Fun in the garden

We are retired, but have always had an interest in the natural world and concern to reduce our impact on the environment through our lifestyle choices.

Growing our own food has been a key part of this, coupled with care for the environment as reflected in living standards, material possessions and raising our family.

We now hope that our children and (in time) their children will carry this on.

Gardening has always been a major hobby for our family. It brings enjoyment as we produce food for the table, preserving and sharing with others, it keeps us physically active outside, there are health benefits, and it attracts native wildlife. Garden flowers and vegetables also reinforced an aesthetic element to our lives.

There is also a greater awareness of the environment, seasonal changes, how food is produced, and how to work with natural processes.

Gardening costs money and energy, but is not a chore – there is great satisfaction from harvesting food when it ends up on the plate.

Active gardening influences others; relatives and visitors like being shown around and seem keen to know more.

In addition to looking after our own part of the world, we find we are also involved in other local environmental activities.

Consider lowering your ecological footprint in all aspects of your life.

Enjoy growing, harvesting and eating your own food (as your climate conditions allow) – you then know exactly where it is from and what has been used to produce it.

Embrace new technologies that save energy or capture it from non-polluting sources.

Respect the living environment for all that it provides.