Adventures in a small garden - The Begining

My next mission. …. is to permaculture this!

Progress after a month…… You would normally observe a potential growing space for a year before you put a system in place, however I already know that this space has virtually no underground ecosystem, fortunately there are quite a few worms but they look very sickly. The ground had a summer house on and we had to remove bags of rubble/builders sand/screws etc. This means the ground is very compacted also indicated by the large number of plantain and creeping buttercup plants. So I have had the pick on it and dug over in some places so the ground can breathe. I have planted some areas mainly to help break up the soil and add nutrients and life, they are acting as pioneer plants really, the final system won’t look like this. The Mediterranean herbs should take ok as they are hardy and I have also put in some brassica as they are also pretty hardy. At the side of the house are courgettes which were there when we arrived, they have grown huge possibly because chickens were kept there. We have a beautiful scented rose out front and also a small grassed area.

I have been using grass cuttings to make a feed for the plants/soil to add nitrogen, someone told me they used grass as a plant feed at a workshop once, I have never tried it but as that’s what I have on site I thought I would give it a go.

Also growing on site are the natives speedwell, native geranium, herb robert, yarrow, chickweed, dandelion and scarlet pimpernel, there is also wood avens which does have its uses but I know from experience can be very evasive if you let it take hold. There are cultivated plants too honeysuckle, ferns, bamboo, some kind of canna and a privet. I am hoping the nettle seed will take although I also have some in a pot! I have also put in a passion flower which seems OK so far. I was lucky to find a lady round the corner selling plants on her drive and I was also given plants by Emma and Andy and Helena, thanks so much guys xxx ….. I also found an abandoned compost bin round back, it is also nice to have some new plants in there to feed the soul!

We will continue to gradually dig over for the rest of the season and nuture what is there while we continue to observe things like rainfall/drainage, tracking the sun, growth patterns and insect life etc. We can then work on planning the actual system that should be put in place.