Okay, so I am a 69 year old pensioner, funds are limited, but I want my life to be a quality life. In August 2021 I started my veggie patches in the back yard of my suburban home and a neglected food forest in my front yard. Big rule, no poisons. December 2023 my back neighbor had an accident, went over the vibecrete wall and helped, not strong enough to get back over due to lack of exercise for 6 years of retirement, started weight training and exercise 3 times a week, fit and strong again. Slowly getting my solar system improved, saving money.(retired electrician). When this is done I am going to harvest rain as well, going to be a lot more self sustainable even if not all the way. Also going to be a garden terrorist and plant trees and veggies right on municipal grounds, because they poisoned the field in front of my yard.😀
Oh wow, Etienne, you sound like you have an incredible amount of life stories to share! I am in awe of your approach and that you can do what you can at 69! Wow 👏 I also love your gardening approach and that you are going to take back the municipal land. Absolutely love it and would love to hear more of how this plays out for you 🌻🌻🌻
Haha yip, proudly South African guy here and so glad you didn't think it was Australian or Kiwi, which is almost always the case 😂 I hope you continue to enjoy the future videos I hve to share with you 🌻🌻🌻
I have always known how I wanted to live. I ran into two rather surprising difficulties. One was the unexpected pressure people in my life and society in general would put on me to live a more “conventional “ lifestyle. “Just do everything the way we do and we won’t bother you again.” The other was how long it took to learn how to do the things I wanted to do and how many mistakes and miscalculations I would make. However I find it is as they say-It’s all about the journey.
Aw, I love this comment of yours! It really highlights the struggles we all have to go through for wanting do something so basic - live! The amount of times I have been told I am hippy or just want to go live a hippie life is crazy. People are just ignorant and default to insult when they encounter someone that is on a journey that is so far removed from modern day reality. And you right, it's all about the journey and we each need to enjoy our own journey 🌻
Oh wow Gary, this makes my heart so incredibly happy 💚 I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that you were inspired by this video and that you have a clearer direction of where your path is heading. Thank you for taking the time to leave me such an inspirational video 🌻
I don't need to write my goals down😅 - looking out my window at my veggie garden which has been a tremendous source of food for myself and my chickens (yes, they prefer greens to grain and produce an abundance of the best eggs you can taste 😃), gives me all the motivation I need to carry on and keep improving! Talking of salads, you mentioned radishes. I know them to be very easy to grow and super healthy, but I really find their "burn" unpleasant. Can you recommend a variety that is less "burny"? Thanks! And to any others who are still thinking about starting a veggie garden - definitely give it a try! Yes, you will have failures, but the successes and health benefits will far outweigh any negatives!
Aw, I love this comment, thanks so much for sharing your experience and what sounds like an idyllic garden 💚 I have always only planted the Cherry Belle radishes and I have found that when they are very young they are potent. What I do is let them get to golf ball size and then make sure their spot gets a lot of moisture. I find that radishes that don't get a lot of water are pretty spices too. The way I absolutely love eating them is leaving them to bolt and go to seed. Adding the flowers to salads is just mind blowing. Their flowers are just sooooo yummy 🌻
G’day Craig, I want fresh vegetables to eat and since I began growing some over the last couple of years, I have discovered how much better homegrown vegetables taste. I’ve heard for most of my adult life that homegrown tasted better, but it doesn’t really register as true until you eat your own food. I’ve had several “Oh wow! It’s true, these actually taste good!” moments since I began my journey. It makes me excited to grow more of each vegetable, that I’m rediscovering, each year. I currently have some fantastically healthy looking lettuce (can only grow in winter here) which I’ve just grabbed a handful to have with my dinner. My cabbages are looking so good and that brings joy to my life. 🥗🥬🧅🥔
I started off trying to grow everything and became overwhelmed. Now I’ve slowed down and sticking to my skill levels and physical abilities. Bit by bit I’ll increase the quantity of each vegetable and fruits I grow each season. Best thing is that I’m learning as I go and enjoying the healthy fruits of my labour.
Oh how I love what you have said here Sandra 💚 you are absolutely spot on! One of the biggest challenges gardeners have is variety. There is just soooo much choice and that leads to planting way too much, but also way too many new things that completely overwhelm us. I totally agree with you as well that seeing the fruits of your labour and eating right out the garden is a very special feeling 🌻
Yaaaay, and the joy it brings to your heart being the same joy to mine hearing how much you are loving this journey 💚 Yes, homegrown food tastes incredible and the health benefits are next level. It's a no brainer to grow your own, however, the challenge is to master a few and grow from there. It's hard to master them all at the same go but you sound like you have it all under control 🌻🌻🌻
