Many years ago, I lived in a gorgeous house close to the river in Brisbane, Australia. It was a high-set house raised on stumps, as is the style in many hotter parts of Australia. Being raised allowed for the air to pass easily under the structure, helping to keep the rooms cool during the harsh summer months. This particular house was raised a few feet more than it might normally have been, due to the tendency of the Brisbane River to flood. Runaway water had dumped generations worth of silt across the grounds of the property, resulting in the soil being dense with nutrients.
My vegetable and herb garden was a roaring success during my time living in this house. You name it, I grew it in record-breaking quantities. Each week I picked tomatoes, kale, aubergines, mint, parsley, basil, fennel and bell peppers. We even had an uncontrollable pumpkin patch. My kitchen pantry was so well stocked with fresh produce that I couldn’t use it all.