Organic gardening in urban areas

Finger Limes

Finger Limes are a native subtropical shrub that produce limes in the shape of a finger.

The tree is slow growing in temperate zones.

• The tree has dense small green spiky leaves.
• The flowers appear in Spring which are small white and pink and the fruit is ready to pick in late Summer.
• The fruit can be used as you would use a normal lime.
• Finger limes are also nice on vanilla ice cream and vanilla yogurt. Good in stir fries, salads, gin & tonic and beer.

Grapes & Bananas

Grape vines provide food and summer shade. Bananas are easy to grow and are good if there is a wet or boggy area in a garden.

Banana

• Banana flower and fruit are both edible.
• As the flower moves away from the fruit, the flower is cut off so the plant puts its energy into the growth of the fruit.
• Cover the bananas with a bag which has holes at both ends to protect the fruit from possums, birds and fruit bats.
• Harvest when fruit begins to yellow.

Silky Chickens

Silky chickens provide eggs for food, and provide pest control and manure.

Tomatoes in the front yard

Tomatoes growing in raised garden beds in a urban front yard

Quails

• Quails are good in small spaces.
• Quails are cute, provide eggs and manure as well as eating leftover food.
• Quails can be great pets.
• They provide eggs and manure.

Bees

At left: Native stingless bees on a balcony garden.
At right: Honey bees in a urban front yard.
The honey bees provide lots of honey for the residents and the excess honey is sold or traded to neighbours and friends.