More Aussies want a veggie patch over a barbie
More Aussies would rather get their hands dirty in their own veggie patch than sizzling snags on the barbie, a new study reveals.
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MORE Australians would rather have a vegetable patch than a barbecue in their backyard, new research finds.
22 per cent of Australians want a vegetable garden in their backyard while 21 per cent would prefer a barbecue, according to Amazon’s Outdoor Living Report.
Landscape designer Charlie Albone said he “loves” that more Australians including a growing wave of young people are engaging more with their gardens.
“I love that people are really interested in growing their own vegetables with veggie gardens being the number one most popular item for a backyard space followed by the barbecue,” Mr Albone said.
“That tells me that people love to engage in their outdoor space which is fantastic,” he said.
Asked why there has been a rise in more Aussies wanting to grow their own, he said there’s been a shifting trend on the way people interact with their garden.
The landscaper said when he first arrived to Australia 19 years ago, most people saw their garden as another “box to tick” after renovating their home.
“Back then people wanted it finished and done. We’ve got the house, now we’ve got the garden,” he said.
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The study also found 65.3 per cent of Australian are interested in growing their own organic fruit, vegetables and herbs.
“More people want to help the environment by setting up a compost bin, growing organic fruit and veggies, and eating things that are in season. There is a definite movement towards more sustainable living,” he said.
Brisbane mother Serena Coates said she’s not surprised by the results.
“We certainly spend more time in our veggie patch than our barbecue,” she said.
The mother-of-two who is also the founder of Plastic Free Brisbane said living sustainably was her main reason for having her own veggie patch.
“I’ve been trying to live as plastic free as possible and when you go grocery shopping and seeing those fruits and vegetables like bananas wrapped in plastic – it makes my blood boil,” she said.
“If I can grow my own produce I know what is going into it and that I haven’t used any pesticides and it’s grown in my own compost,” she said.
Her veggie patch currently features rosemary, parsley, tomatoes and sweet potatoes and she’s now about to grow her first lot of avocados.
As an extension to her vegetable garden, Ms Coates has also started growing some fruit trees including mulberry and purple guava trees.
“I hope the mulberry tree will grow fast enough for my kids to climb and pick fruit from it,” she said.
The librarian is also experimenting with growing whatever fruit and vegetables appear to sprout from her compost.
“I’ve got things that pop up out of my compost like a crop of tomatoes that grow up of the compost heap one day. It’s kind of like pot luck! Are they going to be cherry or roma. Who knows,” she said.
The Aspley mother said getting her kids, Amelia, 13, Fletcher, 8, involved in the gardening process was a good way to get them outside and motivating them to eat their veggies.
“The process of beginning to end so my kids being involved in the growing and planting then actually bringing it inside and cooking with it gives them skills.
“If they’re part of that they’re more likely to eat them as well,” she added.
Ms Coates said she also likes the “community aspect” of growing and sharing produce with her neighbours.
“I gave my neighbours some tomato seedlings and so they got a crop of tomatoes. Then they call us over to pick some snow peas so my kids run over and pick a bucket full of them,” she said.
While gardening is often known to be popular among baby boomers, there has been a growing number of young people who also want to get their fingers in the soil.
The research found millennials were keen gardeners, with a staggering 75 per cent of them interested in growing their own vegetable garden.
“There is a definite skew towards younger gardeners and first home owners,” Mr Albone said.
Danielle Lewis, 34, said that living in a South Brisbane apartment hasn’t stopped her from having her own green space.
“I have a beautiful herb and indoor garden in my apartment.
“I love being able to grab some fresh basil for a homemade pasta, and know it is completely organic,” she said.
The marketing business owner said she has big plans to create her own self-sustaining micro garden when she buys her own home.
Mr Albone said, “The thing I like about gardening is that people aren’t driven by trends but their own personal taste whether that be rusty metal to Camellias.”
Charlie’s top five tips for your own veggie patch
- Location - make sure your vegetable garden gets enough sun
- Drainage - ensure it’s free-draining which can be done by raising the garden beds up or adding organic matter to improve drainage
- Fertilise - don't forget herbs and vegetables are heavy feeders so remember to use compost and fertilisers
- Start small - start with easy stuff like radishes, lettuce and tomatoes if you’re starting from scratch
- Companion-planting - try planting marigolds to attract pests so you’re not needing to spray pesticides too often
Amazon Australia has today launched a Garden store carrying a range of outdoor products, for more information visit www.amazon.com.au/garden
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