It was a grey overcast day today, with wind and rain. I was out in the dark again, planting the Honeysuckle behind the Camelia. The Lonicera has its own wig wam of canes now to grow up before leaping across to the trellis I want to put up.The Top photo shows the left border as it is. The lower photo shows the Carex grasses and the Dogwood nestling with the solar lights.
A post thatI read last night before bed was the Hundred Foot Diet blogged on an Alameda Garden.
http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2008/01/100-foot-diet-challenge.html
The premise is simple. Try to prepare one meal a week with ingredients grown in your garden or community garden (Allotment here). I did a post before about the Dig for Victory campaign in the Second World War when the British public started to cultivate land en masse to grow fruit and vegetables.
http://snappycrocsgarden.blogspot.com/2007/04/digging-for-victory-britains-new.html
The hundred foot is the average distance from your house! You can source locally grown Organic food if your plot is bare. Thats good because I only have Parsley and Rosemary growing that is edible at the moment.
I did a google search and found this video embedded on an eco website.The garden featured belongs to Jules Dervaes , the man behind the path to freedom journal along with his family.
The idea to me thats the most radical is its in an urban area. They did not move into the country, but altered their own environment. I love their Hellstrip with the Wild flowers, and the fact he dropped six inches of mulch on the lawn. Freedom from mowing and watering. This is their gardeners challenge posted on the sixth of January:
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/journal/archives/2008/01/100_foot_diet_c.html
I am waiting for my vegetable seeds to come from Robinsons and the African bag gardens from Send A Cow.
The right hand side of the garden will be split between a Butterfly garden, and a Kitchen Garden. The raised Pavers will hold the Bag Gardens and hopefully a Grow house too.
In my year without a garden I dreamt of the ideal garden. The plan for 2008 will be trying to grow a four pronged garden:
1) An organic garden that attracts wildlife, birds, animals, and insects. Natural pest control will be used, and picking them off at night.
2) A productive garden growing as much home grown food as is possible on a North east facing site.
3) A beautiful Flower garden that has interest throughout the year.
4) A place to relax, and entertain when it warms up. A people friendly garden to chill out in after the stresses of work.
I have started some of the above especially attracting garden birds, lots more work to be done before it is completed. My garden measures aproximately twenty foot by fourteen foot, faces north east and is shaded by houses and trees.
7 comments:
Thanks for the link!
I think you've made tremendous progress with your new garden. And I totally approve of the addition of honeysuckle--one of my favorite garden fragrances. I'm sure by summer you'll have a really terrific garden spot to enjoy. But you're probably enjoying already!
Hi Claire you are Welcome.You were the spark behind this post.The blogosphere is better for linking between blogs.Shared knowledge.Your comment came super quick after I posted it!Im enjoying it already so much the garden.Im outside often, taking in the view and the fresh air, and watching the garden birds.
I love Honeysuckle but have never grown it before.Fingers crossed :)
You are a wonderful blogger! Your raised bed is gorgeous! I and a friend have been trying to buy more organic...I had a vegie garden last year, but have been lazy so far to go for anything this year! My shining stars last year were broccoli and cauliflower, if you can imagine!!! I was amazed that I could grow something like these!
I wanted to say that out of all your ideas for your garden, I love the one about coming home and relaxing in it after a stress-filled day at work!
Blessings- Julie
David!
That's a great video...I really like your blog, and just bookmarked it. I converted the 1500 sq ft side lot of my woodworking shop into an organic garden 2 years ago. My shop is in a 1950's quanset hut occupied by a group of artists and craftmen/women in North Carolina. It is an ongoing project but the yields have been amazing nutritionally and spriritually.And the project amazes all the passersby.
I have some slideshows of my Urban Garden Project on my blog [skim down] I also blog about all things green, cycling, food, and design.
Great photography on your blog, BTW
Check out my Urban Garden Project and tell me what you think
VL
Hi Julie,I am already a much happier gardener/nurse now.I have blogged before about the positive benefits of growing plants and flowers.Its impossible to hold onto anger or stress in a garden.You examine the flowers, the leaves, look for damage and those things melt off you.Standing in the twighlight or dark is good too, especially if you have wind blowing through trees or grasses.
I hope to grow somethings, even within the limited amount of direct sunlight the garden will get.Im glad you liked the garden plan of 2008....
Hi Vergelimbo I will read through your blog, and look at your posts.I like the sound of an artists community within the shop.Its funny how growing things can go from nurtitional to spiritual.I believe in the healing powers of the earth and gardens.There is a connection there but I cant find the words just yet!
Thank you for your nice words about the blog :)
If anybody can create an "urban paradise", it's you! Heck, it looks so much better already, I can't wait to see how things turn out this summer!
Thanks Lisa,The inspiration for all my ideas comes from reading other peoples blogs, even yours!I think my garden although small is an urban paradise.The other back yards are a mix of concrete, weeds, and stones.
I have not seen any one else with bare soil.Im unique I think in this row of houses of having cultivated soil instead of stone slabs.
I cant wait to show you how it turns out :)
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