The Calabash Garden:

Leaving the meditative citrus labyrinth, visitors cross a few more swales (servicing the Shamba reservoirs) to find themselves at the Calabash Garden. Whilst the section of the garden is named after the shape of its raised beds, the design was inspired by the growing conditions of broccoli. For best results broccoli shouldn’t grow in the same soil for 3 years and, given that it takes roughly 3 months from seed sowing to harvest, 12 spaces would be needed for a full rotation cycle. In contrast to monoculture, companion planting suggests that growing certain plants and herbs together is mutually beneficial. Thus each of the 12 spaces (raised beds) has a primary vegetable with partnering herbs and flowers. Like clockwork, after each harvest, vegetables rotate 30 degrees and continuously boost the soil’s micro bacteria.

In order to increase plant access and visibility (as well avoid visitors’ back injury) building raised beds were the answer . The pergola was designed to dapple the sunshine whilst not blocking the view of the Mara as seen from when visitors exit the Pumpkin Tunnels at the beginning of the edible garden. In time the pergola will be covered in green vines plants, creating a soft green dappled roof over the raised beds. Having such a wide variety of plants in close proximity will soon offer visitors the opportunity to handpick a ‘Salad a la Shamba’ and enjoy it then and there in the garden.