“If I can show that it’s possible to grow good food in Southland backyards without being perfect, then hopefully more people will give it a go.” - Shelley Paddon

Shelley Paddon in her home garden. Photo: Supplied

What if growing your own food didn’t have to be complicated, perfect, or take up acres of land? What if it could start with a few pots on the porch, or a tiny patch out the back?

That’s the message Shelley from A Simple Life in Southland is sharing with locals through her Instagram and Substack - and her newly released e-book ‘Top Crops to Grow in Southland’.

A self-taught home grower based in the Deep South, Shelley shares seasonal “in the garden” guides (what to sow, what to plant, what to harvest), bite-sized how‑tos, and the real-life story of her own backyard - slug attacks, overgrown beds, triumph harvests and all.

Her mission is simple: encourage, inspire, and help Southlanders grow more of their own food - veges, herbs, fruit, all of it - in ways that fit real lives, real weather, real budgets.

From saving money and boosting nutrition, to creating deeper connections with our environment and our community, Shelley believes growing your own kai is a powerful act of resilience and joy.

In this Murihiku Kai – Shelley talks about her why, the wins (and wobbles), and how to get started - even if you think it’s impossible.

Some of Shelley’s ‘A Simple Life in Southland’ content on Instagram. Photo: Supplied

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Let’s start with the big why - what inspired A Simple Life in Southland and your mission to get more locals growing their own kai?

Shelley: Growing your own food just makes sense! It’s powerful to have ownership over what you’re eating - where it’s grown, how it’s grown, how it’s cooked.

Being less reliant on supermarkets, corporations, and freight lines - and instead being in control of your own food system - to me is the ultimate wealth.

I love growing food; I’m constantly in awe of the process. Watching a tiny seed grow into something that can feed us (and also recreate itself to keep its species alive) blows my mind every time.

There are so many positives to growing your own food and it doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming. The benefits reach us, our families and friends, future generations, our communities, and our environment.

By sharing my growing journey and what I’m doing in my own backyard I hope to encourage and inspire others to do the same.

You’re open about your own garden journey - the wins and the wobbles. Why is it important to show the imperfect side of growing food?

Shelley: The online space can sometimes seem like everything is perfect - we see “Insta‑perfect” gardens, crops, and harvests. It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap, especially if you’re just getting started, and that can leave us feeling like what we’re doing isn’t right or good enough.

I like to keep it real: overgrown gardens, unfinished jobs, failed crops, slug and white butterfly invasions, shrivelled seedlings that missed a watering, weird looking veges - all of it.

Because that’s the reality of growing your own food. If I can show that it’s possible to grow good food in Southland backyards without being perfect, then hopefully more people will give it a go. After all, nature is perfectly imperfect!

Shelley's backyard kai garden. Photo: Supplied

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What do you say to someone who’s keen to start a vege garden but feels like Southland’s climate (or their rental, time, or budget) is a dealbreaker?

Shelley: I promise it’s possible! There will always be roadblocks when growing your own food, no matter where you are on the journey - but there’s always a solution.

Sometimes it starts with resetting your mindset and looking for proof that it can be done. People are growing food in Southland’s climate. People are growing food while renting, in small spaces, on tight budgets, and with busy lives.

Start where you are and with what you have. It doesn’t have to be “grow it all or nothing.” Getting started with some herbs or one to two vege crops this season is perfect!

Small spaces not a problem for growing veges. Photo: Supplied

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What are some of the most common misconceptions about growing food at home in Southland?

Shelley: Because our climate’s cooler and the growing season shorter, there’s a bit of a myth that we’re limited to swedes, potatoes, and cabbages down here.

So not true! Over the last few years I’ve grown 50+ different fruit and vege crops - including apricots and oranges! We really can grow so much good food here; in fact, our cooler climate actually works in our favour for a lot of crops.

Southland not limited in growing beautiful produce. Photo: Supplied

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You share monthly garden tasks and seasonal highlights - what’s your favourite crop to grow, and why?

Shelley: Ohhhhhh that’s a hard one - I love growing all the things! Watching a little flower in spring turn into tasty fruit in summer never gets old.

Planting tiny carrot seeds and later pulling crisp, sweet carrots from the soil is always a thrill. But if I have to pick, the humble spud might take it: easy to grow, pretty forgiving, loves Southland, fun to dig up, and such a hearty staple.

The humble spud, easy to grow and loves Southland. Photo: Supplied

Tell us about a time something didn’t go to plan in the garden - and what you learned from it.

Shelley: Every season something doesn’t go to plan - that’s just Mother Nature. Failed crops, forgotten crops, pest or disease blow‑ups, gnarly weather… it happens.

The big learning is that you always get a re-do and usually gain new knowledge along the way. Every new growing season brings a fresh start with fresh energy and ideas. Having a go is the best way to learn!

Your content often feels like a cuppa with a friend - is that intentional? What kind of community are you hoping to grow?

Shelley: I don’t take things too seriously and I try to share small, simple, easy‑to‑action bits of info. Starting a new skill can be overwhelming, so small steps are how we make progress.

And that’s what it’s all about: progress over perfection! I’d love to create a community of connection through food - sharing knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring one another, and letting that Southland spirit shine. Online and off!

What are your top 3 starter crops for someone brand new to gardening in Southland?

Shelley: Here are three to start with right now:

• Silverbeet – super easy to grow, it loves our climate, can be grown all year round and it just keeps on giving. It’s yummy cooked in a pan with butter and a bit of water or chopped thinly and added to a winter salad.

• Potatoes – easy to grow, a great staple to have in the patch, super versatile and everyone loves spuds! New spuds at Christmas time with mint and butter, yum!

• Salad greens – Salad Greens - an easy crop to grow from seed, very cost effective - one pack of seeds will cost you the same as a bag of salad mix at the supermarket, doesn’t take up much space, cut the outside leaves as needed and it keeps producing. Fresh salad greens for your sandwich or BBQ tea, delish.

If readers take one thing away from your journey, what do you hope it is?

Shelley: That we can grow a huge array of herbs, fruit, and veges in the Deep South!

Take small steps season by season and before long your backyard will be filled with tasty, nutritious produce to feed yourself, your friends, family, and community - and leave you with a sense of pride and satisfaction like no other.

Give it a go!

Shelley’s pumpkin haul. Photo: Supplied

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