In The Garden With Laura: What’s In My Veggie Garden?

Earlier this month, we caught up with Sunshine Coast Lightning and Bioweed Ambassador, Laura Scherian. Laura’s a firm believer in natural alternatives, and she understands just how important the role of nutrition is when it comes to how she performs both on the court, and at home with her family. 

Since we last saw Laura, she’s received her first Bioweed pack and has been busy distributing BioBooster all through her veggie patch at home. We got chatting with Laura again, and discussed what she’s growing in her vegetable garden, what she does to keep it in tip top shape, and why she loves getting her hands dirty. 

When – and why – did you decide to start a veggie garden at home?

My Nan and Pa are the inspiration for my veggie patch. As a kid (and an adult), every time that I visited Nan and Pa’s place – I would head straight for their veggie patch, and eat whatever was growing. You would never know what was going to be there. Snow peas, beans, tomatoes, carrots, strawberries, capiscums – the surprise was the best part. 

My partner Josh also had fresh fruit and vegetables in his family’s backyard when he was young, and to this day his parents still grow amazing produce to share with their family. When we built our own place two years ago, we decided that we also wanted to grow some of our own food. It’s very gratifying. 

What are you growing in your veggie garden right now?

In our garden, we are currently growing a lot of fresh herbs: parsley, basil, rosemary and thyme. We’ve also got passionfruit vines, various citrus trees, and my pride and joy – our fig tree. 

In our next home, which we are currently planning, we want to have two large scale veggie patches to (ideally) supply us with fresh produce all year round. 

What do you love most about having your own veggie garden?

There are so many reasons to love having your own veggie patch! Firstly, there’s nothing better than freshly picked produce – the highest amount of nutrients are retained, and it just tastes better. 

Next, it saves you money on your weekly grocery shop, and it’s better for the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. 

Finally, it means you are more likely to eat seasonally. There’s so many benefits – it simply tastes better, you’re more likely to appreciate the different seasons, and the specific types of produce that each have to offer. 

How do you take care of your garden?

To be honest, I’m not the one with the green thumb – it’s all Josh. He makes sure that the veggie garden is both watered regularly, along with planting the right seeds at the right time of the year. On the other hand, I have been known to kill plants with love! 

However, I do really appreciate gardening as a whole, and I’m slowly learning the ins and outs, and how to care for the plants with just the right amount of love. My strength is that I make sure I use whatever produce is on offer, and love to create recipes in my kitchen that are inspired by whatever there is an abundance of.  

What would you say to someone who is thinking about getting started with growing their own food?

Start with something easy, such as a few herbs, and let it grow from there. Opt for your favourites if you can, then add some different produce that you wouldn’t usually try. 

Try to ensure that you’re giving your plants and seedlings their best possible shot at success by making sure the soil is in tip top shape. We’ve started using garden probiotics as it’s safe to use with the produce, and we don’t have to worry about any chemicals floating around our home and garden. 

Get your whole family involved, as it’s sure to inspire everyone to eat more fruit and vegetables – even if it is raw, and straight from the garden. There’s nothing better than being able to swap and share fresh produce with family, friends, and those in your local community.