Inside Kitchen Garden

I have a five year plan, being to pay off all my debts so I can live a life of freedom, ease and simplicity. One aspect of that dream is to have a sprawling garden, a blend of sustainability and beauty, a semi-wild paradise that nurtures my soul and feeds my spirit. When I think of what it might look like I imagine Jamie Oliver's garden, though his is tended by a gardener and much larger than my ideal, but that's the basic idea.

Because I think that to wait five years for a lifestyle that I can have (at least in part) right now, is foolish and possibly detrimental to my wellbeing, I set out yesterday to create for myself a mini-kitchen garden in the sunniest room in my house.

It's the beginning of autumn here and by far the nicest season to be experienced in Melbourne with mild days, cool nights and sunshine that doesn't burn your eyeballs out of your head -- though yesterday it did try. Weather like this is perfect for gardening, whether inside or out.

I'm planning ahead for those days in the middle of winter when the light is dull, the days cold, and I leave and return to the house in darkness, but still want fresh herbs and crispy lettuces to add to my meals. On cold winter days I'm less inclined to take the flashlight out into the backyard in search of a leaf or two of basil -- assuming it could survive the frosts, the slugs and snails and the marauding chicken.
On a sunny day, a small area of my study receives sunlight for most of the day. Plants along the window sill should get almost a full eight hours, whereas those that are a little further inside will receive less but I still think it will be sufficient.
I chose herbs that I use a lot and rarely buy because they are so expensive and go bad before I can use them.
A pot of chives with their grasslike stems and tantalising onion flavour will set me in good stead for crafting delectable warm and cold salads with tempting flavours.
Basil, my favourite herb and one that I always have in too short supply, will now be in my own kitchen garden, there for whenever I wish to use it. I have a crinkly leafed variety, chosen because it is better suited to partial shade than the flat leaved, sweet basil that I'm used to. As long as it tastes like basil (and I'm sure it will), then I'm not fussed by the difference in leaf appearance.
Lettuce and rocket, two staples that have a myriad of uses, even in winter, have the sunniest spot on the window sill.
The plants are close together, clumped in little containers, so I am relying on a similar principle to hydroponics -- small pots, good quality soil (in this case specially designed potting mix for tubs and terracotta), and plentiful application of fertiliser (Seasol) to keep them going. The only slight drawback is that my study is going to smell soft of fishy.
Parsley, of course, because that goes with almost everything and adds much needed nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, vitamin A, folate, potassium and calcium. Of course, you'd probably need to eat several plants worth to get all of that, but every little bit helps and a sprig of parsley with a meal is not only decorate but tasty as well. It's also apparently a breath freshener... better than an after dinner mint. :-)
Another must have is spinach, rich in iron and fantastic as an addition to warm or cold salads. Chick peas and baby spinach leaves with olive oil, lemon juice and some red pepper... yum! I can't wait for my little plant to grow big enough for me to start snipping of his leaves!
Lemon thyme is a herb that I'd never have thought to get, but I found it the nursery and saw that it tolerated partial shade so figured, what the hell, I'll give it a go. It's apparently great on fish, white meat and in salad dressings. Ha! How could I resist that!?
Lucky last is chocolate mint, which smells divine and will be great for desserts and hot drinks. Apparently it's simply divine in apple sauce and can be used to make a mint tea drink... though I have tried that with regular mint and found it didn't work so well. Maybe better luck with this variety.
Lastly, this is what my little indoor kitchen garden looks like from afar. Soooo pretty!! I can't wait until everything's large enough for me to start plucking leaves!