I am currently trying to avoid going to the shops as much as possible, as most of us are! Collecting ingredients from the vegetable garden and taking full advantage of what I have growing are simple things I can do to avoid the supermarket. It is economical, saves time and means my family is eating food that is fresh and has not been exposed to chemical residues.

This is not new to me. I have been skipping the shops whenever possible for a long time! Ever since I first started a vegetable garden. I did a “Skipping the Supermarket” challenge back in 2012. Many of the habits formed back then continue today.

Grow from seed

I have a passion for growing from seed, I prefer to grow my vegetables and herbs from seed because I can use local, open pollinated certified organic stock. I learn the varieties that work best in my garden and those that produce well. You can grow from seed from home, no need to fight for seedlings at the local Bunnings or nursery. Once you learn to grow from seed, it is a very simple and cost effective way to feed the family.

From the basics you will be empowered to continue to learn more, and hopefully grow more. The best thing about gardening is the defined seasonal pattern. Once you learn what to grow each season you can simply repeat the process year after year. Get started, learn the basics and your results will continue to grow and grow each year.

Gardening with kids

I began growing from seed so I could control the quality of food my family was eating and to teach my children about nature, healthy food and because it provided an opportunity to spend time together outside.

Growing herbs and vegetables at home is a educational activity that children from preschool age can participate in. In the years I have worked with local pre-schools, establishing their gardens and teaching the children seasonal growing techniques, I don’t see poor results. Children are wonderfully skilled in growing and caring for plants.

A family seed kit

Kitchen Garden Box® has returned in a new form to help you get your vegetable garden in place for Spring growing. This seed kit was created five years ago. It has just had a refresh of the packaging, and all of the contents that allow it to now be offered at a much more accessible price of $39.99 plus postage. The original product was $147.

All contents have been designed to include children in the process if you wish to do so. Carefully selected seed has been included because it produces produce that is commonly enjoyed by families, and seed that is easy to start and grow.

It always surprises me when people tell me they are about to start a vegetable garden and they are planning to grow something that is unsuited to the season – like tomatoes in Winter (unless you live in northern Australian states) No wonder poor results and failed harvests are the outcome!

The Kitchen Garden Box® provides the growing guides to ensure you plant at the correct time of year. Growing information is outlined in the provided information cards.  I often get asked for tips on growing different edibles across the year so I have collated all the key information in a portable, easy to reference format.

Note postage is not available to Tasmania or Western Australia due to quarantine restrictions.

What do you need to do?

Choose a suitable growing space and have some seed raising soil ready to use.  You will also need some shallow pots to raise your seed, plant markers or tags and finally, book time in the family diary to get started. Read more about getting started from seed here (or wait until your Kitchen Garden Box® arrives!)

I’m really excited about this revised product and can’t wait to share it with you.

I look forward to sharing my tips and high quality seed with you and your family so you can also skip the shops.

Purchase your Kitchen Garden Box® and begin to grow your food this Spring.