Editorial: Gardening plan starts to grow

I'm going to plant a vege garden.

I was on speakerphone and as the words left my mouth I was pretty sure I heard both my parents falling off their chairs.

You see, unlike the rest of my entire family, I do not have a vege garden. Truth be known, I don't really have a garden at all to speak of, but I have finally decided that it's time to get my hands into the soil and enjoy that satisfaction everyone speaks of - the satisfaction of eating something from your own garden, of cooking with the freshest of ingredients.

I've already been offered some herb cuttings and after recovering from the shock, Dad said he could supply me with some good old sheep manure and some wonderful years-old sawdust which he reckoned would negate the need for getting in topsoil.

This vege garden has been dreamed of and talked about for many years. I've gratefully accepted tomato plants from colleagues who have assured me they require minimum fuss. I'm all about minimum fuss in the garden so I happily carted them home. Alas, those wee plants never really had a chance.

I've dabbled in container plantings but even they eventually became too much bother.

Apart from the impossible-to-kill plants which currently grace what little garden I have, I have pretty much managed to kill every plant anyone has given me.

A former colleague who once bought me a daphne bush for a gift and which I subsequently killed, next bought me a plastic plant that still adorns my desk.

But it really wasn't my fault. You see, my heart just wasn't really in it back then. I've changed. This time is different.

I've already cleared some flax bushes from the raised garden out back where the vege garden will go.

I won't even have to bend down to tend it as it's at about waist height. Perfect.

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As with a lot of things around the home, preparation will be the key and that will be a test of my commitment if it's anything like painting.

I love painting. I just can't stand all the sanding and stuff that's required before you get to do the fun stuff.

Before I can plant a single thing, there's preparation to do - months of it.

Good ol' Dad will be there to supervise some of the gardening ... I just hope I can stick with it long enough to enjoy the rewards in months to come. APN News & Media