Gardening is one of David’s creative outlets. His edible garden in Sydney is a place to learn, appreciate nature’s beauty and enjoy the bountiful harvest. Thanks David for sharing your garden story with us.
First of all how would you describe your garden? (What do you grow? What is your climate like? )
An organic backyard in Sydney with 60 fruit trees, chickens, raised vegetable beds, bees and many types of flowers to feed the bee hive. There’s olives, pomegranates, avocados, lychees, blueberries and lots more.
How did you get started in gardening?
I’m a photographer and while working I saw Italian migrant backyards full of fruit and vegetables growing. The owners loved being out in those backyards and the food from them was great. There’s also health and creativity. Pathways, seating, water, animals, sculpture and planting, you’re always making and enjoying a picture you’re in.
What motivates you to get up and garden?
Watching the trees and flowers grow is the biggest pleasure. You go out there just to see if there’s some new growth and then sometime in late spring it’s all perfect, flowers everywhere, fruit hanging, the sound of water, the smells and even the insects and you made it.
What were some of the unexpected hurdles in your garden? How did you deal with them?
There’s a lot to learn. Don’t plant trees too close, they grow. A greenhouse is great. Organic works. Don’t believe everything you read, olive trees love water and fertiliser. You can plant 3 varieties of one fruit tree in the same hole and hey presto three different, apples or three different citrus or three different types of macadamia from what appears like one tree. Get a cat. Roses are great and easy.
What were some of the unexpected benefits from gardening?
A sense of purpose. Community with meeting local gardeners. Appreciating other gardens. Giving avocados and honey to friends. The occasional compliment. The taste of fresh picked strawberries.
Is there a gardening moment that stands out for you?
Two things, the endless of avocados from one very fruitful tree and the smell of lemon myrtle and orange blossom.
What has your garden taught you?
Follow your own ideas, of course listen to advice, most gardeners love to talk but in the end if you’re about to do something different, you’ll be happier if you just do. Gardens look like their creators and that’s good.
If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?
An avocado, my super fit body shape.
What tips would you offer first time gardeners?
You can plant for prettiness, smell, food or growth. Or you can do them all. Soil preparation is crucial. Find the genius in your local nursery, there’s always one. For fruit and veges plant what you eat. Keep planting flowers all year not just spring.
Would you like $50 to spend with us? Why not share your garden story with us – we would love to hear it!
Email us – sales@gardenware.com.au with ‘Garden Stories’ in the subject line and will we send you a list of questions. If you are published on our blog, we will offer you a $50 discount code!
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My first job as a teenager was being an apprentice gardener for a local shopkeeper around the Eastern Subs, it was around the same time I met Dave Mane! I knew he would one day become a great photographer through our chats but the days as a gardener were keep for Secret Sydney! I’ve been following his posts and enjoyed gaining gardening tips from them, so much so that I now have a garden and for a number of years my efforts were seen but unfortunately other than Passion fruit the trees we bought never produced fruit for 8 years. Finally last year we had our first plums and Limes included in Pitango which started a year earlier , seems the water in Israel is less friendly towards my green thumb than Sydney but i do enjoy going to our local Wendys’ which is an outlet of the famous Wendys from an ex Aussie living one hour away! Thanks great post now I can go and enjoy my cherry tomatoes also a childhood memory!
David Manes garden speaks to him……come and eat, sit and reflect, sit and share with friendly tillers of the earth as well. Appreciate what we are given and be wary of keeping the process going. Ahhh, lovely in Sydney where the climate allows for growth throughout the year. Sadly in the NY metro area our backyards are useless in the winter but we have the biggest APPLE in the world!
Great story, very informative.
Inspirational!
Sadly we have an unpleasant neighbour with 4 large, noisy, menacing and equally unpleasant dogs, so our garden time has been reduced. But, now that the weather has cooled down, I might get out there again with some headphones, maybe listening to a little Nick Drake as I potter around.
My goal is to get a new chook yard built before Spring and if possible, find an old bath and get some more Muscovy ducks: we had 2 that lived for 14 years and I miss their companionship, even if at times they slowed down the digging as they were always right there with the blade of the shovel or trowel, beak first, trying to get at the worms!
Thanks, very rare that I hear the word inspirational applied to myself. I think I like it. One little thing I forgot, the eggs you get from your own yard chickens are definitely way, way beyond anything in the shop. And there’s a breed called Australorp that are kind and cute with each other, unlike other chickens who can be scarily cruel and the black ones have this emerald sheen to them that you’ll want to just sit and watch.