From Ipswich Allotments to African Orchards
Calendar week 31
I am, at my core, a gardener. Back in Ipswich, I was a proud allotment holder, soaking up wisdom from the veterans and leaning into my genetic predisposition for the outdoor life (thanks to my dad and grandad).
In Port Loko, the garden is my opportunity to fight back against the nutritional “unknowns” of the market. Growing our own fresh fruit and veg isn’t just a hobby. it’s a health strategy.
The Front: The Statement Veggie Patch
The front garden is where the magic is happening. Right now, it’s a lush tangle of Chinese vines and sweet potatoes. The best part? We’ve been harvesting the sweet potato leaves to use as a fresh salad green, they are delicious and a great “quick win” while the rest of the garden matures.
Once the current vines are cleared, I’m getting stuck in. I’ve got grand plans for tomatoes, peppers, more sweet potatoes, and yard-long green beans. I’m also planning a border of flowers against the grey perimeter walls just to soften the “fortress” feel with some colour.
The Back: The Hilly Wildlife Haven
The back garden is a different beast entirely. It’s hilly, with a natural valley running diagonally through it. We even have a “drainage hole” (securely barred, of course) in the wall to prevent us from becoming a swimming pool during the rainy season.
It’s already a bit of a “Wilderness Orchard.” We have:
- Fruit Trees: Fig, banana, plantain, and pineapple.
- The New Arrivals: We’ve recently added orange, lemon, lime, and avocado trees, and I’ve even spotted some pawpaw poking through.
Most people would look at the rest and see “grass and weeds,” but I see a Wildlife Garden. My mission is to keep the native plants under control just enough to let them be beautiful, creating a space that is half-orchard, half-native haven. It’s going to be a challenge, but for a gardener, that’s exactly what the weekend is for.
Summary of the Garden: We’re currently eating our way through a harvest of sweet potato leaves while I plot the takeover of the front yard with yard-long beans. The orchard is growing, the “weeds” are being rebranded as “native flora,” and my inner gardener is officially in his element.