Create a Water
Wise garden for
health
Did you know that Water Wise
gardens can be beneficial for people
too? Growing your own veggies is
fun, satisfying and healthy!
Growing your own food is not only simple and relatively
inexpensive, it is great for your mind and body, and the
environment too. A vegetable garden is a great tool to work
towards creating a sustainable lifestyle - you can save water,
reduce pollution, and contribute towards your family’s healthy
by producing your own fruit and veggies. Being close to the
earth and watching plants grow reminds us that water is
essential to life. Caring for a garden reminds us that nothing
can grow without water and that every drop is precious and
must not be wasted. Using Water Wise techniques can help
you get the most out of your garden while using the least
amount of water.
Recent studies on South African malnutrition show that only
20% of South African households appear food secure. Food
gardening can increase food security, self-reliance, health,
and conservation of water and the environment. Besides the
benefits gained from producing your own food, working in
the garden can help you improve your health by helping you
get the physical exercise you need. Gardening is also relaxing,
which helps to reduce stress.
Grow healthy food
A garden lets you grow your own healthy food and even herbs
that act like medicine to help you look after your health. Fresh
fruit and vegetables are packed with health-giving vitamins
and minerals, which keeps your immune system strong to
help your body fight against diseases. Herbs can prevent
illness and can even help treat a wide range of ailments from
fighting infection and lowering fever to easing muscle pain. For
example, the widely available and popular garden plant, snake
flower (Bulbine frutescens), is used for treating wounds, insect
bites, mouth ulcers and acne. African wormwood (Artemesia
affra), which grows extensively in natural areas on the
Highveld, is used for multiple treatments such as colic, coughs,
colds, fevers and earache. As a precaution, always consult your
doctor before using herbal medication.
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Add compost to the soil in your veggie garden to provide
nutrients to plants and increase the water holding
capacity of the soil.
Always add water retention granules to the soil to
increase its water holding capacity.
Mulch your veggie garden to conserve soil moisture.
Plant high water use vegetables, such as cucumbers
and tomatoes in containers so that they can be watered
separately.
Stop watering when the water starts to pool on the
surface of the soil and run off; rather water in short bursts
and allow the water to soak in. Deep soakings encourage
roots to grow deeper and utilise moisture deep in the
ground, which enables plants to thrive between waterings
and in times of drought.
Avoid watering your garden on windy and hot days, as the
evaporation rate is higher.
Although most veggies are high water users, by using these
Water Wise practises you can reduce the amount of water you
use in your food garden.
Veggies also add
colour to your
garden
Create a Water Wise food garden
Adopt these valuable habits to ensure your food garden is
strong, healthy and Water Wise.
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Create pathways through your veggie patch that makes
all areas of the patch accessible and prevents you from
walking in the beds and compacting the soil.
References:
Department of Education Technical Report October 2011.
For more information on being Water Wise please visit
www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo or contact
us on 0860 10 10 60.