Compost diaries: Improving soil and gardening for a better world

Have you ever known anyone who keeps a compost diary? Well you do now; virtually at least! Composting is one of the most amazing things about gardening. It’s not the prettiest, or the most fragrant or those most immediately gratifying, but building the structure of your soil is one of the most import and rewarding things you can do as a gardener. I’m no soil expert, but I’ve been gardening long enough to see the … More Compost diaries: Improving soil and gardening for a better world

In the garden growing the stuff of life

We’re coming to that time of year when the blog can get sadly neglected and the garden takes over. As I start this post before I forget about it, I should really be preparing the ground for the cucumbers to go out, planting out my tomatoes, potting on seedlings and planting more seeds. I observed this tendency last years when I shared an overview of the garden towards the end of the season in September, … More In the garden growing the stuff of life

How time slips away when you’re in the garden

Today I’m writing to the soundtrack of a summer thunderstorm. There are sporadic deep grumbles among the more insistent rain and it’s probably only a matter of time before they are joined by crackling flashes of lightning. Why share our inclement weather with you? Well partly because it’s a cause of much excitement here as it means we won’t need to water the garden today, and with luck tomorrow, and because it got me thinking … More How time slips away when you’re in the garden

That Rhubarb Time of Year

Most allotmenters will recognise this scenario. You take on a plot and beat back the weeds and undergrowth and have a moment of discovery when you come across a rhubarb patch. It seems that every plot has an obligatory few, or many, rhubarb plants.  Once established they do their thing, cropping annually and early without the allotment holder paying them any attention. They seem like the ideal plant to have, if you like rhubarb that … More That Rhubarb Time of Year