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Onward We Go – Environmentally Friendly We Be

In last month’s Backyard Boredom Breakers post I mentioned my
interest in a few planting/ gardening/ learning ideas. I’ll tell you what,
I’ll include a paragraph from that post to help me get this month’s ideas
rolling forward.
Talking of participating and learning – this month (June 2020) we see
two articles out of Africa about small-scale farming projects. That has
prompted me to tell you a little more - in the next issue - about regen-
erative agriculture, no-dig planting and compost! Indeed, worthwhile
topics to chat about – because these methods redress the wrongs of
mass, industrialised agricultural practices – even if started on a small
scale.

There you have it… a quick C&P and I don’t have to retype it all. The
ideas are all there but now for a bit of background and then maybe
insight into where this all can or will lead. Let me step back a little.
Earlier this year, not long after the beer-bug hit, I wrote something
about returning to the soil in some way. There are still a few steps to
take before this can happen on a bigger scale than my current backyard
endeavours but hey, we are making positive strides toward finding an
acre or two for experimentation and trials. Yes, it is here where my
interest really lies. Trying to combine different ideas – and trusting that
the positive outcomes will benefit us in different ways. When I say the outskirts of town, I mean it. I consulted Auntie Google
to see what the area looks like today. Apart from the highway that now
So, where did all this begin? Well – in my love for the soil – in my crosses the area – it seems that most of the “wilderness” we “hunted”
love for the outdoors and in my very distant past. I spent some of my and played in more than 50 years ago is still there! I’ve also included
formative years on my grandfather’s farm and then, when he grew too a marked shot of what was once our “cottage” … the big red box was
old for the farm, the property was sold and another purchased on what the whole plot – now subdivided – the little red box was a more than
was then the outskirts of one of South Africa’s cities. My grandfather adequate cottage! Memories.
had little interest in the property as such – apart from the size and
suitability of the very large back garden. OK, so… after that geographical diversion – let’s get back to planting.
My grandfather – the farmer – turned the whole backyard into an
orchard and vegetable garden! His planting style was of the day. Each
fruit tree was laid out in a grid – the different varieties spaced accord-
ing to needs – planted together in groups to facilitate pollination. Yep,
I remember some of it! The ideas stuck! Likewise, with the vegetables
– neat – tidy – laboriously dug manicured beds. Back to the past. Have
another look at where that orchard was – the labours of that great man
are wiped out – and let me hurriedly add, I shed a drop of sweat and
blood in that backyard too – promise! So, my contribution is also built
over by now. Sigh…
Wow… this piece has evolved into something of a marathon – personal
history, personal rediscovery experience. I hope you don’t mind – let’s
just say I’m a tad autobiographical as I type this. However, as those
memories stayed with me – I hope I can help instil a love for the out-
doors and for things green and lovely in my grandchildren – just like
my grandfather did for me. On a side note – in my attempts to throw
together a few ideas, I hope a reader or twenty will also benefit and
learn about some of the ideas I’m planning to discuss.
So, let’s get the process going. Back to that paragraph I borrowed from
last month’s magazine. There are three concepts – but bound together
they become one overall process. I mentioned my grandfather’s ways
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