I AM passionate about growing my own fruit and vegetables organically.

It terrifies me when I learn more about the sprays that are being used on vegetables and fruits, for pests and storage.

The latest shock was the humble onion, which I thought didn't have any pests.

Unfortunately they have to control the weeds and then spray to make the onions store well.

I am now determined not to buy onions if I can help it, my garden will do most of the supplying.

I was very disappointed with my crop over winter now going to seed and not setting swollen bulbs.

After reading your Peter Cundall article on onions "Do you know your onions?" (WT, June 24), I have learnt where I went wrong.

I find his articles extremely informative and just appreciate the wisdom that he has to pass down to the following generations.

We have recently joined a group to set up a community organic garden at the high school down the road.

We are just delighted and have spent many hours rotary hoeing, digging and removing tons of couch grass that has been cut up into tiny little segments, already popping up everywhere.

It is backbreaking work, digging and removing handfuls from every fork load.

But we are determined to do it without any pesticides or sprays (which are not allowed in the garden anyway).

We have met the nicest people from all age groups and many are old hands, but many are very new at it.

We try to help one another and I look forward to the harvests and seed-sharing we will be able to do.

Our garden is 54sq m and my husband couldn't believe we would be able to fill it.

He had forgotten about the rockmelons and watermelons that we are anxiously waiting to be able to plant in the cold climate of Canberra.

Things are shooting up and hopefully my new onions won't have been planted too late this time, but I realise I have cut it very fine.

Robyn Power, Kaleen, ACT