‘It seemed the natural thing to do to grow organic,’ Mrs Porter said.
‘Organic gardening is also a community builder.
‘People call me and say they’ve got cancer and want to grow organic, or someone may have a rooster they want to get rid of and we can connect them with someone who needs one.’
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READ NOWThe group also manages a seed library from plants that thrive in the local area.
Mrs Porter said anyone could have a go at growing fruit and vegetables.
‘We have the best weather in the world,’ the former resident of California said. ‘Why aren’t we outside gardening?’
She urged new growers to start small and build up their confidence with herbs or sprouts, and only choose fruit and vegetable varieties they liked to eat.
‘It’s all about feeding the soil,’ she said.
For Mrs Porter, there is no excuse and organic gardening is part of her greater philosophy of living lighter on the earth.
Cuttings are recomposted or mulched, she uses recycled materials wherever possible and even has a solar oven in her front yard.