2. Good Organic Gardening - March-April 2016

Eva & Marek Klimek | GARDENING FOLK
Pomegranate harvest
Similarly beneficial is stinging nettle, which
Eva uses to make tea. She explains how it
balances the blood, clears the skin and can be
used as a hair tonic. It tastes like spinach and is
rich in vitamins A, C, D, K and B group.
Another handy plant she grows is salvia,
which improves digestion, lowers blood sugar
levels and alleviates throat, gum and skin
infections. It also assists with depression,
rheumatic pain and fatigue.
A sustainable lifestyle
Eva preserves surplus produce by fermenting
beetroot, sauerkraut and kombucha. She also
keeps a bacterial culture in the fridge and
makes delicious sour cream from soy milk.
The Klimeks’ home is completely off the grid.
Marek is an electronic technician with building
and handyman skills, so the house is solar
powered and watered by rainwater tanks, while
water is recycled for the garden and fruit trees.
On the Gold Coast, they helped frogs breed
by providing them with habitat, water and food.
In the dry South Burnett, they began to create
a more suitable habitat for these and other
creatures, planning to establish a rainforest.
Recently Marek has created what he calls a
“Bali Resort” for frogs: a rectangular ditch the
size of a small swimming pool, which receives
water from the surrounding land. The frogs have
started to lay their eggs in it already.
It’s a pleasure to see the couple’s efforts
in their gardening and land management
endeavours. Their energy and knowledge are
sources of inspiration as they share their food,
seeds and expertise with others.
The Klimeks grow a
huge variety of fruit
and veg year round
Marek adds moisture to
the compost
Eva & Marek’s
top tips
Experiment with various gardening
techniques that are suitable to your
unique soil and climatic conditions.
Grow an abundance of varieties of fruits
and vegetables for all seasons.
Supply your soil with a continuous
source of organic material and
incorporate well into the soil.
Set up compost and worm farms and
ensure aeration for fast decomposition
and turnover.
Use manure teas to fertilise your fruit
and vegetables.
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