8 tips for creating a garden oasis

Add garden beds

My daughter, Lily, and I plan the eight raised garden beds every winter. Five of the beds are filled with vegetables we can't live without—carrots, sugar snap peas, kale, potatoes, zucchini and onions. The other three contain perennial favourites—strawberries, rhubarb and a mix of David Austin roses and herbs. Roses in a vegetable garden may seem silly, but they always make me smile. Tip: Never use treated wood in your vegetable garden—the chemicals may leach into the soil.

Keep out the weeds

The older I get, the higher I want my vegetable beds. The garden consists of eight six- by four-foot raised beds, each constructed of wood planks and square posts at every corner. Inside, we laid down thick layers of newspaper and high-quality garden soil. The added height makes gardening easier on my back and keeps the weeds from creeping in at the sides.

Add a patio floor

I could have added another bed to this spot, but that would have been boring. Old bricks were used to make a "floor," so this space would feel like a room. Add an old potting table, a salvaged green chair, a branch that Lily painted pink, and a big pot of mint, and it's mojitos at 5 o' clock. Tip: Always keep mint contained, or it will take over your garden!

Create a pathway

An old deck railing "frames" this dwarf McIntosh apple tree. The paths around the beds are covered in wood chips: They last longer than fine mulch and prevent weeds from poking through.

Get your kids involved

Seeing Lily eat food right off the vine is a privilege. Young children are so keen to pull weeds and water vegetables. Get them hooked on homegrown food by involving them in planning the garden and including a few of their favourite berries and vegetables.

Keep your soil healthy

- Add worm-filled compost and rotted manure every year. - Layer mulch on your garden in the summer to help prevent weeds and lock-in moisture. In the fall, scatter mulch on top of your beds, and use a pitchfork to fold it into the soil. - Consider soil additives. I use worm castings, but you can also buy bat guano (yes, that's bat poop) or alfalfa meal. - I use organic fish fertilizer on everything from the vegetables to the trees. (Just be sure to stand downwind when applying.) - Beware of freebies. Five years ago, my husband picked up "organic" compost the city was giving away. I'm still finding garbage in the beds.

Make room for some chickens

Meet the girls: (from left) Peep, Haddie and Johnny Drama. The chickens have taught Lily about food—where it comes from and why it's important to care for the animals that, in turn, provide for us. We spoil them with chicken garlic mash (find the recipe in my book), and they follow us around the farm, eating bugs and saving us from spiders. What you'll need: - A safe, secure run for them to roam every day - A dry, covered pile of dirt for bathing - A coop where they can sleep and lay eggs - Fresh water - Feed—I buy organic layer mash, but the occasional watermelon on a hot day is appreciated, too! - A little free-range time in the yard makes for a very happy hen

Mix your fruits and veggies

I've found that adding chipped blueberry cuttings around the vegetables creates a prickly barrier that slugs can't cross. Best discovery ever! Check out Heather's tips on creating a vegetable garden in your backyard.