We need to realise the potential of home food growing, not only to enjoy better, fresher food, but to eradicate food poverty, food miles and plastic packaging and take the strain off farmers and the environment. Here is a super simple way to convert lawns into veg beds and be quickly growing loads of your own food…
You don’t have to use your entire lawn (and you can easily grow it back if you want to in the future) but with a rapidly rising population it is vital that we all start getting involved in the food growing process. You don’t need to break your back or spend lots of money on expensive equipment to convert lawns into veg beds. All you need is a bit of know-how, some cardboard, and some organic matter such as soil and/or compost.
How to convert lawns into veg beds in easy steps:
- Source some cardboard. Ask at your local furniture store if they have any large boxes or if they can set you aside some.
- Remove all tape and staples from the cardboard.
- Lay the cardboard on top of the grass. Two layers thick is recommended.
- Cover the cardboard with soil and/or compost. You can build a raised bed if you wish, but you don’t have to.
- You will need to add enough soil and/or compost to be deep enough for the plant roots. Many crops have shallow roots and only require around 12 inches of soil (lettuce, rocket, spinach, radish, broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, courgettes, potatoes, onions, garlic, celery, leeks, herbs…). Medium rooting crops require around 18 inches (beetroot, carrots, chard, kale, peas, turnips, squash, peppers, cucumbers…). Deep rooting crops require around 24 inches of soil (artichokes, asparagus, okra, parsnips, pumpkin, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, tomatoes…).
- The cardboard will block out the light so that the grass and any weeds below die off and your vegetables and herbs have no competition. Forget about the cardboard as eventually it will decompose happily into the soil.
- Water your soil, sow your seeds, water again, keep them watered, and wait for your food to grow!