In the current tough economic environment everyone is looking for ways to cut their costs – and what better way to make savings than to grow your own produce?
mygreenpatch is a new DIY produce patch business, launched this week to help Australians grow some of their own food, reap the health benefits from eating untreated and ripe produce; and save money in the process.
Started by Harvey Baker-Dowdell after years of disappointment at the produce options presented at supermarkets, mygreenpatch is based at Wamberal on the NSW Central Coast.
“I was sick of buying tasteless tomatoes that were pink instead of the ripe red they should be, and I couldn’t believe it when broccoli was $8 a kilo at my local Woolworths. I knew I could do better and started a small vegetable patch in my backyard,”Harvey explained.
“Soon my thumbs were greener and I wanted to expand my patch to grow everything I could, from tomatoes, broccoli and cauliflower to pumpkins, rhubarb and passionfruit.
“It was such a thrill harvesting my own produce as we needed it and when I talked to friends about what I was doing they all said they wanted to grow their own fruit and vegetables too, but didn’t have space or time. That got me thinking and I started working on plans for three different produce patches – one to suit everyone, whether they lived on an acreage or in an apartment” he said.
Many families spend around $30 a week on fruit and vegetables, which is more than $1500 a year. Even after the initial patch investment, customers will be saving themselves money by growing their own produce within a matter of months.
mygreenpatch offers three patch sizes: myproducepatch (2400x1200mm), mystarterpatch (1200x600mm) and myherbpatch/mykidspatch (600x600mm) to suit backyard or veranda gardens.
Each kit comes with timber, soil, tools, instructions and seedlings – everything needed to get started growing your own produce. Prices start from $250 including delivery.
“What better feeling is there, than going outside on a balmy summer evening and picking the basic salad ingredients from your own produce patch – lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions and herbs?” Harvey asked.
Having your own produce patch is also a great way to educate children about where food comes from – and what it should really taste like!
“My two-year-old son loves helping me plant the seedlings, water our patches, pick snow peas and dig up potatoes. He will grow up eating organic produce we have grown ourselves and I can see he’ll want his own patch soon,” Harvey said.
The website, www.mygreenpatch.com.au, is constantly being updated with news on what to plant when, Harvey’s blog and The Allotment – a community-based forum where mygreenpatch users can compare notes, swap seeds, solve pest problems and much more.
For more information about mygreenpatch log on to www.mygreenpatch.com.au or call Harvey Baker-Dowdell on 0438 267 777.
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