Olá de novo!
Hoje o tema que me leva a escrever é bastante pessoal.
Pessoal no sentido em que se trata de uma opinião e escolha bastante particulares, nada tendo de socialmente sustentado e sendo até um pouco irracional, mas....
Ora vamos lá então:
Não vos sei explicar muito bem porquê (e aqui entra a tal irracionalidade...), mas não simpatizo muito com as hortas de moradia, em contexto urbano. Desde que me entendo por gente que tenho esta ideia fixa de que as moradias devem ter jardins e não hortas!
Na minha cabeça as hortas "pertencem" ao meio rural...
Mas adoro a ideia de ter à disposição um espaço onde possa colher alguns "verdes" para consumo imediato. E agora, hein, em que ficamos?
Bem, juntamente com esta irracionalidade, estabeleci à alguns anos aquela que me parece ser uma solução perfeitamente razoável e exequível para muitos de nós (em particular para aqueles que moram em moradias unifamiliares).
E se o nosso jardim de proximidade (aquele que se desenvolve em redor das moradias, ou mesmo na sua frente/traseira) fosse "habitado" por plantas comestíveis de beleza paisagística?
O conceito parece estranho, mas não é e passo a explicá-lo.
Todas as plantas de produção agrícola apresentam características de grande beleza, perfeitamente passíveis de integrar num ambiente que se pretende de lazer e/ou enquadramento estético. Por isso, porque não usá-las com dupla função, aliando a forma à função? Em vez de horta, passaremos a ter um jardim comestível.
E para conseguir fazê-lo, devem ser estabelecidas algumas premissas:
- Recorrer a espécies de cariz hortícola, associando-as a outros de cariz meramente ornamental - tendo o cuidado de não usar espécies tóxicas, para evitar acidentes... (prometo abordar as plantas tóxicas em post futuros!);
- Outro aspeto crucial é sem dúvida a forma do jardim. Sim, que isto de usar a velha esquadria formal para desenvolver o espaço de horta já era! Podemos - e quanto a mim devemos - projetar uma forma bonita e funcional, adequada à situação particular de cada moradia, que induza o cérebro a aceitar que se trata de um jardim;
- Introduzir elementos decorativos - como pérgulas, muros, mobiliário de jardim, fontes, entre tantos outros - que mais uma vez nos remetam para espaços jardinados;
- Escolher materiais facilmente identificados com jardins, nomeadamente no que toca a pavimentos e muros.
O próximo passo é a escolha das plantas. E aqui temos plantas para todos os gostos!
As videiras, as actinídeas (kiwis) e os maracujás, com as suas flores maravilhosas, são ótimas para revestir pérgulas, enquanto que os muros podem ser escondidos por trepadeiras como as framboeseiras, amoras selvagens, feijão verde, ervilhas ou ainda capuchinhas (Trophacolum majus), com as suas flores vibrantes!
Como herbáceas de revestimento do solo, podemos usar os tomilhos, os orégãos dourados, os morangueiros, as violetas (Viola odorata) ou ainda as camomilas.
A escolha de arbustivas facilmente recairá nas inúmeras aromáticas existentes, como as alfazemas, o rosmaninho ou o alecrim (a colocar em locais de passagem ou estadia, para potenciar os seus aromas), bem como nos mirtilos, groselhas, murtas e romãs.
Com um pouco de imaginação, conseguimos enquadrar plantas como as batateiras (de lindas flores), as cenouras (com folhagem delicada), as mostardas e até os alhos, cebolas e alho francês. Os tomateiros e os pimentos destacam-se lindamente em macetas, dada a sua folhagem de um verde intenso e as suas flores e frutos coloridos.
E que dizer das couves-flor, brócolos e couves-roxas plantadas em filas ou alternadas? Conseguem só imaginar?
E as flores comestíveis como a borragem, as prímulas, as calêndulas, as rosas e as túlipas, que bem ficam em qualquer cantinho!
Como "chá decorativo", podemos usar o limonete, a erva-príncipe, a erva-cidreira, o funcho ou ainda a hortelã.
Para terminar e para fazer um pouco de sombra ao nosso jardim (e não só), podemos usar as tílias (muito aromáticas), as cerejeiras (de linda floração), as laranjeiras e muitas outras fruteiras!
Depois destas dicas, aposto que ficaram com vontade de experimentar, não? Ideias não faltam e o difícil é escolher...
E assim transformamos as (por vezes) inestéticas hortas, em espaços prazerosos, de grande beleza e utilidade. Sou fervorosa adepta de aliar a forma à função. Porque hão-de andar elas de costas viradas?
Deixo-vos uma última sugestão: cuidado com a aplicação de fitofármacos, uma vez que os produtos são para consumo humano...
E, caso já tenham em vossas casas um jardim comestível, digam e mostrem-no por aqui!
Continuação de bom trabalho e, já agora, tenham uma boa semana!
Cuca
Fico à espera do seu comentário!!! Feel free...
Hello again!
Today the topic that leads me to write is very personal.
Personal in the sense that it is an opinion and a very specific choice, not socially sustained and even being a bit irrational, but ....
Well come on then:
I do not know how to explain you why (and here comes the irrationality...), but I do not sympathize with housing vegetable gardens in an urban context. Since I can remembre, I have this fixed idea that dwellings should have gardens and not vegetable gardens! In my mind they "belong" to countryside ...
But I love the idea of having available a space where you can reap some "green" for immediate consumption. And now, huh, were do we stay?
Well, along with this irrationality, I've established some years ago, what it seems to me a perfectly reasonable and feasible solution, for many of us (particularly those living in single family dwellings).
And if our proximity garden (one that develops around the villas, or even in their front/rear) was "inhabited" by edible plants of scenic beauty?
The concept seems strange, but it's not and I'll explain it to you.
All plants of agricultural production have features of great beauty, perfectly capable of integrating an environment that is intended for recreational and/or aesthetic framework. So why not use them with dual function, combining form to function? Instead of the vegetable garden, we will have an edible garden.
And to get to do it, some assumptions must be made:
1. Use species of horticultural nature, linking them to other purely ornamental - taking care not to use toxic species to avoid accidents ... (I promise to address the toxic plants in future post!);
2. Another crucial aspect is undoubtedly the form of the garden. Yes, because using the old formal square to develop the garden space is out of fashion! We can - and in my point of view we should - design a beautiful and functional form, appropriate to the particular situation of each villa, which induces the brain to accept that that is a garden;
3. Introduce decorative elements - such as pergolas, fences, garden furniture, fountains, among many others - referring again to the gardened spaces;
4. Choose materials easily identified with gardens, particularly with regard to floors and walls.
The next step is to choose the plants. And here we have plants for every taste!
Vines, actinidia (kiwifruit) and passionfruit, with its wondeful flowers, are great for covering arbors, while the walls may be hidden by vines as raspberries, wild blueberries, green beans, peas or nasturtiums (Trophacolum majus), with its vibrant flowers!
As herbaceous ground coating, we can use thyme, golden oregano, strawberries, violets (Viola odorata) or chamomiles.
Choosing shrubs will easily fall in numerous aromatic ones, such as lavender or rosemary (to put on the pathway or stay area, to enhance their flavors) as well as in blueberries, currants, pomegranates and myrtles.
With a little imagination, we could fit plants such as potato plants (of beautiful flowers), carrots (with delicate foliage), mustards and even garlic, onions and leeks. The tomatoes and peppers stand out beautifully in flowerpots, given its rich green foliage and its flowers and colorful fruits.
And what of cauliflower, broccoli and red cabbage planted in rows or alternate? Can you just imagine?
And edible flowers, as borage, primroses, marigolds, roses and tulips, which will go well in any corner!
As "decorative tea", we can use verbena, lemongrass, lemon balm, fennel or mint.
To finish and to bring a bit of shade to our garden (and not only), we can use linden trees (very aromatic), cherry trees (lovely flowering), orange trees and so many other fruit trees!
After these tips, I bet you are willing to try, no? Ideas abound and it's difficult to choose ...
And so we transform the (sometimes) ugly vegetable gardens in pleasant places of great beauty and utility. I am a fervent supporter of combining shape and function. Why should they be walking back turned?
Cuca
Fico à espera do seu comentário!!! Feel free...
Hello again!
Today the topic that leads me to write is very personal.
Personal in the sense that it is an opinion and a very specific choice, not socially sustained and even being a bit irrational, but ....
Well come on then:
I do not know how to explain you why (and here comes the irrationality...), but I do not sympathize with housing vegetable gardens in an urban context. Since I can remembre, I have this fixed idea that dwellings should have gardens and not vegetable gardens! In my mind they "belong" to countryside ...
But I love the idea of having available a space where you can reap some "green" for immediate consumption. And now, huh, were do we stay?
Well, along with this irrationality, I've established some years ago, what it seems to me a perfectly reasonable and feasible solution, for many of us (particularly those living in single family dwellings).
And if our proximity garden (one that develops around the villas, or even in their front/rear) was "inhabited" by edible plants of scenic beauty?
The concept seems strange, but it's not and I'll explain it to you.
All plants of agricultural production have features of great beauty, perfectly capable of integrating an environment that is intended for recreational and/or aesthetic framework. So why not use them with dual function, combining form to function? Instead of the vegetable garden, we will have an edible garden.
And to get to do it, some assumptions must be made:
1. Use species of horticultural nature, linking them to other purely ornamental - taking care not to use toxic species to avoid accidents ... (I promise to address the toxic plants in future post!);
2. Another crucial aspect is undoubtedly the form of the garden. Yes, because using the old formal square to develop the garden space is out of fashion! We can - and in my point of view we should - design a beautiful and functional form, appropriate to the particular situation of each villa, which induces the brain to accept that that is a garden;
3. Introduce decorative elements - such as pergolas, fences, garden furniture, fountains, among many others - referring again to the gardened spaces;
4. Choose materials easily identified with gardens, particularly with regard to floors and walls.
The next step is to choose the plants. And here we have plants for every taste!
Vines, actinidia (kiwifruit) and passionfruit, with its wondeful flowers, are great for covering arbors, while the walls may be hidden by vines as raspberries, wild blueberries, green beans, peas or nasturtiums (Trophacolum majus), with its vibrant flowers!
As herbaceous ground coating, we can use thyme, golden oregano, strawberries, violets (Viola odorata) or chamomiles.
Choosing shrubs will easily fall in numerous aromatic ones, such as lavender or rosemary (to put on the pathway or stay area, to enhance their flavors) as well as in blueberries, currants, pomegranates and myrtles.
With a little imagination, we could fit plants such as potato plants (of beautiful flowers), carrots (with delicate foliage), mustards and even garlic, onions and leeks. The tomatoes and peppers stand out beautifully in flowerpots, given its rich green foliage and its flowers and colorful fruits.
And what of cauliflower, broccoli and red cabbage planted in rows or alternate? Can you just imagine?
And edible flowers, as borage, primroses, marigolds, roses and tulips, which will go well in any corner!
As "decorative tea", we can use verbena, lemongrass, lemon balm, fennel or mint.
To finish and to bring a bit of shade to our garden (and not only), we can use linden trees (very aromatic), cherry trees (lovely flowering), orange trees and so many other fruit trees!
After these tips, I bet you are willing to try, no? Ideas abound and it's difficult to choose ...
And so we transform the (sometimes) ugly vegetable gardens in pleasant places of great beauty and utility. I am a fervent supporter of combining shape and function. Why should they be walking back turned?
I leave you one last hint: be careful with the application of phytochemicals, since the products are for human consumption ...
And if you already have in your house an edible garden, tell me and show it here!
Keep up the good work and have a good week!
Cuca
I'm waiting for your comments! Feel free ...
And if you already have in your house an edible garden, tell me and show it here!
Keep up the good work and have a good week!
Cuca
I'm waiting for your comments! Feel free ...
