Claire Mummery is bringing her knowledge and passion for gardening to Be Well.
With more than three decades of experience growing food inall types of gardens - from small home beds to large estates, including Cable Bay Vineyards near her home on Waiheke - a diploma in permaculture, and a passion for growing her own food that is utterly infectious, Be Well is delighted to welcome Claire Mummery. Claire will be bringing her wealth of gardening knowledge to our pages, sharing her tips for growing your own food, no matter how brown your thumbs may be.
An early adopter of the Japanese style bokashi system Claire is a staunch advocate for composting and ensuring that nothing goes to waste. "Compost it all, layer it all and use it in the garden", is Claire's strongest recommendation, emphasising that composting kitchen scraps and other plant waste will create a strong 'hummus' in your soil, which adds to plant health and reduces the risk of pests and disease. "If you're consistent in your garden, it will be amazing."
"I believe anyone can grow food, even in a small space," declares Claire, who successfully grows both onions and carrots in pots at her home. Her secret? Claire once again affirms that it is all about soil health. "I will write (in Be Well) about the soil because it is really important. When you fix your soil, you create a healthy environment for your plants." Claire also believes that you don't need fancy sprinkler systems to have a healthy vegetable garden, even in summer, and she looks forward to sharing her water saving tips with our readers.
As a largely self-taught gardener Claire is adamant about sharing her hard-earned knowledge, and to that end she runs her own gardening education program. Claire's Grow Inspired Academy takes people through from total beginner gardeners, to confident food growers. The structured online course covers; how to grow your own organic nutrient-rich food at home; how to compost and; how to manage pests and disease for a healthy garden. Claire also shares her tips for reducing organic waste and regenerating your garden's soil to an optimal condition teeming with beneficial microorganisms.
To find out more about Claire Mummery and her Grow Inspired Academy visit Growinspiredacademy.com