Over the last few weeks many people have shared their own garden tales - and given me a few tips on where to find some bargains.
Even Auckland comedian Te Radar has embraced the concept.
His television show Off the Radar has not quite been the well of inspiration I had hoped for, but I did like his cooking hut - even if the local council didn't.
Hats off to him, but watching his effort a few weeks ago making a garden out of hay bales then cheerfully plonking bits of salad greens into the mix was one of the more depressing TV moments I have seen.
Compared with my own hard labour for a garden half the size it all seemed too simple.
So I have to admit I was cheered last Sunday when his few beans and salad greens proved to be less than impressive - though I still have no crop to speak of.
There is so little sun hitting my patch of dirt that the carrot and beetroot seedlings have entered a dormant phase with no signs of growth over the last week.
On the other side of the backyard, the resourceful flatmate's patch is steaming ahead.
It gets ample afternoon sun, so I have taken over a small portion of it - some bok choi and mustard lettuce seedlings seem to be thriving among her tomatoes and broccoli.
More beetroot seeds sown directly on to the soil might also have a better chance there.
It's early days yet, but I am looking forward to summer salads with beetroot relish and crispy stirfries.
And if everything grows to plan, we will also have a million tomatoes - the seeds sown in August have now grown into a dozen young plants.
It's just a shame I'm allergic to them.
