Back to our roots: Growing vegetables with ‘The Veggie Lady’

Northern Beaches’ War on Waste

Autumn has sprung! And it’s the perfect time to get your hands dirty in the backyard.   

We spoke to horticulturist, writer and talk-back radio show guest Toni Salter, aka ‘The Veggie Lady’, on why it’s so great to grow your own produce.

Slashes your monthly food bill - After the initial set up costs, maintaining a garden is low cost if you use your food waste to make quality compost and worm juice, as well as collecting your own seeds.Cuts down on soft plastics – So much of the fresh produce we buy in the supermarket is wrapped in plastic or packaged on styrofoam trays. Your own homegrown produce doesn’t come with any of that packaging.Reduces your food waste - No more bags of herbs or veggies rotting in the back of the fridge when you grow your own. It also means that you don’t need to pop back to the shops for that one veggie you forgot - just walk outside to your garden.Healthier for you and your family - Produce starts to lose its nutrient value the moment it’s picked, so maximise its goodness by minimising the time from plant to plate. Pick only what you need at the time - it’s a great way to ensure all food is eaten and not wasted.

Toni says when she started growing her own veggies, she struggled: “I only managed to grow enough for a meagre amount of salad. I learnt that I was definitely planting the wrong things at the wrong time and in the wrong spot.

“It took some time but through research and learning from others, I have become self-sufficient in fresh produce and I eat what’s in season.”

If you would like to learn more, tune into one of our free webinars with Toni on Veggie gardening mistakes and tips to plant your dream veggie garden and veggie gardening in pots and balconies.