Hello from South Africa
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- margo - newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:51 am
- Facebook Name: Terence Bezuidenhout
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Contact:
Hello from South Africa
HI everyone,
Names Terence, I am from South Africa.
Been doing a lot of research on self sufficiency and came across this forum.
I am planning on planting my own veggie garden/small green house and growing as much of the vegetables we consume instead of buying to save on costs.
We (wife and I, no kids and no plans of having any) have a small 2 bed house on a 1000sq/m property which is mainly grass with a small paved driveway. Cutting grass is very time consuming and a pain so ive been playing with the idea of turning some of the grass sections into veggie gardens which will reduce the size of the grass to cut.
We are currently going into autumn so thinking of first building a small green house seen as we going into some colder weather, we have a mild winter with no snow, I think its snowed maybe 3 times in my lifetime and im 35 years old, frost could be a problem so a green house or a kind of cover over the garden could help that situation.
My parents have a huge property with multiple veggie gardens so I have my old man to guide me if need be.
So now the planning and prepping begins to find the best spots on our property to do everything planned.
Will keep you guys updated and post pics etc of the process.
Names Terence, I am from South Africa.
Been doing a lot of research on self sufficiency and came across this forum.
I am planning on planting my own veggie garden/small green house and growing as much of the vegetables we consume instead of buying to save on costs.
We (wife and I, no kids and no plans of having any) have a small 2 bed house on a 1000sq/m property which is mainly grass with a small paved driveway. Cutting grass is very time consuming and a pain so ive been playing with the idea of turning some of the grass sections into veggie gardens which will reduce the size of the grass to cut.
We are currently going into autumn so thinking of first building a small green house seen as we going into some colder weather, we have a mild winter with no snow, I think its snowed maybe 3 times in my lifetime and im 35 years old, frost could be a problem so a green house or a kind of cover over the garden could help that situation.
My parents have a huge property with multiple veggie gardens so I have my old man to guide me if need be.
So now the planning and prepping begins to find the best spots on our property to do everything planned.
Will keep you guys updated and post pics etc of the process.
Re: Hello from South Africa
Welcome to our forum Tbird, nice to meet you
Good luck with your plans, one thing's for sure you can't beat freshly harvested fruit and vegetables.
Good luck with your plans, one thing's for sure you can't beat freshly harvested fruit and vegetables.
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
- Green Aura
- Site Admin
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- latitude: 58.569279
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Re: Hello from South Africa
Welcome to Ish, Terence. Sounds like a fun time, planning what, where and how you're going to grow stuff.
Start small, maybe just do one or two beds and see how it goes.
Have a look round the forum, there's tons of info that might be of help.
Start small, maybe just do one or two beds and see how it goes.
Have a look round the forum, there's tons of info that might be of help.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 8241
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland
Re: Hello from South Africa
Hi Tbird, and welcome. I suppose you realise that, although you save time on cutting less grass, you'll spend a lot more time in growing veg? Of course you do. But I'm the same, anything to avoid the grass, and get the garden productive.
Which part of SA are you in - just to know what kind of climate you've got?
Which part of SA are you in - just to know what kind of climate you've got?
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
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- margo - newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:51 am
- Facebook Name: Terence Bezuidenhout
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Contact:
Re: Hello from South Africa
Thanks for the welcome everyone. I stay in Johannesburg in South Africa, climate is subtropical with mild winters, like I said, we have had snow maybe 3 times in the last 35 years.
Yes thanks for the advice and will definitely start small, a few small beds and maybe 1 small green house. I have a few old pallets laying around I can break up and use for the structure of the green house.
I must admit home grown does taste better than bought, we often get veg from my dads garden and its definitely much better tasting than what you can get from a store.
Yes thanks for the advice and will definitely start small, a few small beds and maybe 1 small green house. I have a few old pallets laying around I can break up and use for the structure of the green house.
I must admit home grown does taste better than bought, we often get veg from my dads garden and its definitely much better tasting than what you can get from a store.
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 8241
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland
Re: Hello from South Africa
My sister lives in Pretoria. The only thing I can remember of her garden is the wonderful lemon tree...
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- doofaloofa
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 1351
- Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:50 am
- Location: Wesht Cark, RoI
Re: Hello from South Africa
Hi Tbird
cool user name
I like to consider grass cutting as mulch collecting
Psychology yo!
cool user name
I like to consider grass cutting as mulch collecting
Psychology yo!
ina wrote: die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln
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- margo - newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:51 am
- Facebook Name: Terence Bezuidenhout
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Contact:
Re: Hello from South Africa
Yea that nickname came about from some friends of mine after a drunken night and just ended up sticking LOL.doofaloofa wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:47 pm Hi Tbird
cool user name
I like to consider grass cutting as mulch collecting
Psychology yo!
Im allergic to grass so every time I have to cut it, my legs itch for a week. Still itching from Sundays cutting.
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 8241
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland
Re: Hello from South Africa
Good excuse. I have to remember that.
(Sorry - don't want to make light of your problem - I know it's not an excuse for you!)
(Sorry - don't want to make light of your problem - I know it's not an excuse for you!)
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
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- margo - newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:51 am
- Facebook Name: Terence Bezuidenhout
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Contact:
Re: Hello from South Africa
LOL all good, yea its a horrible feeling but the grass needs cutting so I have no choice. Going to try wearing gum boots and long pants and see if that helps.
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 8241
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland
Re: Hello from South Africa
I heard the first lawn mower of the season today - for goodness' sake, it's mid February! Could still get lots of snow. The worst snow I've ever seen around here was in March, quite a few years ago.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Weedo
- A selfsufficientish Regular
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- Location: Collingullie Australia
Re: Hello from South Africa
Welcome Tbird. I am also a beginner (laggard?) bumbling my way through the Ishish process so don't worry. I have a hot, dry climate and will need to put up shadehouses to grow in
I have discovered the secret to mowing lawns and you can all have it for free; pay someone
I have discovered the secret to mowing lawns and you can all have it for free; pay someone
Don't let your vision cloud your sight