplemented by adequate water, worm-farming and Bokashi, compost is a vital aspect of maintaining the health of our soil and crops.” 

Although compost and straw mulches reduce the amount of water required to keep crops in good condition Helen said their strategically placed tanks and a bore reduce reliance on the town water supply. 

“Eating in season comes naturally to us; meal plans revolve around the wide selection of maturing crops supplemented by stored produce, including our sun-dried vegetables, and bean and pea seeds.”  Purchased avocados, soy and dairy products provide protein for this vegetarian couple. 

Helen said she’s been noticing lately how this food growing ‘bug’ is spreading!  “Although it may initially be a response to steadily rising food prices, people are enjoying a sense of achievement, not to mention the significantly improved flavours that food straight from ‘plot to plate’ provides.  And by reducing packaging and ‘food miles’ it cuts back on waste and CO2 emissions!” 

Although the Dews are practically self sufficient in fruit and veggies Helen’s vision is to ultimately reach a stage of interdependence in the neighbourhood, where co-operative arrangements would enable local home gardeners to select the types of crops they’ll grow and share with the group.  “This would reduce individual workloads, and make it easier to manage crop rotation and harvesting. The collective skills and experience would be a resource for newer gardeners and help build social connections, thus strengthening Neighbourhood Support networks.” 

Helen suggested that neighbourhood and community groups could connect those who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to tend their home gardens with others willing to utilise the unused land for crops they would later share. 

Helen commented that “selling surplus plants and seeds from home and at local markets – for both NZ$ and Green Dollars - enables us to pay for help with maintenance.  Considering recent trends with the conventional money system I’ve a feeling that trading with local currency is about to become more popular!” 

Helen thinks the home-grown option is not only better for human health; it also makes sense from the environmental point of view. “A combination of self sufficiency, local initiatives and co-operative effort is likely to be the way communities meet the demands imposed by diminishing supplies of increasingly expensive fuel, not to mention the challenges presented by climate change and financial instability.” 

Helen and Alf welcome enquiries about individual or group visits.   

Phone 06 379 8034, email helen.alf.dew@contact.net.nz