As some readers might recall, Magic did a tremendous amount of work last season, with the help of our partner organization, Te Whare Rongoa, toward expanding Gentle World’s veganic growing power.
As well as preparing the ground for a sizable new growing area, he constructed an extraordinary possum-proof fence, as part of our ongoing commitment toward using nonviolent means to keep these voracious marsupials away from our crops.
Our readers were given a first glimpse of the new garden last September, and we are now over the moon to see his efforts quite literally coming to fruition.
In addition to the abundance of vegan-organic carrots, beetroot, kale, lettuce, spinach, celery, zucchini, parsley, basil, dill, coriander, green beans, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, sweet corn (started from seeds saved last year,) potatoes, sweet potatoes, squashes, garlic, and onions… Shangri-La’s veganic demonstration gardens now proudly feature asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, Yacon, cantaloupe, and one of our favorite foods – watermelon!
A bed of chia plants not only looks beautiful as it quietly prepares to start producing veganic chia seed (!) it also gave us the pleasant surprise of acting as an effective barrier to keep pheasants and possums from attacking the sweet corn.
And thanks to the innovative orchard possum-proofing method we developed several years back, our trees are now laden with pears, apples, plums, and more!
Many new gardeners may be surprised to find out that blood, bone meal and fish emulsion are all considered “natural” ways to fertilize organic gardens. These substances are obtained from slaughterhouse floors or mass fishing operations… and they reek of the industries which they support.
Thankfully, from green manure to nettle tea, there’s a myriad of healthy, easy and sustainable vegan fertilizers to safely and effectively revitalize and nourish your garden, ranging from those you can grow in your own backyard, to those you can find on the garden store shelf.
Check out some of our resources to learn more about this future-focused method of growing food:
From our veganic growing archives
What is Vegan Organic Gardening?
Veganic Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide
Veganic Gardening and Farming Resources
Kale: An Easy Beginner’s Guide to Growing
What’s Hiding in Your Organic Fertilizer?
Easy Guide to Vegan Organic Fertilizers
6 Gardening Tips for Hot Weather
Beginner’s Guide to Composting
