I’VE BEEN ENJOYING the English summer this week, especially yesterdays Mediterranean blue sky. No longer just a dream in my mind, but actually out there on the other side of my window, deep, clear, dazzling and, blue. All things change and It is perfect. Next week I go and visit my sister in Spain for a week. It’s the first time I’ve been, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the sky there, the sun, and everything. I wonder if it will be a different type of blue, and if it will feel different there.
Hi Georgie, yes you will! The easiest and most eco way of beginning is to create some fixed in-dig beds. So so simple. Pick an area, if it is grass simply cut and put about 6 inches deep compost. I don’t use wooden edges because the collect slugs and slug eggs. Simple plant straight in. Plant what you like to eat. You can buy plug plants online and at nursery’s if later in the season. Tell me what you like to eat then I can help some more. If using pots, again you can grow lots. In the little garden out back we are growing most things in pots because there is so little ground space. To keep it cheap you can even use good sturdy cardboard boxes — must be thick and sturdy or they will collapse too quickly with watering.
That final photograph is absolutely magical, isn’t it? I meant to get a garden going this year, but regretfully it will be another year for that. We had several bad storms that damaged quite a few trees in our neighborhood. Not only did we have tree damage, the grandchildren’s playscape was demolished and much of our back fence. So, we’ve been busy:) Still, grateful for our homes and families being safe and well! Gardening will return in due time.
I’m a Vata type and that fig and almond porridge looks amazing! So delicious, comforting, and nourishing I bet. I appreciate your gentle comments about the use of meat. I’ve leaned towards vegetarianism for over forty years, but also struggled with low iron, getting enough protein, etc.
Loving the dream-like quality of your writing Lucy. Your words give me a little pang of homesickness for English summertime. Here in Auckland, autumn is turning to winter. Your porridge recipe sounds perfect for damp chilly mornings (and my vata constitution) Thank you 😊🙏
A beautiful post, Lucy. I was so inspired to hear about the abundance of delicious food growing in your shared garden. It made me hungry!! Any advice for someone new to food growing / yet to start? Including, perhaps, ideas for a few easy things to start with? I won’t be able to get my new garden set up the way I’d like to this year, but am wondering if I might be able to start by growing a few things in pots, even late in the summer...
Hi Georgie, yes you will! The easiest and most eco way of beginning is to create some fixed in-dig beds. So so simple. Pick an area, if it is grass simply cut and put about 6 inches deep compost. I don’t use wooden edges because the collect slugs and slug eggs. Simple plant straight in. Plant what you like to eat. You can buy plug plants online and at nursery’s if later in the season. Tell me what you like to eat then I can help some more. If using pots, again you can grow lots. In the little garden out back we are growing most things in pots because there is so little ground space. To keep it cheap you can even use good sturdy cardboard boxes — must be thick and sturdy or they will collapse too quickly with watering.
That final photograph is absolutely magical, isn’t it? I meant to get a garden going this year, but regretfully it will be another year for that. We had several bad storms that damaged quite a few trees in our neighborhood. Not only did we have tree damage, the grandchildren’s playscape was demolished and much of our back fence. So, we’ve been busy:) Still, grateful for our homes and families being safe and well! Gardening will return in due time.
I’m a Vata type and that fig and almond porridge looks amazing! So delicious, comforting, and nourishing I bet. I appreciate your gentle comments about the use of meat. I’ve leaned towards vegetarianism for over forty years, but also struggled with low iron, getting enough protein, etc.
Loving the dream-like quality of your writing Lucy. Your words give me a little pang of homesickness for English summertime. Here in Auckland, autumn is turning to winter. Your porridge recipe sounds perfect for damp chilly mornings (and my vata constitution) Thank you 😊🙏
PS - LOVED how easy those recipes are. Thank you! Will definitely be trying the soup. (And the porridge once I get a slow cooker.)
A beautiful post, Lucy. I was so inspired to hear about the abundance of delicious food growing in your shared garden. It made me hungry!! Any advice for someone new to food growing / yet to start? Including, perhaps, ideas for a few easy things to start with? I won’t be able to get my new garden set up the way I’d like to this year, but am wondering if I might be able to start by growing a few things in pots, even late in the summer...