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.

A week in pictures

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Helen

After a week which I was glad to see the back of, I’ve just had one of annual leave and managed to pack quite a lot in, although very little gardening is in the mix. Most forays into the garden … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Days out, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A puffer ball

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Helen

The title of this post is a new word for me. At Helmsley Walled Garden last week, I’d seen the flowers on globe artichokes and decided to touch them. Immediately, the thought of puffer balls came to mind, as the … Continue reading →

Posted in edible flowers, Gardening, perennials | Tagged , | 14 Comments

What a nice seat to sit at

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Helen

Do you notice how sometimes time can be fast and slow simultaneously? August seemed to stretch on for ever and now suddenly it’s September. Hurrah! Autumn is making its approach with cooler, darker evenings, rosy apples and too many events … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out | Tagged | 8 Comments

One tomato plant down

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Helen

The tomato plant in the large pot, sandwiched between the dalek composter and the raspberry canes, was doing really well. No doubt in part because it had lots of compost to dig its roots into. Perhaps it also benefitted from … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management | Tagged , | 11 Comments

A faint rustling

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Helen

A comment to a recent post of mine about the heat in my south-facing bedroom when temperatures rose resulted in my buying some emergency foil blankets. Actually, I thought I was purchasing one but five came through the door. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Good for the environment, Health, Wildlife | Tagged , | 17 Comments

The waiting game

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Helen

It has now become the norm that most of my substantial gardening endeavours take place during the autumn and winter months. That doesn’t stop me from itching to get on with the tasks I’ve got planned, though. At least, I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Days out, Gardening | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Hull

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Helen

I had been to Kingston-upon-Hull a couple of times in my life but a friend had suggested it as a destination in view of my daughter’s interest in buildings. I’d not been aware that there remained any of the Old … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Garden revamp #1

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Helen

A conversation with my dad the other day prompted me to seriously consider moving the raised bed. Currently, it is by the western fence between an apple tree and raspberry bush to the south and a bay tree to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, raised bed | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Picking from the jungle

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Helen

Oh, I wish I had more space in my back garden! As soon as I started gardening in earnest back in 2010, I yearned to have a bigger garden than the one I actually had. I was reading like mad, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Inside the compound

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Helen

The first muck-in at St Aidan’s Nature Reserve since the start of the pandemic took place yesterday morning. The plan was to reduce the amount of ragwort, so that the cattle which graze on the site are less likely to … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, Good for the environment | Tagged , , | 16 Comments