If you're talking about growing enough food to feed a family the answer is yes. To get a balanced diet you would need at least a smallholding and plan carefully so that you have enough all the year round. The dry season would be a problem in QLD. We would find it hard to manage without a freezer. The biggest problem is protein. You will need to keep chickens, maybe rabbits and/ or have a fish pond, though you could go fishing of course.
If you're just talking about enough to supplement your diet then the answer is no. I try to concentrate on growing stuff that is not available or expensive in the supermarket so a lot of herbs, peppers, tropical fruit etc. We are lucky in Brazil in that it is a big country and there is always somewhere that has something, but food prices are rising alarmingly and I can see problems ahead! Also they use far too many chemicals...

Well I, and probably most folk who contribute to this page, have some knowledge of growing 'food'. I grow, and have done for many years, vegetables that I consider are more flavoursome than shop bought varieties: tomatoes, beans, potatoes, carrots (can be fussy), etc. I'll respond to your questionnaire but where is it? Home vegie growing isn't difficult. Perhaps the best guide is the TV programme Gardening Australia. Also, a bit a Google search, just type in 'vegie growing' for example, should provide ample info.

For urban folk, I'd say it's definitely more difficult. The right spot, the right soil and intimidation for first timers.
I'd not say there is no information available in fact probably too much.
Disappointment, set-up cost and failure would account for most people giving up very early.
For example, if you have no "plot" available, or are renting, or in a unit, you may need to garden in tubs. That can be expensive - or you need the skills to adapt recycled materials.
Then if you don't realise you can save some seed from the tomato or capsicum or pumpkin you are currently cutting up, you can overspend on buying seedlings, or buying seed - another "thing" to manage somewhere possibly on a windowshelf.
I've seen the cost of ONE "heirloom" tomato or chilli plant being $5 or more. It only takes one slug or snail to pretty much destroy that plant overnight to deflate your enthusiasm.
Try other veggies and you might encounter failure by not knowing they need lime, or by getting invaded by insects, or getting some mildew/damping off/ disease/birds.
It them becomes a matter of buying insecticides /netting or whatever... and with fertilizer thrown in, possibly trellises or canes to grow beans and peas, the pleasure becomes pain as you could have bought a basketful of veggies for far less the cost of all the "gear".
People who do it right, get an enormous amount of pleasure out of it and probably when they are raising children who can learn as they eat.
If you do not expect a bounty, then you can gradually expand your experience and I think some simple things like herbs and greens that can be picked off as needed are a good start.
I've completed your survey and if you are thinking down the lines of sort of community gardens by sharing gardens, then you may have something going. I know one bloke who has "rented" his neighbour's yard and put in some veggie beds and they are both benefitting.
I have overseas friends, and know of aussies through these and other forums, who raise a lot of their produce by seed, and pass on/swap the surplus with others.
If Gardenweb Aus were as dynamic as it used to be, then you'd have a ready-made forum for exchange of information/techniques and seeds.
I do think the opportunity to pass on home-grown fruit or veggies is a wonderful way to bond a community, but perhaps we need to just start with a few households.

Sorry, double post

This post was edited by alisonoz on Fri, May 23, 14 at 3:04

Well really, all you need is a plot of ground, preferably with some crumbly top soil, one you own or rent; a spade or pitch fork to dig it over and break it up, some sunshine, preferably morning and most of the day, some fertiliser - blood 'n bone 'll do, a bit of lime if it's acidic (do a Ph test); some seeds or seedlings; a water supply; stakes if your growing tomatoes or climbing beans, some mulch to conserve the water and curb weed growth and, really, a bit of common sense. Oh and depending on where you live, an awareness of the changing of the seasons. Sydney area (mild temperate) for example, plant out the last week in August. Give it go and watch and learn as you go.

I never gardened at all, until I married and became a homeowner. Once I started gardening, it became a life long passion. Growing up, I didn't know anyone who had a garden, then within a year of moving into our own home, I made a new friend who had an organic vegetable garden and that got me started.

Is growing food all that difficult? If you really want to be as self sufficient as you can and grow most of your food, I don't think it's all that easy but it can be done. There is a family in California that is a wonderful example of how it can be done even in an urban setting. I'll come back and post his name and some links when I remember his name.

Reasons why I grow food? The main motivation, was because I loved doing it. I find it fulfilling. I love the connection with the natural world, being outdoors, watching things grow, observing the amazing coordination of all the elements, soil, water, soil microbes, insects, birds, that allow us to exist. Of course there are other reasons too, that now eclipse my original motivation. The lack of trust in the safety and quality of the food supply used to be my secondary reason, but now I have added to those two reasons, other reasons. I now feel our food supply could be in jeopardy. The state of the environment, climate change, drought, flooding, are having a major effect on crop production. The fact that one particular corporation is trying to gain control of all the open pollinated seeds in the world and replacing them with their own genetically modified seeds that they would own the patent to. Then there are the practical reasons, the food tastes better and fresh organic produce costs a fortune.

Is it economically advantageous? Well, I believe it can be, but you have to learn how to do it economically and that takes time and effort and access to raw materials that help in that regard. You have to have a clean site for a garden, with enough sun exposure and clean water, clean soil. If you donâÂÂt have those, trying to make up for that could be expensive. In that case, maybe you have a friend with access to those things that you could help in their garden and share the produce.

Is it psychologically healing? For me personally, as I walk out the door to the garden, it feels like IâÂÂm starting the best part of my day. Absolutely, it can be healing and sustaining mentally, physically and emotionally. We were meant to have that connection to the natural world. On the other hand, not everyone loves gardening, but we all have to eat and trying to escape the job of feeding yourself upsets the natural order of things and here we are with all the multitude of problems that developed as a result.

What are people scared of? I donâÂÂt believe they are, I think they are distracted by too many other things, and they donâÂÂt always make the time to stay informed and are unaware that there are problems with the food supply. And they probably donâÂÂt have...

That's a BIG long response to what really isn't a difficult undertaking. As humans, we, too, are part of nature; generally speaking, if it's suitable for you it's ok with good ole mother N. Plant out, take note of how what you plant develops, feed with what your plants thrive on, watch for plant enemies and learn and feel satisfied with the fruits of your labours. Failures happen, but it is very satisfying overall. And learn as you go. In short, do a bit a research and take note of the results of your efforts.
B.

Wow, what an interesting Q and even more interesting and eloquent A's! I hope idthomas is still around and reading them...Yes, I think gardening, as with most things, comes more easily to some, whereas for others it can sometimes feel rather overwhelming, particularly when things mysteriously go wrong and all one's work seems for nothing, like when all your precious seedlings shrivel and die after months of research, planning, setting up and nurturing as per instructions ... :-( I'm sure it helps, for example, if you've had the great blessing of being around gardens and gardeners at some point in your life and have at least absorbed some of the really basic stuff; and have a certain confident, instinctive 'common-sense' feel for what to do, as Funnelweb describes... I think I have that to to some degree, but for me, chronic fluctuating illness makes it something of a challenge to look after things consistently, since there are days and weeks and sometimes even months when one can't get out there and do stuff - even my south-facing bathroom window-ledge potted herbs and salad greens - positioned so I'm within arm's reach of them several times a day, no matter what! - struggle, even though I do manage to keep them watered and trimmed as needed. Like children, there's always something one of them needs - a change of position or container to adapt to changing light and size, some research/kitchen-creating of remedies for various infestations and ailments or a trip to the shops or the shed, all of which is no hassle if one is reasonably healthy and mobile. So, yeah, idthomas, if you can come up with something to help that'd be fantastic! People with disabling conditions are amongst those who could most benefit from the economic savings, convenience and health advantages of gorgeous freshly picked organically-grown fruit and veg, not to mention those therapeutic effects of communing with nature! I just realised, 'id' probably stands for Industrial Design/er, rather that Identity... How exciting to be embarking on such a great career (I did a bit of design study in a previous incarnation). And what great good you could do in the world if you are truly interested in designing better systems for growing food, etc. - especially in our increasingly urban, ridiculously concreted-over environments...As building blocks decrease in size, and fashion and/or the desire for maintenance-free yards require less and less soil and living vegetation; house walls get hotter so we gobble yet more energy to cool them. Bring on vertical, roof-gardens, and more... :-)

Umm.. Apologies for that long ramble, made even harder to digest due to the lack of paragraphs. Another thing I haven't yet mastered. Now to try and find that questionnaire... :-)

PLEASE PLEASE not rabbits. That is horrifying to us who have them as pets and see with our own eyes that they have emotions and personalities.
Shame on you, Ifrazer. SHAME ON YOU.

No shame at all, for something to live a lot of things have to die. It's reality and it's the way it's always been.

I am a new gardener, I am 22 and also a uni student. I think the main reasons people dont grow their own produce is because of the expectation of failure. People think that after their failed attempt at growing some random herb that they must suck and have no 'green thumb' as the saying goes. Also there is alot of research involved. you cants just stick something in the ground and expect it to thrive. You need to know what that plant needs, sun/water/food/temp etc. Also I think alot of people assume that because they live in smaller housing that a garden is not possible. Also the cost of starting up, especially when you arnt sure what you are doing is a little off putting. I myself am having trouble finding people who are experienced to help me when I am struggling to understand why one of my plants just decided to keel over and die!

But yea despite all the little start up bumps, I think gardening is really relaxing. I love coming out to my verandah only to see that my passionfruit has shot out another vine, or my blueberries are starting to ripen or my lilies finally decided to bloom. It is really exciting, and you feel really proud when you can say, look at that plant, it is healthy, happy and beautiful and I am the one who brought it to life.

Sounds like you have the bug, Jamie. :-)

Well, idthomas, you started this way back in May, after all has been said did you plant anything and have you had any results?
B

I too would like to see some results.