Family takes pride in growing their own

Ryan and Kirsten Baker's young children have discovered a newfound enthusiasm for eating their greens since the family started their own vegetables about a year ago.

• Vege growing at home

"They're more likely to eat something that has come out of the vegetable garden than something bought," Mr Baker said of his 6 and 8-year-old sons.

When the couple moved into their Waldronville home it already had a vegetable patch, but they found it unmanageable and it was soon thigh-high with weeds.

When they decided to resurrect the garden and try growing their own vegetables, they opted to build raised beds and find them much easier to look after.

"We have now got enough space to grow a few things and not too much that it will get out of hand," Mr Baker said.

The children helped build the beds, tip in barrow-loads of dirt, plant vegetables and now spend time on the end of a hose watering as they watch their vegetables grow.

Being surrounded by keen gardeners, the family was soon collecting advice from their neighbours about what grew well in the area.

Mrs Baker did all the research about what they should grow and when to plant it - they only grow what they know they will eat - while Mr Baker's job was to build the beds.

Describing himself as "a computer guy, not a carpenter", he still found building the three beds relatively easy, he said. The hardest part was deciding whether to use treated or untreated timber - he ended up using a mixture of both.

The family have had success with cauliflower, broccoli, silverbeet and strawberries, their potatoes are growing well, and they are experimenting with tomatoes.

Digging his own new potatoes for Christmas lunch was a source of pride, while growing their own food was satisfying, Mr Baker said.