By Mitch Gaynor
IT’S the hidden backyard oasis that costs next to nothing but feeds a couple every day, solves their cost of living worries and is a relaxing hobby as well.
Leonie and Peter Hall are rightly proud of their backyard farm, which they have squeezed into the back of an 800sqm suburban block in the Glass House Mountains.
In full production as spring nears, the couple have a wide array of delicious vegetables from snow peas, beans, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, spring onions, chillis and ginger all growing and nearly ready to eat.
Peter, a former army cook, said he had loved working in gardens since he was five years old.
“It’s so rewarding, it’s good psychologically and it helps that I know exactly what goes into the garden,” he said.
“We don’t buy vegetables any more.
“I think as people talk more about how to make do as costs of things rise, this is the sort of thing that helps address the issue.”
The couple grow vegetables all year round save for a period during the top of summer when it gets too hot, during which time they allow the soil to regain nutrients.
Peter said he loved cooking as well, with spicy food (he cooks a mean curry), pea and ham soup as well as homemade apple pie (including homemade pastry) among his favourites.
