SELF SUFFICIENCY

Most of us remember the BBC TV series "The Good Life" and many people would love to take the plunge and live off the land.

It is possible, even in a small town garden, to produce something from a kitchen garden most of the year. Here are some suggestions for what you might be able to do:

Fruit & Veg
If you garden on heavy clay, raised beds are a brilliant idea. They are easy to construct, from any weather grade timber. Simply remove the grass turf from the area and set your raised bed on the surface. You can even re-use the turf you removed by turning it upside down and lining the base of your raised bed before filling with good soil. For a real treat for your plants, mix in some really well-rotted horse manure (manure must be at least two years old before it can be used, otherwise it can burn the roots of young plants).

If you have a small garden or even a balcony, you could grow salad leaves, strawberries and herbs in pots. If your garden is particularly warm and sheltered, you may be able to grow tomatoes in containers outside, but most gardens would require some form of greenhouse or polythene structure.

Greenhouse
If you have a small space available in your garden, a greenhouse is a fantastic addition. It means you can extend your growing right through the winter. You can also get a head start on sowing spring seeds. Any size or shape will do - even a clear polythene shelving structure is worth having - just make sure it is well anchored so that it doesn't suffer in windy weather.

Chickens
Chooks make wonderful pets, and a rooster is lovely to hear first thing in the morning. But if you live in a built-up area and fancy getting some, make sure your neighbours are going to be happy about it. You might be able to bribe them with the promise of some fresh eggs. Chooks need quite a lot of space, so don't be tempted if you don't have a secure garden. Also, they need protection from dogs and foxes, so their run must be completely fenced in with chicken wire at least 1.5m high. They will be happier if they have a free run on a grass area as they love to pick about. Be aware, however, that they can also be very destructive, and they won't think twice about having a dust bath in your flower beds, destroying your bedding plants in the process (or worse - your neighbour's, if they can escape !!!)

Bees
You may have heard about the demise of the honey bee. One solution to keeping up populations would be if more people were to keep one or two hives in their garden. Of course, this would be easier if you live in the countryside or have access to a quiet sealed off area with permission to put a hive. There are numerous bee keeping associations in Ireland, so there should be one near you. If you would like to find out more, contact them at www.ubka.org . Bees do require checking every week from April to October and at regular intervals during the winter, so they require quite a big commitment and someone to step in if you're away for a few weeks on summer holidays.

If you would like any more information on any of the above, or would like more information about our new self-sufficiency courses, please contact me.