Visit Kings Meadows Michael and Suzanne 2025

Nestled towards the end of a quiet street, Michael and Suzanne's Kings Meadows garden is a testament to the magic that can be created with dedication, sustainable practices and a love of growing your own produce. Now 14 years old, this compact, yet incredibly productive garden was a beacon of inspiration for the northern January visit.

Traversing the garden path beside the house we entered the unassuming garden, admiring the harmonious blend of fruit trees along with the nine permanent garden beds, a vegie pod and a greenhouse. Despite its deceptively small size, the garden is a thriving oasis of biodiversity and productivity. Michael and Suzanne have ingeniously designed their space around existing cement paths to maximize yield while maintaining a commitment to sustainability.

The espaliered greengage plum tree was looking great

The walkway from the covered porch to the back garden

When Michael and Suzanne began their gardening journey, they were faced with the challenge of sandy soil.  Through the diligent application of manures and compost they have transformed their soil into a rich loamy paradise. This process has taken some time to achieve. The vastly improved soil quality has resulted in healthier plants and more bountiful harvests.

We were all very interested to learn about a unique variety of strawberry which produces no runners. The propagation of these plants is by removing the outer "pups" from the older central plant.  An established plant essentially becomes a cluster of individual plants. The fruit is red right through the centre and very sweet and tasty. Michael and Suzanne are growing them under a protective metal cage to deter the birds from stealing the ripe fruit.

Bunching strawberries

One prominent feature of the garden is the rainwater harvesting system. Michael and Suzanne have installed a series of rain barrels to capture and store rainwater, which is then used to irrigate their garden.

A prized persimmon tree in the front yard gives satisfaction every season. Suzanne explained the fruit is astringent which requires the fruit to be soft before eating. Any fruit left on the tree glows like Japanese lanterns as autumn approaches.

The vegie pod, a gift to Michael from friends, has proven to be a game changer with its closed wicking system being the ideal growing medium for cold sensitive plants. Michael has had great success growing Asian greens in the vegie pod. Tatsoi seedlings were in abundance and had emerged within 3 days of sowing.

Michael watering the tatsoi seedlings in the vegie pod

To further enhance soil fertility, Michael and Suzanne have established a thriving worm farm. The worms break down organic waste into nutrient-rich castings, which is then used to fertilize the garden. This closed-loop system not only reduces waste but also provides a constant supply of high quality fertiliser for their plants.

Biodiversity is a key component of their gardening philosophy. They have planted a variety of flowering plants to attract beneficial insects such as bees, ladybugs and predatory beetles. These insects play a crucial role in pollination and pest control, helping to maintain a balanced and healthy garden ecosystem. On the warm summer day we visits, these pollinators were hard at work amongst a myriad of different flowers.

The height of summer ensured the produce table was loaded with fruit and vegetables to mull over, with a delightful selection for morning tea close by.

Thank you Michael and Suzanne for hosting this very enjoyable, friendly and relaxed garden visit on a very warm day.  Thank you also to those who contributed to the produce and morning tea tables.