With the price of food literally taking a hike (prices are on the up and food shortages are forecast) it makes both green and money sense to grow your own in your back garden – not only will your salad and vegetables be organic, but you can pick them moments before you eat them!

Suburban vegetable gardens are becoming immensely popular. It’s rewarding, healthy and you don’t need a large garden to grow your favourite fruit and vegetables; containers will do.

For many of us, however, this sounds like a great deal of effort, particularly if you’ve never grown anything before. But there are ways to have your own vegetable garden with minimum effort...

The 4 edible garden growers listed in urban sprout’s eco directory are all experts at getting your vegetable garden up and running. Rather like Ground Force – the BBC ‘makeover’ TV programme in which a team of gardeners descend on an individual’s garden and remake it – Eat your garden, PEGS, Room to Grow and Urban Harvest each tailor design a backyard vegetable garden to suit your needs.

100% local, 100% chemical free and 100% fresh – what more could you ask of the food on your plate?

To find further useful, eco-friendly alternatives, search our eco directory.