As a grower of organic veg, I know how important fresh, local food is to a healthy and happy community. Though the pesky pests may occasionally rear their heads, it has to be said that generally speaking, growing fruit and veggies is not as hard as you might imagine – and there are so many benefits! There is something very special about growing your own grub.

If you want a healthier, happier, greener life for you and your family, the first step is as simple as sowing some seeds. (Tomatoes, lettuce, chillies and herbs such as basil are all good for beginners and this is a good time to grow them.) Whether you have a huge acreage, a regular suburban garden or only your windowsills, you too can take this tiny first step towards a more sustainable way of life. Even a tiny step can be a huge leap in the right direction.

All you need to get started is sunshine, water, seeds, containers to grow your seeds in and something to fill them. Seeds cost next to nothing and the good news is, you will not have to lay out much on the other things either. Get the kids involved to show them one of the most useful life skills there is. They will love seeing something grow that they planted themselves.

Start small and bit by bit, if you want, your garden could start to grow. You can do a bit of recycling too, and reduce your impact on the planet, by using old toilet roll tubes, yoghurt pots and drinks bottles as containers for your seedlings. You can even make your own potting compost. Watch this space – next week we will discuss how you can turn your food scraps into 'brown gold'...with the aid of some wriggly helpers.