Resilient Gardening: Growing More of What We Love — With Nature
We hear a lot about resilience these days — in our communities, our climate, and even ourselves. But what does resilience look like in the garden?
Sustainability expert Richard Jackson sums it up nicely:
“A resilient garden is one that is adaptive to the warming climate and resilient to extreme weather events. It is one that has been designed to survive and thrive in the wake of climate change and one that is in tune with nature.”
That’s the kind of garden we’re striving for — one that supports both the planet and our pantries. Whether you're growing vegetables in your backyard or tending a flower-filled urban patch, here are some practical (and joyful!) ways to create a resilient, sustainable garden right here in Aotearoa.
🌱 1. Start With the Soil
Healthy soil = a healthy garden. It’s the foundation of resilience. By adding organic matter like compost and mulch, you’re improving soil structure, boosting water retention, and feeding your plants with natural nutrients.
At our place, we’re obsessed with composting — chopping and dropping spent plants to return their goodness to the earth. The soil seems pretty happy about it too.
🌿 2. Go Native, Go Local
Choose plants that thrive in your specific conditions. That sunny spot? Give it a sun-lover. That shady corner? Opt for shade-tolerant species.
Native plants are especially resilient — they’ve evolved to suit Aotearoa’s climate and soils. They also attract local wildlife, which adds beauty and biodiversity to your garden.
🌼 3. Embrace Biodiversity
Resilience loves diversity. A wide mix of plants helps control pests naturally and boosts pollination.
Companion planting is our secret weapon in the veggie garden. Roses thrive next to garlic, and everything loves calendula. It’s like a little ecosystem where everyone gets along — and it looks amazing too.
💧 4. Get Smart With Water
In the main garden, we water less frequently to encourage deeper roots. But in the veggie beds, we water more often — using rainwater collected in barrels wherever we can.
It’s about finding that sweet spot: enough water to grow, but not so much that plants become dependent.
🐞 5. Ditch the Sprays
Skip the chemicals and aim for balance. Instead of reaching for pesticides, invite beneficial insects in, rotate your crops, inspect your plants regularly, and feed the soil to boost plant health from the roots up.
We’ve found that healthy, diverse gardens naturally fend off many pests.
☀️ 6. Plan for Crazy Weather
Droughts. Downpours. Heatwaves. The climate is changing, and our gardens need to adapt.
We focus on hardy, long-lasting flowering plants that provide food for bees and butterflies and demand less fuss. Less watering. Less replanting. More joy.
🐝 7. Welcome the Wildlife
Birds, bees, butterflies and bugs are vital for pollination, pest control and overall garden health. Encourage them by providing food, water, nesting places and shelter.
We recently installed a bug, bee and butterfly house — and we’re eagerly awaiting its first guests. There are loads of great resources online and at the library for building your own wildlife haven.
📚 8. Keep Learning
Gardening is a journey, not a destination. We’ve learned heaps through volunteering at Waitaki Community Gardens, and we’re constantly inspired by books like The RHS Resilient Garden (Tom Massey) and Edible Backyard by Kath Irvine. Both books are available from our local library and give some very practical ideas.