Life is change – so many changes! Sometimes from the outside (climate, injury, more mouths to feed), and sometimes from within – as we learn, we evolve and do things differently. Keep things simple so your garden can easily adapt when changes rolls around.
Acknowledging that what we know to be true today, may not be so next week/ year/ decade keeps us grounded and curious and open to change. Along with a temporary mindset (nothing in life is permanent after all), two things will get you there:
- A goodly stash of organic matter always to hand, ready to pile on for instant no dig bed creation. Life (actual, real life I mean here – as in nature) isn’t complicated!
- Do as little hard landscaping as you can get away with. When ever you build something – especially if you are trying it out for the first time, be sure it can be unbuilt without a kanga hammer. Steer clear of concrete and nails as much as possible. Strength + function can be created without such things. A well rammed post, for instance, can easily hold a small gate, and is a delight when the time comes to reorganise. If not in your time, then a gift for those who come after you.
Matt and I are evolving the garden yet again in response to life changes – our huge vegie gardens, created to feed a tribe, now only need contribute tea for two. And thus, perennials are on the increase in the annual vegetable patch. I’m planting up fun + useful stuff like currants, echinacea, globe artichokes, dahlias, sage and citrus. It’s easily done in our deep mulch, structure less space. Far from being mere gap fillers – these perennials will become hubs of soil biology for the annuals to plug into – enabling faster growth and stronger immunity.
Needless to say these new areas will evolve. Some things will grow well and some wont, some combinations I’ll love and some not so much … on it goes, this temporary fluid thing we call a garden. As well as dinner and medicine, its my absolute joy. My canvas, on which I am temporarily, creating. Holding space for those who follow.
Yours in the earth,
❤️ Kath