Peter Cundall is the bright spark who came up with the idea of PM Kevin Rudd having a vegie patch at The Lodge. He asked the PM about it when he was visiting The Lodge as part of the Australian of the Year ceremony in 2007.
But you might know Cundall better from his work on Gardening Australia, where he was a presenter for many seasons until his retirement last year. Cundall loves his vegie gardens, and was responsible for Pete’s Patch, the demonstration vegetable garden at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Pete’s Patch shows us how it’s possible to have a proper 6-bed crop rotation system going in the space of the average Aussie backyard. It doesn’t take much room at all to grow enough veg for a 4-person family. You can see updates on how the Patch is going on Gardening Australia’s website (with photos going back to 2007), or visit it yourself if you live in Hobart.
Don’t you think it’d make a great model for Mr Rudd to copy at The Lodge? Everything’s been worked out already, it doesn’t need much maintenance, and it wouldn’t take up much room at all. Perfect for a busy man!
One of the garden beds at Pete's Patch, May 2009
Hi folks
I have emailed Kevvie with my suggestion re the veggie patch at the Lodge but so far have not had a reply.
Keep up the campaign!
Hey thanks! Let us know if you hear back from them.