BEYOND THE back fence

It all began three-and-a-half years ago with a small veggie patch and a large area of concrete. In 2005, I decided to add two ponds and a small bridge to my garden to create a more relaxing, aesthetically pleasing landscape. I later installed a water tank linked to my toilet to cut down on our water usage. Little did I know these were the first steps in a long journey toward the creation of a sustainable and productive garden.

I wanted to reap more from my land. I was tired of buying tasteless supermarket produce and not being aware of where it came from or what chemicals it had been treated with.

Plus, given my full-time workload, I needed and wanted to establish garden beds that did not require an excessive amount of maintenance.