There's nothing like being able to pick fresh lettuce leaves or herbs straight from the garden - or, in the case of Anne Shaw, straight out of the water.
Together with husband Chris, Mrs Shaw has been growing hydroponic lettuces and herbs from their Mt Martha property for 20 years.
“We grow the fancy lettuces, such as oakleaf, coral, butter, mignonette and mini-cos, as well as basil, coriander, rocket and spinach,” she said.
“Hydroponics is surprisingly efficient in water usage. We use less than five per cent of the water needed to grow crops in the ground.”
Mrs Shaw said growing food hydroponically is great fun.
“You can do it using plastic buckets, storm water pipes - anything. All of our crops are on tables, so they are at waist-height. And there’s no weeding and no grit or soil in our plants.”
The Shaws also use integrated pest management.
“We use the good guys to kill the bad guys,” Mrs Shaw said.
“We buy in tiny wasps which eat the aphids, using natural mechanisms to kill the pests.”
Their label, Peninsula Aquagrowers, is sold through Mornington-based company Simply Fresh to restaurants, cafes and fruit growers around the peninsula.
Of course, hydroponic growing means there are crops every day of the year. “You’ve got to enjoy this because you’re working every day,” Mrs Shaw said.
“But there is something good about working with nature.”
source
Together with husband Chris, Mrs Shaw has been growing hydroponic lettuces and herbs from their Mt Martha property for 20 years.
Anne and Chris Shaw with some of their hydroponic lettuce at their Mt Martha property
“Hydroponics is surprisingly efficient in water usage. We use less than five per cent of the water needed to grow crops in the ground.”
Mrs Shaw said growing food hydroponically is great fun.
“You can do it using plastic buckets, storm water pipes - anything. All of our crops are on tables, so they are at waist-height. And there’s no weeding and no grit or soil in our plants.”
The Shaws also use integrated pest management.
“We use the good guys to kill the bad guys,” Mrs Shaw said.
“We buy in tiny wasps which eat the aphids, using natural mechanisms to kill the pests.”
Their label, Peninsula Aquagrowers, is sold through Mornington-based company Simply Fresh to restaurants, cafes and fruit growers around the peninsula.
Of course, hydroponic growing means there are crops every day of the year. “You’ve got to enjoy this because you’re working every day,” Mrs Shaw said.
“But there is something good about working with nature.”
source
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