Volume 5 - Introduction

It’s the simple pleasures isn't it?  The first basil seedlings pushing through the soil; a wattle bird returning daily to feed on the flowering Warratah; finding fat luscious earth worms doing their thing in the compost heap; a young olive tree covered in little buds.  Our back yards are bursting with potential and even a small amount of effort can give a huge return. As I write this I have masses of rocket, coriander, chives, parsley, basil, thyme, spinach and oregano all happily thriving in pots and re-used polystyrene boxes within easy reach of my back door.  Low maintenance but high return lazy gardening!

Compiling this book has also been hugely rewarding and I have been amazed, informed and inspired by the stories that landed on my desk.  But mostly I have been comforted in the knowledge that back yard farmers exist far and wide.  And it seems everywhere I go these days I am being offered beautiful free-range eggs that really do taste like eggs or freshly picked broccoli by people opting to put a little time and energy into their patch of dirt.

No matter what the scale, we can all enjoy the benefits of a little back yard farming and I also hope you enjoy this latest volume of Back Yard Farmer.

PS. Back Yard Farmer is here to stay and we need you!  If you'd like the opportunity to contribute to a future volume, please email editorial@earthgarden.com.au with your idea – we'd love to hear from you.