Thanks so much to all who entered – it was uplifting reading through all your emails. To hear of the many of you now growing all your own greens! Wohoo! To read again and again ‘dont panic’ ‘be patient’ ‘little and often makes such a difference’ and we’ve ‘stopped using artificial fertiliser’ – its as if this competition came along to make my heart sing. I thank you all. If it wasn’t randomly selected it would’ve been IMPOSSIBLE to choose.
Congradulations to Jo Clendon for winning the prize pack! This competition is now closed.
The team at Penguin Random House, have put together this groovy little Spring-inspired giveaway: a copy of my Edible Backyard book + a soil thermometer + a wooden dibbler + a bunch of organic vegie seeds from Kings + a moon calendar. What a good score!
To enter, scroll to the bottom of this post and in the box titled “Speak your mind” – answer me this –
How did this months newsletter inspire you? To tackle a new thing perhaps, or think a new way or just to get out there and take care of food garden business? Let me know!
- Competition closes on October 20th.
- Winner will be notified by email.
Bonne chance, my friends!
I am inspired by the photos of the veggies
hi Kath, I’m busting to start planting some summer veges so your newsletter has encouraged me to be a little more patient!
Also loving the guidance to go bare feet – it is so good for mind, body & soul to get out amongst nature! a wonderful gift from God!!
Love your newsletters thanks they are so helpful for guiding me in my beginner garden!
to be patient, planted my tomatoes way too early, might have to buy some more and wait for warmer soil
I got very excited about the glasshouse tips, especially the companion plants and mulching ideas. I don’t have a glasshouse yet, but in July we built (using old bricks) the foundations for a 6 x 8 ft one that I’m saving up for.. Delayed gratification is the name of the game but I plan to be good and ready when that goal is achieved. Meanwhile the new “slightly raised” bed is growing a selection of early potatoes which be followed by pumpkins and sunflowers. Nothing goes to waste here!
inspiring me to get connected and go barefoot gardening.
I am definitely inspired by the living mulch, I’ve not heard of this and will be trying it this month.
So much inspiration but sowing a living mulch really got me thinking. Also hardening off seedling a few days outside before transplanting. I was feeling a bit blah about my spring garden but now I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in. Thank you.
Your newsletter always inspires!
This one got me planning. I’m on the move so will be starting again.
Next garden will be all mine, so I can do it the way I want, which looks a lot like yours.
Thanks for the past few years.
Best wishes!
Hi thanks for a the monthly updates, I think what I love most is the month by month suggestions and to do list. While I’ve been gardening for many years I’m new to permiculture, seed raising and companion gardening and loving the tips to extend growing times. New to the Top of the South so appreciate the area/location guide lines also.
I’ve dug up my comphry and planted a good size piece at the base of my 5 fruit trees. I’m seeing the daisies and dandelions between the trees and resisting the urge to tidy up with the lawn mower.
you are my go to for garden info. thankyou.
Previously, Kath, i would never have considered pruning fruit trees while they are in blossom, but if it isn’t going to make them suddenly bush our wasting all their energy on new sprouts i am willing to chance it as you suggest. There is always something in your blogs to try!
I was motivated by your enthusiasm to look at my fruit trees
took off a couple of blocking branches
sprayed some Sulphur on the poor peaches who hadbadcurly leaf last year
They had some copper earlier
would love your book would match with the pruning one
Cheers
I love getting your monthly emails of what to do in the garden and when. This month was terrific as I was about to rush out and get some squash seedlings thinking get them in the ground and make an early start! Having read your notes about not rushing and warming the ground first for these warm soil loving plants (who knew!?) I am now going to plant a living mulch instead. I love the idea of providing food for the bees, pretty flowers to enjoy AND a warm bed for the squash when I will plant them later on. I’ve also decided I need a soil thermometer, I’ve never really thought about soil temperature before! Thanks for the great tips, keep them coming
Actually it inspired me to wait a bit longer to get planting – even though that’s the most exciting thing I can think of right now! I am digging some new beds, planting some seeds to put in our seed raising mini greenhouse and I think I will go and get some black plastic to warm the soil in some beds.
This waiting actually still has quite a bit I can do to get my spring on! Thanks x Kathy
Focussing on winter crops thinking ahead for these is such helpful information
So many things were useful in the newsletter! I hadn’t thought to take off early strawberries and let them grow more canopy. I was heartened that we agree about letting broodies sit it out in safety – I have two in a separate pen with no eggs at present. The article on pruning passion fruit was the most useful for me; I’ve killed three vines with bad pruning (although the possums didn’t help). I now know to prune them like a grape. Fingers crossed.
Just planted three passionfruit vines 🤞🏻
Never heard of training them how I want them to grow so that’s exciting. Thanks for giving me the knowledge.
Hi, Although I grew in amongst my grandfathers garden, and then my mothers, I am new to growing and nurturing plants myself. I have started on a horticulture online course with open polytechnic which has opened my eyes and is fast becoming my passion. It has opened a new world of beauty, possibilities and actions I had never considered I would be interested in, but now can’t believe I left it so long to discover not only the reward of growing, but the healing affect it has on my anxiety, and also the motivation to get my body moving.
I recently planted out my herbs and some lettuces in pots on my deck, and have a raised garden structure ready to introduce compost and mulch in anticipation of planting out. Your newsletter has opened my eyes with the idea of living mulch. Not only does it seem practical but also beautiful to look at! I have been over-enthusiastic about getting a crop in asap, but now think your advice to wait on soil temperatures and think living mulch would be something I would love to try out.
I am learning as I go and getting excited everyday at the possibilities of what I can grow and how to go about it as natural as possible. I am going to try your living mulch in an area of my garden, but first need to get my compost mix in when weather allows. I was a bit anxious about timing (my mother already has a thriving garden), but your words have ‘calmed the farm’, there is no great instant urgency, I should take my time and do it right.
Thanks so much for your amazing newsletter and advice. I hope to one day have a thriving garden and the experience and knowledge to produce healthy plants, not just for produce but for the beauty of my garden and satisfaction for the soul. It is such an exciting journey to have finally discovered a passion for it!
I loved the idea of a living mulch! Clearing away winter crops has left my soil pretty bare which is not a good look. Sowing plants that will not only cover the soil but also bring pollinators is such a brilliant idea! I will sow some buckwheat, marigolds, phacelia. and nasturtium. Thanks for the inspiration!
New to gardening, I am trying to figure out how to start growing my own food and herbs. Your newsletters are so passionate and the October one is super helpful, especially the herbs section and it has inspired me to test my soil! Thank you for what you do and for sharing your knowledge.
I am reminded by the newsletter to be patient (hard to do) and wait until temperatures are higher before planting out seedlings I ahve raised for the first time and to harden off outside in the day. Thank you for the inspirational and handbrake as I wish to hurry spring and summer growth!!
I really like your team up with the web of life inspiration and getting the soil right so that it works for you. That must be the most important lesson to learn with gardening. Thank you for your down to earth! ideas and recommendations.
This month’s newsletter has inspired me to wait patiently for the best time to plant summer veg rather than jump the gun, thanks
So much information and inspiration here! Going to start with the seed catalogue, weeding and spreading compost, sowing seeds and planning, planning, planning!
“There’s no hurry at this stage – its only the 1st of October, and every day we shift ever more towards the sun.
Kick your boots off and garden barefoot for an intimate, direct line to the warming of your soil (and so much more goodness besides).”
This really resonated with me. Walking barefoot on the soil and new grass helps to ground me. Watching the seasons change, and realising that somethings just can’t be hurried. You cannot make a plant grow by tugging on its leaves. There is no hurry. Things will happen when they are ready … and until then you need to be present in the moment.
Thank you for the reminder.
It made me take a pause, a breath and think hard – wait, don’t rush, make a plan what to plant when and where 🌻
Inspiration was for the “will of patience”. I’ve recently moved to a new home and keen to rip into everything. Planting seeds on heatpads to hurry things along and then wondering why my germination rates seems a bit low lol!
I purchased a ground thermometer for the 1st time (I’m 64) and OMG official Spring dates don’t mean the soil is ready!! So, my wee seedlings will stay in my tiny glasshouse for a few weeks longer.
And then the fruit trees…. I planted new trees over winter including a plum – it is absolutely stacked with tiny plums so I’ve warned my husband that in a few weeks when they get to marble size, we will have to be ruthless with thinning – do you know how hard that will be!!!!
Hi Kath
Thanks for your latest newsletter! I think I’ve just clicked with the living mulch idea. I’m familiar with mulching and manure crops but not using manure crops as living mulch. I’m definitely going to try it. Maybe not in the soggier months, as I feel like the slugs and snails will love it to hide in but when the rain finally stops, I’m going to bust out my bag of crimson clover and my nasturtium seeds. I wonder if alyssum would work too…
we’ve just moved town & region to 1000sqm large lawn home & my fingers are itching to plant plant plant & get in our vegie patches, so thanks for sharing to be patient & prepare the ground while we wait especially putting in a cover crop to plant into. so I’ve put the brakes on, covered my seedlings & will compost & sow covers til the end of the month
Kath – I am going to try the bird sticks .Going out now to gather/cut them up .. The birds have been REALLY annoying me .
AM going to find my marigold seeds and plant them ” everywhere ”
Tonight am going to rug up and go “slugging” .. off to get the lime now.
Thank you – all your comments inspire me and i love your friendly easy peasy way of writing .
This months post has inspired me to be patient! I have been getting worried about how I’m going to be so late sowing this seasons crops because the beds aren’t ready yet (got ignored for a year since we had our first baby and I’m in my final year of my degree) but now I can relax a bit knowing I should wait till the soil warms up enough. Plenty of time to prep the garden, celebrate a first birthday, get my degree, and sow some seeds! Phew!
I have been inspired to just share all my swan plant seeds with our group to sow this season. Lorraine and Karen have led a workshop on making seed bombs with modelling clay, potting mix, and a mixture of seeds combined together. This was at our monthly meeting of the Titahi Bay Horticultural Society.
hi every year i try to be better than the one before – with better soil and trying to grow only what i really want to eat, i get so entranced by all these new and amazing vegetables!!!
Well first off I have to tell you I got your bok at my request for my 75th birthday yesterday! I JUST LOVE IT But I would love the rest of the prize! And I could pass the book on to one of our Plant Group! They are used to me quoting you from a Library copy! So what did the Newsletter do for me! It inspires my enthusiasm, calms my fears about having stuff in the ground too soon and makes me feel that maybe tomorrow I will get out in my bare feet to touch the Earth!
Truly, you are my garden guru and even as I age quietly and easily into the years I can learn much from you!
Thank you!
Happy October
Ann Watson
So many inspiring things – I’ve never known how to deal with leaf curl and so have always ignored it. Not this this year, thanks Kath. In fact I sometimes terribly neglect our citrus, so a good seaweed feed and mulch coming up.
Also inspiring to hear about your glasshouse Kath and the concept of living mulch. I have naturally been allowing living mulch as I eat a lot of “weeds” so enjoy the (now) immense spread of chickweed, and cleavers, plantains etc growing amongst the winter greens. I knew keeping the ground covered was good for the soil, but I haven’t experimented much with planting into the living mulch. So that’s on the list for this year too.
Kath, I love your style – it resonates deeply with what has been a very intuitive and observing process for me. It is so confirming of the impulse to work with nature and use what is around us to enhance the health of our soils and plants.
Thanks so much for your generosity
Blessings and gratitude,
Oh, how you inspired me!!
You inspired me to slow down, don’t panic to get my seedling and plants in the ground until the soil warms up. I just want to get those little babies in their forever place to grow into big edible plants. Yum, yum. I get too keen at this time of year. A really nice morning today to plant seedlings and I did have a tray of lettuces to plant out, I looked at them in my hand and said ‘No. Nice and warm this morning for you but goodness knows what tomorrow bring’. Sure enough this afternoon clouded over the is now very cold. Thank you guys for slowing me down and to WAIT for a few days or a week or 2. Back in the glasshouse they went. Nice and warm!
I’m quite a novice at growing veggies but after watching your podcasts on Voices for Freedom and signing up to your newsletters, I now have 5 tubs of potatoes growing and boxes with broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot, celery, lettuce & spinach. For the last couple of years, all I have attempted are lettuce & spinach for my summer salads. I’ve been on 2 workshops to learn how to make different types of veggie beds and how to propagate from cuttings and seeds. I have sown carrots from seed for the first time and I’m about to expand another area of my garden so I can grow pumpkins and Kumara. I’m also going to try growing all my veggies from seed over spring/ summer so next year I don’t need to spend lots on seedlings. All this inspiration from your first podcast where you were telling people how easy it can be to grow our own ‘Edible Backyards’. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I love your newsletters as they help me to keep on top of what I should be planning each month. There’s so much to learn that it has also inspired me to sign up for a horticulture class with a local company where I will actually gain a level 3 qualification, so thank you Cath. I also love books, (so old school),but it’s so nice to be able to flick to a page and have all the info you need with beautiful photos to help without relying on your phone or computer! I look forward to enjoying eating my own ‘Edible Backyard’ in the coming months and for years to come and hopefully inspire my kids to do the same!!
I really enjoy foraging. Just found some water cress in a safe wet area.
Even been planting dandelions
Your wonderful October newsletter inspired me to Don my headlamp and get snail hunting. The wee critters are eating my salvia, peppermint and polyanthus (they like variety). I’m going to make some lime water and stop throwing them over the fence 😙 I also learnt to leave off the mulch until the soil has warmed up… As always I learnt something new and felt encouraged to keep going with my wee city garden, my compost, and my organic ways. . Thanks Kath.
You have made me keep my tetchy little fingers out of the garden until it warms up. Doing all the tidy up jobs instead like replenishing soil, fertilizing, weeding, etc which will make my job easier when I can “rip” into it.
It made me halt a wee tad on planting out the things that should be waiting a bit longer :). Too impatient! Feels like they should be in the ground, but still too cold.
Hi Kath, this month was like you were reading my mind, I’ve been busy sowing seeds and ran out side at the first hint of a sunny day all keen to plant out, As luck would have it the first of October it’s raining in Taranaki otherwise it would have been very hard not to plant out some well cared for seedlings. The rain brought me inside and to your newsletter,
I have just read your newsletter., Reminding me to not lose my head and get carried away with the excitement of it all. And to wait
Instead I will harden up my seedlings, turn over my compost once the rain has gone and plan out where to plant my first crop of Kumara instead and hopefully ginger. And talk lovingly to my very tiny raspberry shoots. A soil thermometer would be handy.!
See you In The garden!
Julie
Valuable information on sustainable gardening’s.
I read the newsletter every month and often end up also looking at the webpage. I find the down to earth newsletter inspiring and helpful in learning more about sustainable gardens……..thank you
First weekend of October I will use to put together a hardy tomato trellis. I like the idea of using reinforcing mesh and have some available to use. The newsletter had also provided me the reminder to be patient with my summer loving crops and I think we all need a reminder to be patient around this time!
A valuable reminder to be patient and wait for the right time to do things. Pertinent to all aspects of life, but very relevant for the garden. Spring seems to be a time for us to feel we need to hurry up and get on with doing things right now. It’s nice to have ‘permission’ to relax a bit and let nature tell us when the timing is right.
This newsletter inspired me to try again with seedlings and my veggie garden. After a couple of years of defeat by a number of things, im back for another go. Feed the earth, feed the soul, feed the people;)
I love your newsletter, it always has excellent advice and raises my spirits. This month, your clear instructions on raising really good seedlings have been an enormous help to me.
For a couple of years I have been trying to grow our vegetables from seeds, with limited success. Your detailed guide and accompanying tips have highlighted how I can do better. I am looking forward to my next harvest with great optimism. Thank you
Im inspired with patience! there’s plenty of time!
Encouraged me to get out there and get seeds in.
I always enjoy the first of every month, receiving your email newsletter with good down-to-earth advice which always inspires me to get out and grow. I especially enjoyed your piece on ‘Living Mulch’ this month. I have a continuous cycle of self-seeding nasturtiums growing happily throughout the garden for much of the year (which I love!) and whenever they start to take over I just pull them back a bit and use them as mulch – so it’s nice to know I’m doing the right thing in this respect. However, I am definitely going to try some other types of living much too! Many thanks and keep up the good work!
Oh Lord, ‘don’t rush into planting summer loving crops on the first fine day! A ‘green’, (and not in a good gardening way), new to gardening reads your words too late! Learning by first hand experience eh! My little sad tomato seedlings struggling away, kumara a no-show, But somethings guessed right 🙂 Pumpkin’s popping up on a warm sunny sheltered deck with a zucchini for company, it’s not all bad. Next month I will wait for until after the 1st before dashing off.
This month my inspiration from you was for the greenhouse. Its our first year with one and I was waiting for summer to plant the hot loving plants but now realise I will have time before that to plant a few salad greens and get them out in time for the aubergines and chillis. Great!
ps our garden is totally transformed since you visited, you wouldn’t recognise it! And I still refer to your notes from the consult.
Mark
Hi Kath,
This months newsletter inspired me to pot on my little tomato and pepper seedlings, and to sow my pumpkins, cucumbers and pumpkins – pronto! How is it October already?! I have taken your advice and sowed my tunnel in a carpet of mustard, marigold and phacelia so I will be able to plant out my tomatoes and peppers into pockets in the living mulch. Excited to try it! Delighted to see the white alyssum from last summer has self seeded liberally. I look forward to your emails every month to keep me on track with all the food growing tasks 😊 Thanks!!
Thanks
Thank you
I always think about the comments
This year I’m going to do better. I’m going to grow more, I’m going to grow it better than I have grown it before and I’m going to be a better plant parent. Each month your newsletter inspires me and restrains me – I succumbed to peer pressure in a gardening group and planted some tomatoes far too early and now I have 30cm high beauties which I have potted I to bigger pots to wait a little longer, even though the temptation is real and the greenhouse is starting to bulge. Cheers Cath, here’s to a bountiful year!
I really like your idea of planting in loo rolls. I am going to try it. I do get plenty.
I’m really inspired this month as I have a new glasshouse all ready to go. My seedlings are inside my house waiting for the moment for the frosts to calm down here in Christchurch. Can’t wait!
This months newsletter inspired me exactly as you said!! ie To tackle a new thing (purchased EM1 concentrate), think a new way (stop procrastinating/overthinking and just do it) AND I just got out there today and took care of food garden business (prepped an extra raised vege garden )!! Motivating words thankyou Kath, just what I needed after a down patch.
I had to research what a dibbler was and it sounds very useful. Also realise I need a soil thermometer as I got frustrated last year when spring planting didn’t germinate..
My husband has asked what to do with rotten sea weed from soup barrels. Now I know to say, put it around citrus trees.
Thanks for your advice and ideas.
Thanks for another insightful newsletter and clearing my head a little on the direction I need to aim in.
As I definitely need to get outside with a head touch and kill some more slugs and snails as they are like a massive army in the backyard. And then the rodents 🙈, luckily we have been tackling this with are neighbours , which makes it a lot easier.
I think if I aim in getting rid of the pests from the garden it will be a lot easier to save all my hard work in growing my little babies.
Hi Kath. I spotted your book in the book shop the other day and thought it looked pretty good. I would love to win a copy. Your article on pruning passionfruit was timely. I’m never sure what to do and gave it a tidy up during the week, before all this rain. I probably wasn’t mean enough, but I think I’m happy with it. Its only in its second year and I didn’t want to lose it. Both my neighbours gave theirs a hard prune last year. One doesn’t look to have recovered. The other did not get a very good crop. They seem very fickle plants.
PS: your tree pruning book has been my bible for the last 3 seasons. I like that you advise to prune after fruiting. This spreads out the work and it doesn’t seem such a big job as doing it in the middle of winter, which is what gardeners have previously advised.
The community garden in Aro Valley is currently setting up a hothouse and reading the article about your work in the hothouse was very inspiring! I especially liked learning how Bishops flower grown between climbing beans helps with pollination. I’ll definitely be doing that and sharing this with the others who come to the garden.
🐝
Hi Kath. Thanks for the inspiration with living mulches. I have just started experimenting these this year but I didn’t think about doing it in my pumpkin patch or around the tomatoes, peppers and aubergines….brilliant! Also loved the tip about air and soil temperatures. I need to get a soil thermometer.
But the thing I loved seeing the most was that HUGE dead rat! What a prize possession. I gotta get me one of those!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I loved the tip about leaving old crops such as broccoli, to protect new seedlings in the veggie patch.
This month’s Edible Gardennewsletter got me thinking about living mulches. It all makes so much sense so I intend to plant one and give it a try..
I stood in front of my Passionfruit vine today for 5 minutes and just didn’t know where to start so walked away. Now I know exactly what to do thanks to this newsletter. Thankyou
You made me think about not rushing my planting. Wait for the soil to heat up, which is something I don’t usually think about! (this might explain why some plants don’t do as well as I expect them to) Also plant up any gaps straight away. I’ll also replenish my compost heap as I’ve used most of it to top up my veg gardens. I’m so pleased I’ve found your page. Such easy to understand information. Thank you.
Hi Kath,
Wow, so many things to think about and implement……I loved the idea of living mulch and I definitely want to give this a go in my garden. I also liked your advise about the strawberry plants and taking off little fruits, as I noticed those on my plants. Such great advice.
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
There is a long list of what inspired me here during my first read of your monthly newsletter but what really spoke to me was the encouragement to Kick!… your boots off and garden barefoot. Reminded me to ground myself in and be part of the garden. Not just a visitor. Thank you 🙏
I am so grateful for your newsletter each month! The latest one has inspired me to be patient and not rush outside with my summer plants just yet, and it also provided a timely reminder to sow another succession of greens. Little and often really is the best mantra to garden by!
I was starting to panic that I was behind with my planting, but your reminder to resist rushing into summer crops was very timely, my soil is not warm enough yet – patience….. Hubby rotary hoed a paddock for me, so I have my potatoes in, and have planted several beds with green manure crops, where kumara will be planted next month. I plan to plant a few more beds in green manure, ready for pumpkin seedlings that will hopefully be sown in pots in the greenhouse shortly.
Love the October gardening tips , staring beans and peas in a loo rollis one of your tips I use , fantastic results from doing this.
I’d love a copy of your book, I think it would end up like my favourite cook book, dog eared and grubby and loved to bits.
I’m inspired and encouraged by your living mulch idea in regards to this part of the season. I am helping to manage a space that was previously gardener by some of like mind to yourself Kath and I’m trying to value everything I see. no doubt the current brassica shall now not be ripped out by the roots, but rather left to shelter young seedlings and bit by bit meet their demise and the crimson clover may have been saved and be planted within rather than considered finished.
thanks for the whole picture thinking.
Your newsletter this month really made me consider what I’m planting and when – and not just planting things because something tells you this is a good month for them! Thanks for the insightful information.
Your newsletter inspires me every month! And sends me down a rabbit-warren of other links all over your site, so I am not sure if this inspiration is directly related to what you included but I learned how to take care of my seeds/seedlings a bit better (bottom watering! pricking out!!) so this year’s babies are in for royal treatment 🙂
A few years ago I learned to plant in toilet rolls from you — it feels so good to do something so useful with our overabundance of them!
The newsletter inspires me to think more in organic and self sufficient terms. The advice and tips are a great guide. Although we have been gardners for many years, we are. still learning. Our approach at the beginning was very much hit and miss as well as the survival of the fittest. With the advice of experienced and knowledgeable gardners like Kath, there is a more considered approach to our garden. Thank you Kath!
Ive decided to use your awesome idea to chop and slash all my old crops in my garden to use for a natural mulch. I buy in way too much straw. Its going to be a money saver for me.. Thank you Kath 😊
I’m inspired to be patient and listen to the soil, which has its own timeframes!
Hi Kath. This is a bit cheesy but when I see your monthly email it feels like I’m hearing from a friend. I am a composter and mulcher now and my gardens are free range because you tell me that’s ok! No more trepidation. I love nasturiums and marigolds with my vegetable plants. and am thinking I will try the former in my salads this summer. I have always been inspired by your down to earth approach. I have gardens that evolve. They make me smile.
What a good score! This months newsletter has reminded me to go tend to my strawberries, I have a few new little plants in so must pull the little flowers off
Morning. I tend to not weed too seriously when my garden seedlings are young, to keep the soil covered. Yours is a great idea to plant what I want there instead of incubating the weeds. Keep up the good work.
Love the idea of gardening in bare feet. Just the thought of it makes me realise it’s way too cold to plant tomatoes here yet!
This months newsletter – as with every newsletter laid out the template of possibilities for this time of year – across my particular garden canvas. My job was to weave the two into my own unique creation of growth and green-ness.
Kath’s gentle guidance is a beaut mixture of temperance (don’t plant too soon!!) and exuberance (give it a shot! Try something new!) And and I and I have – each month.
Kath’s newsletters are both anchor and search light to great possibilities – thanks beautiful soul.
Heart hugs
I’m loving the ‘get rid of pests’’ advice as I’m a beginner gardener and I’m totally frustrated at planting beautiful seedlings which I’ve lovingly grown from seed and then then get chomped up by freeloaders in my garden overnight! I also try as hard as I can to stay organic and affordable which most of these suggestions are. I’m learning everyday through advice such as this and good old fashioned mistakes.
Outside I’ll be thinning my carrots and planting beetroot. I’ll be sowing phacelia on the beds I’ll be using for pumpkins in November.. I’ll be foraging in the neighbourhood for compost material.
In the greenhouse I’ll be replenishing the beds by emptying the big mussel bouy compost bin which has been providing heat. The last of the cauliflowers will make way for heat loving vegetables. I usually plant climbing in November but will give a few ago as you suggest. The nasturtium have never stopped growing through the lemon grass so that’s ticked off.
I am loving the pest free suggestions as I’m a beginner gardener who is totally frustrated by having my lovely new seedlings which I have grown lovingly from seeds to be chomped up overnight by freeloaders in my garden. I am thrilled that the tips are organic and affordable as this is also important to me. I’m learning through these hints and good old fashioned mistakes.
I was all set to rush in & plant my beloved basil which I’m hanging out for & thought that merely putting it in the glass house would suffice as know it loves warmth. I’d never considered the soil temperature ….durrr….only the air temperature so now I’ll hold off a little longer & bring my basil seedlings inside to keep them cosy.
Will also source some cloche hoops … I wasn’t successful last year & some heavy duty black plastic…also not so easy to source.
Thanks so much Kath…I gain so much from reading your newsletter as it’s so practical …genuinely doable & spot on for the month!
Meg
Thanks Kath,
You’ve encouraged me to resist the urge to plant out summer crops just yet.
Planting some living mulch will be my next step while I patiently wait for warmer weather!
Amanda
This newsletter has helped me take care of my garden chores and has given me new ideas on how to improve my gardening skills and have a more productive garden.
Thank you and would love to win this awesome prize.
Hello Kath,
Thank you for your newsletter – it has inspired me to have a walk around the orchard and check on what’s happening there. Probably the biggest thing I’ve learnt from you overall is to observe, take note of what works & what doesn’t, and to just have a go and try things out.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter the draw for your book. We have your fantastic pruning one and would love a copy of this one too.
I’m always looking forward to the newsletter. It is my guide on ‘what to do next’ in my garden. I have made so many mistakes in the past by planting at the wrong time. With using your newsletter as a reminder, I’m able to keep up with all the tasks. Thank you so much for the time you take to share with us.
I am trying to leave a space in my vege garden to put a compost directly in rather than the bin which doesn’t seem to be doing alot. Now after reading your vege garden in October I am worried I am just making a home for rats and other bugs.
Oh so much inspiration!!! Patience on planting time is a biggy for me.. .displaying said Patience with partner on greenhouse building is even larger!!!
I feel you inspire a future focused view of gardening rather than a “do this this month” perspective. I love your photos flowers and food together.
planning a new garden and realised pumpkins are something we all love… now to find the perfect spot ..
Reading your news letters is like a garden meditation, brings the mind back into focus. Often we are subjected to so much must do and must have but your news letters are a breath of just pure no stress. You havee renewed in my faith in my own gardening ways..
Opened my eyes to taking a more holistic approach to tackling leaf curl rather than just dealing with the end result.
Will definitely be hanging kelp from my fruit trees..
Thank you too for instilling confidence in pruning our fruit trees.
Hi Kath – appreciate the chance to let you know how your monthly email and all it’s amazing information, inspirations, advice and homely chats have made my life so more meaningful
these past two years. I moved from a retirement home, which did not suit my independent
nature including having no say in what was planted in my tiny patch, into a small community where I have found so much friendship and support. I have a small plot which I have planted with mainly shrubs and herbs which are flourishing with your so needed help. Then, the health news no-one wants to hear, but it spurred me into creating something I have always aspired to – a wild flower garden. So instead of “woe is me ” it was “wow I’m going to do it”. It is only 1 metre by 7 metres and but slowly filling up with seed sowing and herb and perenial plantings. I have so much to look forward to and each day is a journey. So, thank you dear Kath for the opportunity and best of luck with your future plans. Am going to miss all your cheery chats. Regards Joy
so inspiring Joy! I congradulate you on your bold move and love that you found what you were seeking. May every waking moment be a blessing. Kx PS My cheery chats arent going anywhere.
Inspired me to be patient and hold off growing summer crops yet. Especially with all the rain we have had, and it’s made me realise summer will come with the warmer drier weather that will allow summer crops to thrive.
Inspired me to put in another plot for yams and leafy greens.
I care for my 17 chronically unwell bedridden daughter who has gut issues and bones that dislocate upon everyday movement. she lives with high pain and has to sleep most of the time in the dark, however she still will give it a go and enjoy food I grow in the garden for her. Potatoes have been a hit but I want to get more successess for her with my gardening.
Im going to plant colourful potatoes this year and yams and pak choy, and keep learning how to manage the fruit trees, I put two almonds in but one is stuggling with leaves smaller and smaller and close together and only on the tips of the leaves, in autumn it was doing well but something has bothered it over winter. Reading your post reminds me of the abundance in the world and all the good to come even on tough days going through ill health with family, there is always something new to see or to grow and in the small amount of time i have to get in the garden new treats such as a dibbler, a soil thermometer ( we live in dunedin so this would be very handy!) all make me look forward to the next time i can get out and into the soil to create better days ahead.
thank you for the read and the opportunity to learn from your posts,
Paula
Sometimes everything just looks too much – growth of grasses in their choice of place, citrus which nearly throw their fruit at me (there is a limit how much I can eat/make into marmalade/juice, give away), dealing with the huge weed growth in the raised vegetables gardens. . .wish the Rabbit, which thinks he’s our pet in spite of my Siamese rabbiter cat, would concentrate on the weeds, not the veges …… , keep the orchard happy, and so on. At 80 years old, yes old, it looks too much. Until I read your ideas, helpfulness, practical plans and actions, and see what can be achieved with that knowledge. New ideas too, good recipes, pest help – all practical and achievable when written and shared in the way you do.
Onwards, outside, stop snivelling, follow advice, achieve. . . then enjoy!! Thank you.
Two things, first, instead of digging in my mustard wintercrop I shall leave in and plant amongst it for bees and pollination benefits.
Second, Im going to move some blue borage plants to just outside my small greenhouse to also attract more bees to that area.
Thanks!
Hi Kath,
I regularly get inspired by your monthly newsletters. This month your suggestion of using old crops as a nursery for seedlings is a new idea I’m going to try. I have a small but very productive vege garden as we make wonderful compost to feed the soil. Your suggestion of making several heaps is another idea I want to do.
Thankyou for your ‘My Gurus’ list recently. I now follow Charles Dowding regularly on Utube and enjoyed watching David Holmgren, Zach Bush, Eliot Coleman( very good) and Isabella Geoff Lawton good stuff too) all on U tube. Isabella Tree ‘Wilding’ has a really interesting story and I’ve borrowed from the library Will Bonsall’s essential guide to radical, self reliant gardening. He has a stack of interesting information from years of experience, including companion planting of different vegetables and also planting co efficient non competitive vegetables together. I love that gardening is interesting, stimulating yet also relaxing and we know that we are eating nourishing healthy nutritious food. Out of our small garden we haven’t bought any green vegetables all Winter and no lettuces for over a year. Thanks so much Kath for your encouragement through your newsletter.
Kind regards,
Chris
You confirmed that not to rush into summer plantings of crops, as my mind is one step ahead of me and I feel the pressure of getting everything planted now. And Im inspired to get outside and prepare for the summer plantings.
Hi Kath,
This month newsletter inspired me to remove the flowers on my strawberry plants, I didn’t know it was beneficial for them.
I will also sow sunflower seeds that my neighbor gave me.
If I don’t win your book I will probably put it on my Christmas gift list.
All the best,
Celia
it’s a mind change for me. instead of feeding citrus from a bag. I’m going au natural.
Thanks
A friend who subscribes to your monthly newsletter has forwarded your October email to me.
I am very much a novice vegie gardener but I’m keen to learn more and get better at it. I enjoyed winter crops of greens through the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, and I have cleared and prepared a patch for some spring/summer crops this year.
This month’s newsletter has inspired me to sow and plant sensibly, ensuring I am focused on crops that will do well for the current climate and soil conditions. As a novice, there is so much info to absorb, but I figure I should just take a few of your simple ideas and hints and give it a go!
Hi Kath, first just a general thank you. I’m always inspired after reading your words you have the best combination of experience, expertise and a reassuring can do attitude that gets me into the garden with enthusiasm every time.
Read your newsletter with a coffee this morning and today I sewed the bulk of my summer seeds. Planted my first ever dahlias, Tried direct sewing radishes for the first time and since I learned in your newsletter that oregano’ makes a good perennial garden border I tray sewed some for the edge of a recently made flower garden.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
loved the citrus
Not so much inspiration, but definitely a laugh. Garden in bare feet…… yeah right, I still need waders! But a reminder that the season will happen when it happens, sit tight and wait for the time to come.
My biggest lesson this month is not to rush out on a fine day and plant out seedlings. It is very tempting but patience will pay off!
This months newsletter inspired me to get a 5 litre of acv, some EM and start planting comfrey, herbs, calendula and whatever else I’ve got elsewhere already, under my fruit trees. Im excited to get on to a no-copper orchard!
I gave my first copy of your book to a new to gardening friend so another copy for myself again would be very helpful!
Planting pumpkins wait until soil is warm.
Hi Kath,
I like to binge read your newsletter every 1st day of the month =) It is packed full of goodness!
This month I am particularly inspired to give a living mulch a go! And the broody box is something I need to invest in making!
I’ve just read your book (I hired it from our local library) and when the due date came up I had to renew it because I couldn’t take it back just yet, it needed a second read to capture all the goodness! Great prize =)
Thank you for sharing everything,
Jess
This months newsletter has made me feel comfortable with what I’ve been doing so far in my veg garden which is preparing beds and sowing cover crops instead of rushing in with some seedlings that are already available out there.
I am truly inspired by your articles on living mulch and not planting out too early! I tend to get quite excited at the prospect of planting seedlings out but this has been a reason that many plants have not done well as they didn’t appreciated being chucked out in the cold!!
THe living mulch inspires me as I am currently reading all about soil as I am studying horticulture at the moment, and I’m fascinated by what is under our feet, I am a mum of 5 little humans, and when I’m passionate about gardening and finding new things out, my excitement rubs off on them and they come and help me in the garden asking questions, planting out, general garden tidy ups etc. The best part is when we have grown something from seed, nurtured it and they get to eat it straight off the plant! I am going to try living mulch this season and be more patient with planting out at the right times. I have also discovered moon planting and biodynamics which is just fascinating and makes sense in so many ways. I do have a moon calendar so I would gift it on to a friend.
This prize would be absolutely amazing for me and my 5 girls especially your book and seeds. Times are hard, and all I want to do is provide for my family and give them a passion and knowledge to grow our own food as organically, and sustainability as possible. Keep inspiring us all Kath 🙂
Your newsletter this month, like past months are a great source of inspiration,and information.
I do enjoy reading them and learning about the garden.
I am trying out the peas seeds, three to a toilet roll they do look good. As we live in the deep south, I have put them on a seed tray, and they are all up. I will wait a few weeks before I put them in the garden, which will be fun.
Carrots seeds are planted straight into the garden and have planted them the way that Kathy does and we got a good yield., I now plant seeds the same way. in trays. Learning heaps. Thank you for all your help.
Your newsletter inspires me each and every month . I’m slowly learning more and observing more things all the time. But specifically, this month, is that even though I’m itching to plant out the tomato and cucumber etc, seedlings, I’ll wait until the overnight temperatures warm up to 13’. Thanks for all your encouraging words.
I love your newsletter Kath! I always learn something new, this time around it was about the strawberries needing at least 10 leaves before letting them flower. I have been attempting to encourage the kids to help pluck the early flowers off so they get more and better strawberries but they can’t see the end game at the moment. Haha.
And your pruning book is like gospel. I have just bought another one to gift for a 40th (cause I feel at 40 you need good practical gifts like this – and I feel it will help solve all arguments between said 40 year old and his wife as he will have a book he must refer too instead of just hacking into their trees 😂)
Keep the epic gardening inspiration coming….also the layout is awesome and easy to follow too.
Where to start Kath! The broody box! I usually just push her off each afternoon till she’s no longer interested. This is a great idea. Getting those early eggplant, toms and capsicums sorted. I’m always annoyed I’ve left it too late. Checking the deciduous fruit trees and sorting mulch for them however is the most pressing…Really appreciate the prompts.
My mind is opened by your living mulch, it makes so much sense and I cannot wait to get onto that this week. I am going to sow extra flower seeds to pop through the vegetable garden to entice the pollinators throughout.
Also the pruning of tamarillos and passion fruit are a great reminder.. this is our first spring on our current property and the passion fruit and tamarillo are in need of some love. The previous owner seemed to enjoy glyphosate and has sprayed from stems to drip line unfortunately.. hopefully addressing the soil and plant health will do the trick.
I am new to gardening in the South Island, North Canterbury and since being told about you, reading your book from the library and getting your monthly gardening newsletters, I have a new love of gardening in the most natural and beautiful of ways…….I now look around my own unique and wonderful environment and use what is around…..the natural wood chips, leaves & dirt under our big Australian gum tree, along with our grass clippings (which I never knew to use before), a trailer load of free horse poo from neighbours wanting it gone and my own compost & chicken poo, our soils have come alive…….I have never known anything like it and it’s fabulous to see it all come about in just over 4 months…….I get out a white board and list things to be done outside and gather my whanau for a few hours of good healthy sunshine work!!….they are very good and we work together and enjoy! This is all followed by some kind of treat to say ‘thanks, much appreciated!!” Thanks too for all your tips…. like the apple cider for leaf curl and the yogurt for the slaters and marigolds around my tomatoes! You say ‘resist rushing in’ which is terrific advice for us in Canterbury when we definitely can’t wait to get going but if we do, a late frost will be our seedlings downfall!! But now I see everything working naturally together and your beautiful style of sharing your gardening passions with us all is very generous and uplifting, so huge thanks for every bit you share and may you be continually blessed!! So thanks so much!
Hey Kath, your posts and newsletters are always amazing – inspiring while super practical and well explained. Thank you!
This newsletter made me realise that I want to build a greenhouse or foil house for my tomatoes and capsicums. Never seen one with the living mulch and beneficial plants like yours, its exactly my style, love it. I am getting into planning that now and sowing the first inhabitants too! 🙂
Thanks so much.
Thanks Kath for all the wonderful support you give to us budding gardeners. I particularly like reading all the comments at the end of each month, as I learn so much from your very helpful advice. Probably the best advice I have learned from you is to mulch, mulch, mulch. I have built up the most beautiful soil now, from adding seaweed, horse poo, weeds, newspaper, and burying our food scraps in any space in our gardens. Thankyou again..
Hi Kath, it’s school holidays and we are caring for grandchildren.
I have been inspired, reading October’s newsletter ,by the idea of sowing seeds in toilet roll tubes. My grand daughter will love this and we can do it together over the week. A fun and nurturing time ahead! Thank you!
Hi Kath you’ve inspired me to let things get a little wild in my glasshouse this summer. I’m only 6 months in with my first ever glasshouse and have been weeding vigilantly but will now plant some bee attracting goodies and allow the right weeds to keep the soil protected to create a healthier environment. Thanks for all the great advice!
Kia ora Kath
I am very inspired to try some kumara this year and to not plant out my summer crops to early. Instead I have planted cover crops such as broad beans, lupin, mustard and oats to act as a soil soil cover until we get some warmer weather down here in Nelson (it has been very wet).
Your blogs have inspired my family so much that we haven’t had to buy any vegetables except for onions, kumara and potatoes since the beginning of last Summer – we are inspired to continue this on and stay away from the sprayed vegetables that are supplied in the supermarkets.
Plant often is key to this succession of harvesting and we have done just that.
We are currently eating from our garden, broccoli, cauli, yams, silverbeet, beetroot, carrots, kale, swedes, coriander, broadbeans, spinach. We are very stoaked that we found your website with your monthly guides and articles as they have helped us in our journey of gardening and since finding these our garden has so much more fruitful.
Ngā mihi
Your newsletter inspired me to get going, but not to panic and do a whole lot of planting that I will neglect, to be aware it is important to start but that I don’t need to do it all at once, and be disheartened
I had your fantastic books – gave my copy of ‘edible backyard’ to my sister who is going gangbusters in her garden, way better than I was doing. But your newsletter has me revved up – I’m going to have a second go at reducing the height in my plums, and get the greenhouse, currently used as a repository for plastic pots, in order as a start. Thanks Kath, love your generosity of spirit and knowledge.
Every month your newsletter inspires us to garden more and more. Recently we have built a green house and a huge outside vegetable garden in addition to our existing small vegetable patch. The ground conditions have been challenging for both jobs but with your help we are now growing seeds in the greenhouse and starting to plant out. Your tips on greenhouse growing has been invaluable to us because vegetable gardening is a new venture.
The progress is amazing, we are seeing plants evolve and we are reaping huge benefits – thank you!
Ps – now we have chickens!
Inspired to try manure around fruit trees instead of artificial fertiliser 🙂
Later this month I will be planting some of my tomato seedlings in the garden between the older brassica to give them some protection.
I took away planting something new every week to keep the continual supply going. That’s what I want to achieve with my vege garden.
I make plans amongst the chaos to read gardening books and plan for planning ahead (!) then get overwhelmed and do nothing…. I just read your newsletter; I’ll just plant pumpkin, kumara and peppers and call it a winter win for this year x
Hi Kath, your post has reminded me to Wait Wait Wait… even though spring is fabulous and early here this year, there will be more cold before it’s warm enough to plant out in the garden. I’m still bringing the tomato and pepper seedlings in their trays indoors at night, and out into the tunnelhouse during the day. I’ve planted 3 in there so I might get tomatoes for Christmas… but no worries if they don’t make it, there are plenty more for backup later in the month.
Cheers Jo
So much to inspire but the idea of blocking out a weekend or a week to focus on the garden has really helped me. It’s so easy for gardening tasks to fall to the bottom of my priority list but you are right, this is the time of year to put aside some garden time I will be grateful for later in the season. Just got to actually do it now!
Everything you advise is inspiring – I love watching your videos with Muna Lee your enthusiasm is so inspiring 😊
Hi Kath,
Thanks for this months email. Reading it reminds me that there’s always more to learn in the garden. I love the idea of living mulch and am going to plant my clover seeds this weekend to do just that. I also didn’t realise that separating my broody chickens from the rest will prevent them from laying less.
So good to hear there is time to prune my plum tree. woohoo here I go.
Gail
Hi Kath! Love your newsletters, always learn something new. Like today, keep the flowers off the strawberries until the canopy is strong – AMAZING! Thank you for your work!
Keep pruning & digging! 🙂
Cheers
Hold off the heat lovers and have a play with living mulch instead – a fascinating concept!
I’ve been inspired to try planting a living mulch.
This months newsletter is my first to read and I am Soo grateful! Inspired to be feeding our citrus natural options and I’m more confident to plant a lemon now I can go and learn how to make an ola pot! And maybe make for others too. Thank you!!
Thank you for the newsletter. I am going to try the seedlings in cardboard tubes. I have a pile I was saving to light my fire, but here in Northland the fire season is over. Temperatures creeping up.
My seeds are having a low germination rate, but thanks to your writings I have an insight into that. I am going to look into the soil temperature to start with.
I’ve just moved to a lifestyle property and never properly gardened (other than the odd pot or herb garden), so the inspiration only is amazing! But mostly I enjoyed learning about plants that I had never considered to plant e.g. echinacea or learning what I should be focusing my time on – establishing a new garden is a bit daunting!
I love the idea of the slater trap – I didn’t know slaters were the munchers of new seedlings! I am definitely going to see if I can catch a few 😉
It is all truly inspirational without feeling overwhelming, an amazing combination that keeps me motivated in the garden when life feels so busy with two young toddlers
They love to look at the photos with me and we talk about your advice as we sow seeds and plant out our garden bare footed!
Thanks for all you do
Every month I look forward to your newsletter and this month I learnt to be a bit more patient with planting seeds for my summer crops. Plus your explanations of pruning trees are simple and easy to follow. your pruning book is my bible.
I always enjoy your newsletters. They help keep me focused and give me a clearer direction.
This month it has inspired me to keep going with the little and often, using nursery plants for protecting seedlings and keep up the night slug / snail hunts.
Late the other night I got up to check on what the dog was barking at in the heavy rain and giggled at myself when half an hour later I was totally distracted fossicking around under my veges, slug hunting, balancing my umbrella and torch wondering how many other keen gardeners were doing the same. 😁
I’ve been inspired to kick my boots off and walk barefoot in the garden. And also to plant the lemon tree and lime tree we have been meaning to plant for the last five years! Thanks for all your inspiration Kath. Ngā mihi xx
I am inspired to kick my boots off and walk barefoot in the garden. And to finally plant our lemon and lime tree that have been waiting for about five years to be put in the ground! Thanks Kath for all your help. Ngā mihi xxx
Hi Kath , I look forward to your monthly emails as they help me stay on top of The “to do List” . I especially love the Rat catch and snail and slug slaughter as I feel all the hard work is so easily lost to these pesky critters . It is essential to get on to them before the big plant out . I also love the picture of the Crimson Clover I’m going to order some seed along with soya beans which I have never grown . I also love living mulch and it is a the best way to help with water retention and warmth and bees love a herbal ley too at pollination time .. I like the way you inspire your readers to grow organically . Also the best piece of advise was in your cover letter this week . Kick your boots off . Earthing is so important to de stress and connect with your Earth /soil .become one at peace .
Thanks Kath for sharing your knowledge! I feel inspired to wait! 😃 I always get a bit over excited at this time of the year, so your newsletter was a good reminder to slow down.
I’m inspired to feed my citrus natural food…..my husband is inspired to do more fishing to supply the food haha. Thanks for another brilliant newsletter filled with awesome info Kath!
Love the reminder about yields and being patient with summer crops, instead planting living mulch instead and creating spaces amongst that for seedlings.
I am inspired to take better care of my fruit trees. Using natural sprays like apple cider vinegar for leaf curl on plum trees is not something I ever considered doing. I’m also excited about using living mulch since I’ve been so concerned about my soil seeing as how my tomato plants didn’t fare very well this year. I’m beginning to see how much more important care of the soil is.
Kathy apart from being a garden angel each month with your wonderful inspirations to relax and enjoy the journey, I just love being reminded each month to just slow down and flow with the seasons, read my garden, feel and smell my soil and let my observations guide me. I’m blessed to have you stroll with me through my garden. month x
As usual at this time of year I (like quite a few people going by what has already been posted) go like a bull at a gate with planting and seed raising then discover that the spring has a very tenuous hold on the weather. Winter can still easily slip through. As I type the temperature has dropped and the rain is lashing the windows. And tomorrow they’re predicting snow!
Your latest newsletter reminded me to calm down and wait. Although the plants currently in the ground and enduring the current Antarctic blast may well be wondering why I didn’t read it earlier.
This season I have decided to embrace (or at the very least give it a gentle hug) the idea of permaculture and no dig gardening. Apart from your own book – which I’m very much looking forward to – can you recommend any others to help me on my journey?
I always look forward to your newsletters, thank you for taking the time to help us all.
Cheers…
Always inspired by your newsletter!
I’ve put down black plastic to warm the soil and fend off weeds. Also a great reminder to feed my citrus. Thank you!
This! Keep the garden productive by sowing or planting a new thing every week, and by filling every gap created by finished crops, right away. This keeps the garden weed free cos if its always full, there’s no room for weeds!
Also inspiration reading October in the greenhouse. I have just purchased my first tunnelhouse and am due to put soil in it this weekend. I have all my seeds planted in trays which are starting to pop up, very excited indeed 🤗
Love the tip about leaving old crops intact to help protect new seedlings, and also so happy as I’ve been saving toilet rolls all winter to use for seedlings!
The newsletter has reminded me to keep an eye out for broody chooks and inspired me to be prepared with a broody box
Love the monthly emails Kath! This months article about the living mulch has inspired me the most. They are predicting a long hot summer so a dual purpose mulch sounds perfect. I was about to put in a quick green crop for the zuchinni areas but I will do this instead now.
This month’s newsletter inspired me to have patience and not plant out my seedlings too early. I’m itching to get out there, and sick of my bathroom being a greenhouse but your wise words have made me hit pause. And next year I think I’ll be sowing seeds a bit later!
I love your monthly emails and find they help me gather my thoughts around what needs to be done…otherwise my untamed brain just wanders around somewhat haphazardly lol and things end up getting put off. With your inspiration and timely reminders, I can get a bit more organised on what needs to be done…so thank you!!
hi Kath
Good to get the info on Comfrey..
I thought mine had died, but now see signs of it growing back.
I wonder if it can cope with the snow!
Thanks for your constant inspiration Kath! I just love your down to earth no frills approach which suits me down to the ground! I’m currently snipper happy with my secateurs chop chop chopping making mulch…it’s so therapeutic. I love all the different combos. I’ll endeavor to go barefoot now that it’s warming up! I lifted the cloth sheets (such a great tip) on my cover crops sown only 4 days ago and voila I couldn’t believe how quickly they’d bolted! I’m so inspired… I feel like a kid in a candy shop!
I’d love to know the name of the plant of page 108 in your book, is it rudbeckia? if so what’s the variety please and is it an annual or perennial? also the centre fold of chapter 4 Managing pests, are the pink flowers penstemon? variety please? love to get them established.
thanks Kath xx
Yay for inspiration Huia!
Its the wonderful Mexican marigold – the best! and yes good old penstemon – but variety I am afraid I do not know. They began darker red but over time have gotten pinker. I use it alot round here to cover ground quickly new areas, then plant amongst it and steadily slash it back.
Wonderful Kath, thanks very much x
I had a veggie garden before, was still learning, but then we decided to put the house on the market and everything stopped. Know we decided to take it off the market, after a year, and I feel like I am starting a new. I remembered your website and that you are spot on with growing vegetables.
Thank you so much for telling me what to do and how to get started again. You wisdom about waiting for yhe soil temperature helps a lot. i need patience but it also gived me time to get everything ready.
Cheers
Nina
Hi Kath!
This month’s newsletter inspired me to improve my living mulch! There’s still spots of bared soil I could be filling in. Looking forward to saved efforts later on!
Patience has to be my virtue, currently laid up in bed after surgery but also planning a big move to a new property.. I have time on my side for dreaming and plans but can’t wait to get the feel of our new home . Love your monthly email, such inspiration in every aspect 🥰
As always, every month I wait for your email. We have just turned about 400m² of our section into a ‘trial and error’ garden. We’re aiming for sustainability for our family of 5 and love being able to share our produce. All our fruit and nut trees are in and our garden is buzzing with bees happily doing their jobs on our seeded radish, cabbage and brassica. Always inspired and always learning. Thanks Kath
I have been inspired to try growing more edible foods, and to try planting seeds. I’ve never had much luck in the past but now I want to give it a go, and my 10 year old daughter loves helping me!
Wow Kath, that rat was a monster! But mostly I am interested in the living mulch idea in the vege garden. I do it in the food forest/orchard but hadn’t thought about it so much for the veges. I will try it!
Instead of chopping down my green crop I have made holes in it and planted my broccoli, Pak Choi, lettuce, sugar snaps and early potatoes and have sowed another bed with green manure to wait for my summer Veggies. My aim is to follow your advice and plant or sow something each week. This weekend I plan to rescue all the toilet rolls and sow some beans in my glasshouse ready to plant in a couple of weeks. Must also find my soil thermometer and check the temperature of the soil outside
Sometimes the things that inspire me most are other people verbalising what I know, making me feel like I’m on the right track with what I am doing. I’ve started my yams and they have sprouted and the garden bed is ready – but I think it is still too cold to pop them in! To have you reinforce this makes me feel like I’m making the best call, even though I know gardening is trial and error and you can never know everything there is to know about gardening.
It ended up being lucky I held off too, given the weather over the past few days down here in North Canterbury.
I found your video on pruning fruit trees very informative and easy to following. Thank you so much for doing that, I have not pruned all my plum trees. I have just registered for emails and love all you advise.
I have only just subscribed to your newsletters so very excited to receive the first one to give me much inspiration to create my own edible garden I have been working on for the last 2yrs.
So looking forward to learning much from you. Thank you for letting me join
Hi Kath, I’ve just found your page. So much info so decided to subscribe. Looking forward to your monthly tips and gardening guides.
Trying to resist planting spring crops too early seems to be a common issue. Oh well, just have to be patient and resist temptation but its hard especially when there are so many punnets on sale.
Enjoyed reading about growing herbs and their uses.
Avid vege gardener.
Central NI
Lorraine.
Your newsletter has inspired me to have some patience. I’m a bit late to get started with my seeds anyway, but I live in Wellington, it’s been frosty and the soil is still wet and cold. So…. I needed the reminder about not chucking things around on the first fine day!
I’ve only just signed up (can’t believe I didn’t know you had a newsletter!) but loved the October message not to rush out and plant warm-loving summer favourites right away. I steered clear of all the chillis I wanted at the garden centre today and will revisit once Wellington warms up acceptably!
Learning about planting a living mulch; the diversity of mulches, their purpose, how they complement your veges, & so many other extraordinary reasons! Thanks Kath
Hi Kath,
It’s been awesome stumbling across your blog and website online — especially for a newbie gardener like me! This month’s newsletter inspired me to try tray sowing using toilet paper rolls. It’s something I haven’t tried before, but it’s such a great a idea! My kids had so much fun taking turns to fill up the rolls with potting mix and then planting out their seeds inside the rolls. We totally decimated the stash of loo rolls that was piling up in the recycling box, and the best part of all is watching the seeds germinate in half the time. We live in the South Island, so it’s gets tricky trying to get veg seedlings going when it’s cold. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Would love to win a copy of your book — I’ve been slowly starting on gardening by building guilds (it’s such a fascinating idea) and would love to learn more. Hope you’re well and have been keeping warm.
Great to hear it’s not too late to finish some of those September jobs. Love how your newsletters are always so full of little things we can do to help our gardens along, even if we never quite manage to do everything. Always encouraging to be reminded that somethings better than nothing, one thing I’d love is a nz plant identification guide. all the cool sounding plants you talk about, sometimes I wonder if the weeds I’m pulling have a use, but I haven’t realised it yet. 😅
I read your newsletter every month. This month I’ve decided to copy your cardboard tube seedling pots. I’ve realised that it forces me into succession planting – only planting when the toilet rolls become available! It’s working well so far 🙂
I read your newsletter every month. This month I’ve decided to copy your cardboard tube seedling pots. I’ve realised that it forces me into succession planting – only planting when the toilet rolls become available!
I am very inspired by your greenhouse planting, our greenhouse is shameful with how little there is currently in it. I also love reading about how you use your companion plants to encourage beneficial insects. I’m off to do some sowing!!
it is great to learn so many helpful tips from you for working in the garden and the best things to plant and when. I haven’t used the toilet rolls for germinating seeds but feel its a good idea and I will try it.
I love your blog as it helps me plan the best time to plant seeds.
I love gardening and it has given me more options on what to plant and the best way to prepare the soil.
The October newsletter is the first thing I read on this website as I am a new visitor. I sent the link to several of my friends to direct them to this website. I have also just started my permaculture adventure. My seedlings are all busting out of their pottles and I have been struggling not to plant them out because of that awful frost we just had. I heeded your warning not to pot them out, and the ‘screech marks’ are on the ground to prove it. So I put seaweed drenched seedling mix under the pottles so that the roots that are protruding having something to grow into. Best advice ever not to plant out yet. Thank you for saving my crop! I wonder where your other newsletters are on this website. I would love to read them.
The October newsletter is the first thing I read on this website as I am a new visitor. I sent the link to several of my friends to direct them to this website. I have also just started my permaculture adventure. My seedlings are all busting out of their pottles and I have been struggling not to plant them out because of that awful frost we just had. I heeded your warning not to pot them out, and the ‘screech marks’ are on the ground to prove it. So I put seaweed drenched seedling mix under the pottles so that the roots that are protruding having something to grow into. Best advice ever not to plant out yet. Thank you for saving my crop! I wonder where your other newsletters are on this website. I would love to read them.
I am completely inspired by your living mulch both in the glasshouse and outside. My soil can get dry really fast once it gets hot or windy, and I struggle to keep my plants happy over summer. I have lots of companion plants but still largely have them adorn my edges rather than mingle all the way through. I worry about them taking precious moisture away from my main crops but I like your suggestion of just picking or cutting the tops off and otherwise leaving them to regenerate and grow. As always a fabulous letter!
Your newsletter has kindly reminded me that it’s best to wait for the soils to warm up before planting out my summer crop of seedlings. My partner always try to convince me that I wait too long, so it was a great affirmation to read that it’s best to put them in at the optimal time and earlier is not better! I also love the advice on going slow and steady with planting so that you have a steady harvest, rather than just a glut – great advice for someone trying to eat as much out of those own veggie patch as possible 🙂
Thanks for all your great advice, Kath – it’s really helping me organise my garden and think more about how to boost the soil naturally.
Sacre Bleu! I’m a slow learner. Observing the garden at different times not just on the warmest part of the day is a great point. Wondering about with a morning coffee this morning reminded me we are still chilly and my antarctic tomato went outside to early 😆
My vegetable garden has been constantly overlooked as we have been busy battling with weeds. We had three uneven slope sections. One covered with woody Lavender, one with Berries and last with herbs. Since Covid hit ourhousehold these sections are covered with weeds. We nearly got on top of the hand weeding. This week newsletter inpired me to weed out my vegie garden, left my old crops to seed as the wind barriers for the new seedlings 🌱
I often told my 8 years daughter to put her shoes on in the garden as she has been stung by bees, nevermind with what i said but I went barefoot in garden so I can feel the ground temperature. I cant wait to transplant my heirloom tomato next weekend. Happy gardening Everyone!
Kath I love all your posts & emails. Even after 20years growing an edible garen, I love opening my email to your monthly newsletter advising exactly what to sow or plant & when, takes out so much guesswork. Especially because we’re relatively local…Whenever I head into the glass house to sow seeds I pull out your newsletter and go through the list of things to sow. Always inspired by the diversity & abundance that you promote, and your easy going / down to earth way of communicating information. Thank you for everything that you share! And yes, I’d love to win a copy of your book too, I imagine that will come to the glasshouse with me often too! Thanks
Hi Kath,
I enjoyed the newsletter and have taken away tips about small strawberry plants and picking the flowers off! Plus the Broody Hen advice, very timely as I have one right now! Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Jo-Ann
I’ve only just discovered you, via a friend lending me your book, and are so happy to have!
In answer to your question,
I breathed a sigh of relief and let the panic subside – that my garden was not “ready” come October 1st. There shall be no panic! instead patience for warmer soils, and bare fee hangs.
Where do I start! Inspired/kicked me into foraging around the garden for piles of OM. Plenty of weeds about. Picking up wheelbarrow loads of cow poo from our little paddock & heaping it up. Getting seeds going on the window sill. Not getting carried away with the spring rush panic. Slow in steady like the tortoise. Remembering my best tomatoes were the second crop planted in mid Jan that kept us going till May. Tying up some flax flower stalks as a bean trellis against an old wind shelter. Just enjoying the buzz about. Taking the time to wander and enjoy the spring energy in bare feet, and trying not to make a giant mental list of things needing doing. Thanks for all your monthly inspiration. Best thing in my inbox.
I was inspired to pluck all the flowers off my teeny strawberry plants that seem to be taking forever to wake up this spring!
I was inspired about citrus care as I am establishing a citrus orchard on our new property. I have planted half a dozen to start with , all raised up as i am planting on an arena which is compacted clay. so far they aare looking great. It will be hard to cull the first year ffruit as suggested but will follow this advise to give them the best care. Also interested in your comment about citrus fertiliser and now will resist buying that and concentrate on other means of feeding.
I tend to become depressed during winter and find most things hard to be motivated to do. I’ve just found your website and spent several hours reading your articles and these HAVE motivated me to get back into my big gardens. I’ve learnt lots from reading about pruning fruit trees, things I did not know. I’ve always loved gardening, however depression is a real non motivator. Getting back outside and planting my vege patch helps me along with your inspiring articles. For that I thank you.
This month’s newsletter has inspired me to stick to my guns more when navigating the joys and challenges of gardening with my beloved (but contrasting) partner. I have always been more of a planner than a do-er, sometimes to a fault, and can spend hours/days/weeks reading about a crop before considering planting it, while my partner decides he wants to add something to the garden and selects the best looking seedlings from the nursery and sticks them wherever he finds (or creates) space. We balance each other nicely most of the time but I must admit that as we are coming into our first spring of our home I have gotten caught up in his excitement to plant and we have added nearly all of the warm weather crops you have cautioned us to wait on; tomatoes, peppers, three types of squash, and corn! Woe is me I should have read your newsletter sooner! We may need to instil a 24 hour hold on purchasing any seedlings until I have at least conferred with your website/newsletters.
Although I have read and loved your book it was a loan from a dear friend and I had to give it back to her and have been planning to purchase one for myself. Considering my recent blunder with the warm weather crops I think we could definitely benefit from it as well as the soil thermometer!
I’ve just discovered you from recommendations on the ‘Permaculture in NZ’ facebook group, so have got your book out of our local library at the moment which my partner and I are both reading currently. I am using it to convince him we need to woodchip around our veggie garden to deal with our couch grass issue especially around our asparagus bed. We are in Queenstown so it’s hard to hold back the planting when you see what everyone else is planting out elsewhere in NZ (the kids lost some popping corn & an apple cucumber with the freak snow fall the other week. Anyway you’ve inspired me to work on living mulch around our fruit trees as we have some perennial herbs in pots that would likely be happier in the ground in our home orchard.
Hello Kath,
Your October newsletter particularly captivated me because this month is going to be the debut of my first ever vegetable garden!! We recently moved and have a 3×3 veggie patch. I have a horrendously black thumb but I am determined to turn that around. Our new home has also got over 15 fruit trees and I am SO excited, it’s always been a dream of mine to have a home with an orchard. So much to learn about though, and I tend to overcomplicate things by wanting to have all the information before I do anything (perfectionist tendencies *rolls eyes*). Have decided to just get stuck in and embrace the fact that I’m going to make plenty of mistakes but mistakes are how we learn, right?!
The thing that actually jumped out at me from the newsletter was the part where you said if you want a ‘little and often’ harvest you have to plant out ‘little and often’ – that makes SO much sense but I hadn’t thought of it that way. I just thought that you plant out the summer stuff and then come autumn you plant out the next stuff so that was a real help to know that.
I am super excited for what’s to come and have decided to make your website my “go-to” for advice instead of reading/Googling a million different things. Can’t wait to watch my garden grow!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us all
This months newsletter has inspired me with thoughts of next year. We are moving to a place with more land and a house to renovate so we can only plant a few things this year but next year watch out!!
After reading the newsletter I was reminded to spend time with my fruit trees and tie down the wayward branches. I did your pruning course last year and my out of control quince tree now looks beautiful. People walking past often comment on how great it looks.
I am also going to plant some more living mulch around my garden. I will extend your wisdom to my flower garden and plant some living mulch there too.
Once again your newsletter is filled with plenty of inspiration! This month my goal is to plant somethg each week so that I don’t end up with either a glut or nothing in my vege patch. Planting somethg each week is such an easy way to keep a steady stream of veges going, especially with the price of fruit & veg at the moment!
You inspire me in so many ways…this month to let my herbs go to seed, love the idea of them all self sowing, thank you xx
It inspired me just to start! I have never gardened before but I have just signed up to your newsletter and this week I am becoming a gardener!