Adelaide Vegie Garden

In an Adelaide suburban backyard only about 18x49m (60x160'), Bosko Sladic grows enough vegetables for his family, his friends and all the neighbours as well. Don visited Bosko, his wife Radmila and their daughter Deana, and was amazed to see their wonderful self sustaining vegie garden.

Background

Bosko left Croatia as a refugee in 1954 and five years later came to Australia. He married Radmila and they settled in Adelaide, where they have now lived for 35 years. Bosko said that the whole family is very happy in this country, and in their experience Australians are very friendly people.

Vegie garden

Bosko has improved the soil by adding truckloads of sand, compost and plenty of manure. He grows lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, tomato ('Mighty Red'), capsicum, eggplant, rocket, endive, parsley and oregano. There are many fruit trees in the garden, including lemon, orange, mandarin, avocado, tamarillo, persimmon, peach, plum and walnut. All the produce from the garden is used. Whatever is not eaten or given away is frozen or bottled in vinegar and oil.

The garage

In the garage Bosko cures and smokes ham (prosciutto). First it is covered with rock salt, then smoked and hung, a process which takes about six months. Wine is also made in the garage, and Bosko explained that the very large fermenting barrel in the corner is necessary because he buys in half a ton of grapes at a time. The wine works out at about $2 a bottle, and as preservatives are not used there are no headaches after drinking. Bosko also showed Don how he makes sauerkraut from cabbage. Although it is very strong smelling, he assured Don that it is delicious.

Copyright 1999 CTC Productions