'Lasagna gardening' is a no-dig permaculture method which is perfect for small spaces and even works on rocky ground and places where the soil quality is less than perfect. It's also known as sheet mulching. This method mimics the natural processes of a forest, and provides a low-maintenance ecosystem where your organic veg will thrive. Lasagna beds can even be made on cement or asphalt, so even if you don't have a garden you can still grow your own tasty organic produce! Those of you in the Southern hemisphere don't need to wait until spring to get your lasagna garden up and running: if you spend a couple of hours to prepare it now, it will be ready to use when you need it.

The idea is to create layers (like a lasagna) of bio-materials, that will allow you to plant directly into the compost mixture. It's really simple to do, but you will need to wait a while for the lasagna bed to break down and be ready to use. This method is perfect for lazy (but patient) gardeners, as well as absolute beginners! Here's how it works:

1. If you do have a lawn, mow it before you begin.  Also, remove any persistent weeds at the root.

If you are planting on cement or asphalt, you don't need to do any of this, but instead you will create a raised bed that you can layer up and plant inside. You can either use a wooden frame or straw bales, as shown in the image below. Make the garden as small or as big as you like!

Flickr, Talena Winters

2. The lasagna recipe starts with a few thin layers of newspaper or cardboard. This stops the grass and weeds from growing up into the compost by blocking the sunlight, and worms love it! Next, soak the newspaper or cardboard with water.

3. The next step is to add the first layer of 'green' composting material. This can be anything that is rich in nitrogen. So: food scraps from the kitchen, coffee grounds, grass cuttings and garden waste, straw, and chicken manure if you can get hold of any. Some lasagna gardeners say the process works best if you place these separately, with the kitchen scraps first and then working through the list and ending with the chicken manure. However, if you're pushed for time you can add a mix of all of these things as the first layer, and the bed will still work well.