GET GROWING!

To feel well, you need to eat well — and there is nothing as important to our health as a diet rich in fresh, healthy veggies, herbs and fruit. The best way to have a ready supply of nutrient-rich seasonal edibles is to grow your own — in raised garden beds, pots, vertical gardens or in the ground. Regardless of the size of your outdoor space, or your level of gardening expertise, it is possible to grow produce you can use for cooking, preserving or sharing with friends and neighbours.

While improved taste and guaranteed freshness are prime benefits, so is the ability to grow what you like — and be a little experimental growing new and unusual varieties for special recipes or just for fun. Saving money is another. For many, eating an orange plucked straight off the tree or slicing up carrots pulled from your garden that morning for that evening’s casserole may be reward enough, but once you have your productive garden up and running, you’ll find it a cheaper source of fruit and veg than buying from the supermarket.

First-time gardeners don’t need to plunge into the deep end. Start