![SMALL WONDER](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/8091/404169/5e43d416b367f/SMALL-WONDER.jpg)
In its exposed location on the Hunter coast, Fern Bay is either the northernmost suburb of Newcastle or the southernmost region of Port Stephens. Officially, it’s the latter.
A high-flying bird would see wetlands and reclaimed dunes bisected by the twin channels of the mighty Hunter River. So, when Andrew and Cynthia Meyles moved into a new housing estate in Fern Bay, the immediate challenge was the soil — or rather, the sand.
“The soil was barren,” says Andrew, “and I had to spend a couple of years building up the organic matter to make it fertile and productive. I brought in some soil for the garden beds and it was full of nematodes that I’ve had to learn how to control.
“Moving from Tasmania to Newcastle meant I had to adjust to a completely different growing climate and I made many blunders in the process.”
Not that you’d notice now. Somehow, this suburban block accommodates a generously proportioned house, a large swathe of lush buffalo grass and, most impressive of all, a meticulously planned and prolific 120m2 vegie patch comprising 15 raised beds, each 50cm high, six of them wicking beds.
There are also some large pots and, planted directly into the ground, pineapples, figs and coffee as well as a row of thriving citrus trees along the back fence.
It is, in Andrew’s own words, “a very structured garden that is intensively cropped using many different types of vegetables”.
Among the main crops are tomatoes, asparagus, sweetcorn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, silverbeet, spring onions, lettuce, coriander, beetroot, carrots, zucchini, Lebanese cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, leeks, snow peas, spinach and various herbs.
Andrew also grows rockmelons, spaghetti squash, pumpkins, chillies, capsicums, bull peppers, climbing beans, bush beans, edamame, bok choy, turnip, won bok, blueberries, rhubarb and strawberries.
Denne historien er fra Good Organic Gardening #10.6-utgaven av Good Organic Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra Good Organic Gardening #10.6-utgaven av Good Organic Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Glamour girls](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c409ab4dc93/crp_Glamour-girls.jpg)
Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
![FRIED VEG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41411ea417/crp_FRIED-VEG.jpg)
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
![BEYOND BIG RED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41a6eb04df/crp_BEYOND-BIG-RED.jpg)
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
![EVEN MORE TROPPO](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c32491c5ad8/crp_EVEN-MORE-TROPPO.jpg)
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
![LET'S STALK RHUBARB](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c40f021899b/crp_LETS-STALK-RHUBARB.jpg)
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
![FOOD OF THE GODS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c4058e00ced/crp_FOOD-OF-THE-GODS.jpg)
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
![MAKING GOOD BETTER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41d9eb93a1/crp_MAKING-GOOD.jpg)
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
![True lily](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c417732dad4/crp_True-lily.jpg)
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
![SALTY BUDS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c403da6a8e1/crp_SALTY-BUDS.jpg)
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
![Ducks on duty](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/768731/6171113ae4f17/crp_Ducks-on-duty.jpg)
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!