Saw this on another site and thought what a good idea...dunno how much sun they'd get inside the van tho, Sue
We were planning to travel around outback Australia in our caravan but still wanted to enjoy home grown vegetables while we were on the road. No problem - we took a vegetable garden with us! It simply sits on a non-slip tray under the caravan table!
I bought a $2 plastic planter box and a $1.99 punnet of mixed lettuce, and then I picked some parsley and spring onions from our garden. I filled the planter with soil from our vegie patch, cut the tops off the spring onions, leaving about 20cm of green tops and 5cm of roots, and planted them at one end of the planter. The parsley went into the other end, followed by the lettuce. I recently bought another planter and we now grow spinach and celery as well. I share excess produce with fellow campers, who all make wonderful comments about our caravan harvest!
We plant everything close together to stop weeds coming through, and use waste water from our shower to feed our thirsty plants. We just need to watch out for wild life like goats, rabbits and kangaroos when the planter is outdoors.
Of course, you don't have to be a traveller to benefit from this idea. If you live on your own, or have limited space, try growing vegetables in a planter. The results will be fantastic!
I think that is a great idea, my only concern is crossing borders re quaranine. Not sure about the soil either not only the plants. I think I will stick to air plants those things you can put on your fridge as magnets with a little piece of plant attached to it. Then again how do they go for border crossing? Might not be able to have any form of garden except artifical-ugh! Oh well the sacrifices we have to make to travel -ho hum its a worry! I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!! Someone has got to do it- so it may as well be us poor old GNs hee hee hee says we. Cheers Dawn- counting down
Speaking of border crossing, does the exclusion of fruit and vegetables extend to the frozen variety and also the dehydrated ones as well?? Or is it only the fresh variety??
-- Edited by Ma on Monday 21st of September 2009 07:08:57 PM
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Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
Only whole fresh veggies and fruit, cut them up and they are miraculously OK.....
I wonder how I'm going to go when we take to the road next month with a Dog and an ALDI Mushroom farm.... Nothing like freshly sauteed mushies with salt and pepper on toast for breakfast....Except of course the Full English, but I'm not allowed to eat that.....
-- Edited by Basil Faulty on Monday 21st of September 2009 08:21:58 PM
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Don't take life too seriously.... No one gets out alive
KIA Sorento CRDi EX ( Ebony black) with 5 hex chrome plated tire air valve covers, Coramal Sunsheild, Elcheapo GPS, First Aid Kit, full KIA toolkit & Yellow lenses on the Foglights......
That cut up vege thing may vary from state to state. The WA-SA, NT-SA and NT-WA border checks are very stringent. They even go through the buses and get everyone out to check. The checks up the Riverland are also fussy if you're heading into SA. Dried, frozen and cooked fruit and veg is always ok. Even honey has restrictions. Don't depend on that cut up option. You certainly would not get across with you fresh garden. Ideal as it seems, even potting soil is subject to scrutiny, and empty, dirty plant pots get the once over and usually chucked out. Of course the inspectors look for less legal contraband as well. The ag industries of SA and WA are very strict about protecting their enterprises. It pays to err on the side of caution. It's a lot to loose in more ways than one. Cheers Chris
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Only whole fresh veggies and fruit, cut them up and they are miraculously OK.....
Don't try that at the SA-WA border, Irona cut up all her vegies for a casserole and put them in a mild vinegar and water solution, lost the lot at the SA-WA Border this month, Tuesday 22nd September, they are the most officious mongrels I have ever had the misfortune to come across. Quote "I am just doing my job" Unquote
John Back in WA as of Friday 25th Sept.
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If I don't get there today, I'll get there tomorrow or the day after.
John & Irona..........Rockingham Western Australia
So, do you reckon that if I had a jar of home grown pickled in vinegar and sugar beetroot that I would loose it too???
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Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
So, do you reckon that if I had a jar of home grown pickled in vinegar and sugar beetroot that I would loose it too???
G'day Ma,
If it is properly pickled then it will be OK. Irona only used a small amount of vinegar in water and that was not to the AG officer's liking so it had to be emptied out. They claimed that the vegies could still spread disease even though they were in a light vinegar and water solution.
Now in 2004 when we came into WA from the NT the AG officer told us that the peeled, vinegar and water method was quite OK but no such luck at The SA-WA border in 2009, maybe the criteria has changed, who knows?
John
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If I don't get there today, I'll get there tomorrow or the day after.
John & Irona..........Rockingham Western Australia