I’ve always been an avid gardener, and as a mother of four, I’m constantly trying to look after the health of my family, so growing my own fruit and vegetables has been more than just a hobby, it’s become part of my lifestyle.
With Brexit approaching, I decided last year to make my back garden earn its keep, and with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, I went full throttle, transforming what had mostly been blackberry brambles and bind weed, winding their way in and out of our existing apple trees and fruit bushes, into a fully functioning and productive vegetable garden.
This year I’ve amped up the intensity of my garden, and not only invested in a vast array of vegetable seeds from all over the world, but also built not one, but two greenhouses. My house is also a veritable jungle of seedlings, which I started in February, causing my husband to constantly refer to my “krinoids”. It wasn’t really funny the first time, but hey. He won’t be joking when he’s feasting on a myriad of tomato, pepper, aubergine, and okra varieties, among other things.
Last year’s garden was nothing if not a cornucopia; this year I have every intention of dwarfing that “horn of plenty” by comparison.
I’m hoping to do at least a weekly report on how my garden grows, and once harvest begins, share my recipes with you, my readers too, along with any tips, hints, or my general observations. With any luck it’ll be amusing as well!
That’s quit a productive transformation. Are those burlap bags something you purchased for growing, or something you recycled?
Hi Carol! Thank you for checking out my post! They’re recycled coffee sacks – unfortunately in the English weather they biodegraded after just one season, but as they’re made from jute they can be put back into the garden as compost. I still have some bags for use this year, but I’m going to move into using more permanent structures, such as a few more metal garden beds. Watch this space!