Why do indigenous and food gardening?

THERE are many benefits to replacing our lawns and exotic plants with an indigenous food garden.

Firstly by planting a wide variety of indigenous plants you will create a wild-life habitat for all sorts of species from birds to insects, butterflies and reptiles. This will bring great pleasure and joy as you see a wide variety of species attracted to your garden and taking up residence there or at least popping in for a visit.

When I bought my property there were a few indigenous trees but I have added about 100 different varieties of locally indigenous plants. This has created an ecosystem and by having a wild and natural garden the number of species of wild-life in the garden has increased. One can choose species that will attract particular birds or butterflies. I planted a number of species to attract sunbirds and I now have many different types of sunbirds visiting my garden.

People may argue that exotics are more colourful. However there are many colourful indigenous plants such as “wild dagga” which apart from having the most stunning orange flowers in winter have the added benefit of bringing sunbirds into your garden. Many of the standard gardens in Durban consist mostly of lawn and a few manicured shrubs. This does not provide a habitat for our wild-life species. There may be colour but it is a sterile environment and frankly rather boring! Many children have enjoyed finding bugs, spiders and other interesting creatures in my natural garden.

Lawns are only really useful if you play ball games or need an area for sitting in your garden. Otherwise they take up a lot of space which could be providing food for yourself and other species. Gardening is an activity that the whole family can get involved in. This is a good way to connect with nature.

Another reason to plant indigenous is to provide wild-life habitat for species. Many of our species are going extinct. By attracting a host of species to your garden you increase the biodiversity of your garden. This kind of garden becomes a wild-life haven – a little bit of wilderness in the city.

Many species depend on other species to survive and this is why it is important to turn your garden into an ecosystem. Instead of clearing away dead leaves and other organic matter, it becomes food for insects, worms and soil organisms that turn this matter into nutrients for the plants to take up, and so the cycle of life continues.

Locally indigenous plants have evolved over millions of years to adapt to the particular climate where you live and species have become dependent on each other in a web of life. Thus they need less watering and attention. Once they are planted some watering is required to get them established or they might need watering during a dry spell but on the whole they are perfectly suited to the climate and will not need any attention.

A kitchen garden needs to be as close as possible to the kitchen with good sun. There is nothing more rewarding than eating something you have grown yourself.

There will be many experts on hand at the Sustainable Living Exhibition and the Indigenous Plant Fair to give you advice on growing food and indigenous plants and having a truly environmentally friendly garden.

Both are being held at the Durban Exhibition Centre this weekend from 22 to 24 August. You will also be able to buy plants. As the saying goes “The glory of gardening: hands in the soil, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul”.