I would love to make our garden into a self contained eco system, but our space is limited so I have to concede that we can't provide everything. However, I can try to make the most of utilising every bit of growing area available, so that was the first step. I'm not entirely happy that I've completely achieved this yet, but I think we're nearly there.
Most of the garden was lawn or decorative garden beds to start with, with just one section designated as a vegetable plot. So the logical first step was to start turning the lawn into growing space. Now here we have a benefit to living in an urban area; junk mail! If we remove the “No Junk Mail” sticker, then every week we get dozens of catalogues and flyers from the big shops and these make a great weed mat. By laying them down on the lawn and covering them with mulch I got rid of most of the front lawn, which consisted of one of the toughest and most persistent grasses going. Then once the weeds have gone the weed matting just breaks down into the soil.
A little patch of grass beside a wall got dug up and replaced with things that I heard will grow pretty much anywhere.
I tried growing some shade lovers in planters under the veranda, but there wasn't enough direct light and the plants just got spindly. So I moved the planters to the base of the palm, which didn't really allow for growth around it's roots, but gave a certain amount of shade to stop the metal planters over heating in the sun.
I have also put some planters in front of the chicken runs utilising a bit more of what's left of the lawn.
The last bit of land that I've just made some moves on is a small strip between us and our neighbour, with a bit at the front which requires communications wires access. When this gets dug up by the phone company it's usually left in a mess, so I don't want to put to much work into it. So far I've just put in a native edible salt bush and I think sticking to natives will probably be the lowest maintenance option and require the least amount of water.
For the time being at least, I have decided to keep a bit of lawn for feeding the rabbits and chickens. It can't provide all their needs, but it's something and the rabbits love to get out on it to do a little lawn mowing.
Here is my previous post in this series if you missed it:
@minismallholding/overcoming-the-drawbacks-of-small-scale-urban-homesteading-introduction
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