Author Archives: Helen

About Helen

I have always been interesting in living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and used to do what I could. Now, I have come to realise that we have reached such a point in terms of environmental degradation that it is more important - perhaps - to focus on building resilience. I therefore do as much as I can to reuse, grow my own and encourage a supportive community, for example. I also keep reading and learning all the time.

Out with the neem spray

Posted on March 20, 2019

It’s that time of the year where I can do an hour’s work in the garden after work. So, now the wind has abated, I rushed out to direct sow some broad beans. Then I turned my attention to the … Continue reading →

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I am not alone!

Posted on March 18, 2019

This morning when I woke up, there was a birthday surprise behind the curtains. One daylily seed had germinated, before sometime last autumn and now there is another – at last. Anyway, there are various jobs I could have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, edible flowers | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

A forgotten pocket

Posted on March 16, 2019

Over the winter at Old Sleningford Farm, we cleared an area of dead vegetation. I asked if I could keep some of the seed heads for my garden and put them in my jacket pocket. Then I didn’t wear the … Continue reading →

Posted in Pond and bog garden, soil management | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

A burst of blue

Posted on March 13, 2019

Okay, I exaggerate slightly but the glory-of-the-snow and anemones were a delight to my eyes this evening. Especially as it is the end of term and I was held up in traffic after a lorry was engulfed in flames on … Continue reading →

Posted in forest garden, Gardening | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Planting up – bogs and pegs

Posted on March 11, 2019

My first job this morning was to plant out a couple more broad bean plants and cover them with netting. It was great to repurpose the poles from cloches which had succumbed to the wind, so that I could hang … Continue reading →

Posted in Pond and bog garden, raised bed | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

I’ve already got some of these!

Posted on March 10, 2019

The weather this weekend has hardly been springlike and conducive to gardening, so just as well I was away. However, on the way home, I stopped off at Belton garden centre to see if they had any pheromone traps to … Continue reading →

Posted in forest garden, Pond and bog garden | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

The unexpected vs. the unwanted

Posted on March 8, 2019

As I prepared to do some work in the front garden for a change, I noticed worms in the bottom of the pond. Or perhaps they are not worms but something else that likes to inhabit fresh water. My initial … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Pond and bog garden | Tagged , , | 6 Comments