Survivalists At The Bottom Of The Garden  

The SMH has a report on the strong level of interest in growing food in the garden - It's survival of the fittest.

At this year's Gardening Australia Expo - which is to be his last - Cundall will be showing visitors how to plot and plant their own little "survival crop" in a freshly hoed replica of Pete's Patch, based on the garden used on the popular ABC-TV show.

"One of the tiny gardens I have created is only the size of a bloomin' big room, yet it can keep a family in all the vegetables it needs for most of the year and that is very encouraging for people to see first-hand," Cundall says.

"I want to show people that they can produce their own food even if they live in a small, inner-city area. Gardens can thrive anywhere where there is a bit of sun and the amount of production from a small area is phenomenal. If you don't have a balcony or your garden doesn't get any sun, then find your nearest community garden.

"With food prices going up and food riots going on in different countries, humans need to go back to basics. We need to know how to survive the looming food crisis. That is the whole point of calling it a survival crop. It's serious stuff," he says.

At 81, Cundall is the embodiment of good health, an example to all of us that grubbing about in the dirt and growing things is "absolutely bloody marvellous" for our physical and mental wellbeing.

"I look at myself in the mirror and I am amazed. The last time I went to a doctor was 1951. It's so lovely to go decade after decade with no medical bills. I don't even use glasses. It's lovely.

"Most of the ills haunting the human race can be traced back to what we are consuming. If people want to get away from the madness of society then go out into a garden. It's there that you are back to the truth," he says.