tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85445858508019957542012-02-02T11:27:36.012+01:00The green-fingered guide to self-empowerment - nurturing our soul and our soil. When we plant we return literally to our roots: Developing appreciation of our inner cycles and those of the earth to make our lives more empowered, creative and sustainable.WildCherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03393052608940307899noreply@blogger.comBlogger1091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-16220773529021016852011-01-16T13:23:00.003+01:002011-01-16T13:27:28.857+01:00

To get a good yield from a crop you need to sow the seeds quite thickly at first and thin them out later. If you only sow a very few seeds here and there about the garden, chances are they will be eaten by birds or bugs well before they ever get to maturity.The same could be said about creative efforts. Sometimes its necessary to really concentrate on a few areas of intense activity rather than

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-65514415644219475952010-11-23T21:24:00.003+01:002010-11-24T13:48:22.505+01:00

If - like me - you thought E-waste was something to do with an overflowing waste bin in your email program, think again! It is in fact a quick way to say electronic waste. Unfotunately, as quick as it is to say, E-waste is as quick to burn a hole in our pockets and as quick to need replacing. Although its also pretty quick for us to get rid of, the effects both of its production and destruction

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-73185316255933566472010-10-27T20:05:00.002+01:002010-10-27T20:12:51.029+01:00

Fighting for space It's the time of year in our garden for clearing out the summer crops and tidying up the plants that have been given free rein to sprawl during the much-too-hot-to-garden summer months here in inland Andalucía. As I slowly embrace this work, I have begun to feel a tangible sense of relief as I see a bit of crumbly brown earth appear once more amongst the vegetation. Don't

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-62642942518202468982010-10-10T13:49:00.000+01:002010-10-10T13:49:30.418+01:00

Some rights reserved by London Permaculture "Everything can be put to use within the creative process." Shaun McNiff, Trust the Process - An Artist's Guide to Letting Go (Shambhala, 1998) We've just harvested a good number of large buckets of compost from our rickety makeshift compost heap. There is nothing quite like the joy of reaping such riches from a process that takes almost no

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-51673845603886223692010-09-19T21:48:00.005+01:002010-09-19T21:53:46.761+01:00

Original image by André Karwath aka Aka via WikiMedia Commons"When life gives you lemons, you’re allowed to feel sad, frustrated and annoyed before you decide to squeeze them on your salad, plant the seeds in your yard, or ask your friend’s mother for her iced tea recipe."I'm a sucker for a garden analogy as you know and especially when it's a humourous one, so I couldn't resist this one from

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-7822430744412789172010-09-12T16:26:00.003+01:002010-09-12T16:33:17.451+01:00

In the garden, there is a specific time for everything: for planting, for harvesting, for pruning, for fertilizing...And if you follow the biodynamic system and adjust your practices according to the moon, then these times are further subdivided into planting times for root vegetables as opposed to those that grow above ground, for trees that fruit as opposed to those that don't, etc etc.An

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-90872389512999322952010-09-05T12:32:00.000+01:002010-09-05T12:32:31.635+01:00

This summer the garden has been literally plagued by problems. For the second year running a mysterious bug has attacked the tomatoes and the peppers causing the fruit to rot on the stems. Another disease has also variously affected the honeysuckle, one of the rambling roses and the cherry tomatoes (not affected by the first disease) this time causing the leaves to wither. As if this weren't

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-7940207773710372432010-08-15T17:52:00.000+01:002010-08-15T18:04:20.983+01:00

"The creative process is an ecology that depends upon the full spectrum of our resources"Shaun McNiff, Trust The Process — an artist's guide to letting go (Shambala, 1998)There's been some really lively and interesting discussions going on of late on my favourite creativity forum my favourite creativity forum. One like-minded soul started talking about how she felt that her different interests

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-13910888208636108702010-08-06T22:23:00.002+01:002010-08-06T22:40:47.030+01:00

Visiting the UK recently, I was struck by a mood of nostalgia that seemed to be present everywhere. Strings of bunting were to be found everywhere — from people's back gardens to community allotments as well as decorating the 'Big Lunch' street-parties that took place all over the UK on July 18th. Traditional British beach holidays have made an incredible comeback — complete with stripy

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-31296053954571295462010-07-30T19:11:00.002+01:002010-07-30T19:20:05.420+01:00

I re-entered our potager with some trepidation after leaving it to the mercy of our newly set up drip irrigation system for our holiday fortnight. Typically we only got the irrigation set up a couple of days before leaving despite having talked about it for months so we didn't have time to thoroughly road test it so this was trial by fire or rather, water!Despite my fears, most of the garden is

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-43332203208688753762010-07-05T19:38:00.007+01:002010-07-05T20:00:53.084+01:00

"I'd rather have just a few plants and them all be well," a friend of mine said to me recently, as she looked round our patio overflowing with plants, some of which are in better health than others.This friend is known for unselfconsciously saying exactly what she thinks and I find this candour rather refreshing. I know she intends no malice so I didn't take offence – although I might have

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-16496347237662211352010-06-21T20:43:00.007+01:002010-06-21T21:18:19.642+01:00

My life and that of the plum tree continue to be linked in some sort of mystical dance.This last week it has been the turn of our 'arms'. I have experienced a severe bout of my latent RSI (repetitive strain injury) and the plum, in strange, parallel-universe-style synchronicity, lost two of its branches.The cause of my ills are easy to diagnose – too much time spent on electronic devices –

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-77390570210304582132010-06-08T17:38:00.001+01:002010-06-08T17:40:46.908+01:00

Seems I'm not the only one who likes their green analogies and has seemingly unconnected subjects swimming around in their head at the same time! Listening to a fascinating talk on new strategies for education with Ken Robinson the other day on TED (http://www.ted.com/) he not only began the talk with a reference to climate change but summed up by saying that we need an 'agricultural model' of

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-15686871871166494812010-05-28T13:16:00.006+01:002010-05-28T13:35:08.373+01:00

Both the plum tree and I are being attacked by a bug. We're neither of us looking so good but still valiantly fruiting ;)The plum should be looking more like this:And as for me....

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-3872656588714236852010-05-09T20:15:00.021+01:002010-05-10T12:45:36.395+01:00

Since we moved into the house three years ago and surveyed our weed-filled plot (below), I've had it in mind that I want to turn the garden into an 'informal potager' – or cottage garden – where vegetables and flowers are mixed together in the same beds to create a riotous display of colours and shapes, with bees humming and butterflies fluttering in and out amongst the blooms.This year more than

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-18825335304523813412010-03-31T12:11:00.006+01:002010-03-31T12:42:37.929+01:00

Sounds obvious doesn't it? If you want to grow beans you don't set about planting spuds. You dig over your ground, buy your bean seeds and make some nice little holes for them, pop them in, watch the rain water them and wait for them to grow. A couple of months later you have some lovely little bean plants coming along nicely, fixing nitrogen in your soil and promising a bean feast. So if all

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-71646480857308802552010-03-23T18:44:00.001+01:002010-03-23T18:46:28.109+01:00

The compost heap is the heart of the process of our creative recycling. For creative work, we need to be constantly taking in information in order to later tap into it later as a source of inspiration and material. But in order for the information and stimulation that we take in to be transformed into our final product or artwork, an almost alchemical process needs to take place. In 'Drawing on

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-17627800909277333182010-03-08T15:41:00.011+01:002010-03-08T16:22:24.419+01:00

There is a certain bar not far from where I live where the owner is always smiling. Lets call him Manolo. People have been heard to mumble that Manolo has every reason to smile because he is making so much money. But the truth is his attitude contrasts sharply with that of some of his customers.I saw Paco in there the other day. "No work," he mumbled looking downcast and unshaven at his

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-36567049119182913372010-02-21T14:47:00.002+01:002010-02-21T14:54:22.250+01:00

'at the feet of the wiseman' from Nic Askew on Vimeo.

WildCherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03393052608940307899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-68012670983524370092010-02-07T12:17:00.003+01:002010-02-07T12:23:02.381+01:00

The Herb Garden is where we nurture the ancient knowledge passed down to us through the ages. It is the garden of the curandero or curandera (healer) as well as the secret resource of the gourmet cook. Here there are to be found a hundred different tiny flowers and aromatic smells which have been used throughout the ages as medicine – sometimes tasting very bitter but always curative – as well as

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-81132801750037104062010-01-26T12:09:00.003+01:002010-01-26T12:38:54.933+01:00

"If all space were filled with matter, nothing could move… A type of space can also be filled with all the assumptions you have made in your life. If you go back and remember how your structure of understanding (of what is going on in this world) was built, and how those assumptions have affected your life, you see that a different set of assumptions would have led to a very different life. The

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-53552515164990442382010-01-01T15:51:00.008+01:002010-01-26T12:57:47.898+01:00

Nothing creates an festive winter atmosphere like a roaring fire so we've been using our new woodburner full on over the Xmas period. Along with the usual tasks of clearing out the ash and bringing in the logs, there is of course, the daily chore of cleaning the glass. Being somewhat challenged in the arm power department, this is not a chore I really relish so I've been trawling the net for

WildCherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03393052608940307899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-2679642046312927572009-12-16T11:05:00.006+01:002009-12-16T11:45:44.835+01:00

Ah, winter...it always fills me with lethargy and the need to reflect. It's the die-back. It's part of the natural cycle. I lose my leaves and withdraw to the minimum. In spring I will blossom again. In the meantime, I'm doing internal repairs. -- Posted from my inherited iPod Touch

WildCherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03393052608940307899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-27379187989144338552009-10-28T12:52:00.002+01:002010-01-26T12:49:11.656+01:00

At last, Green Politics gets a sense of humour. Check out the new campaign from Greenpeace to send virtual packages to Copenhagen to demand action on climate change. I've sent mine, why not send one too?

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-29959173776661428882009-10-15T00:01:00.005+01:002010-01-26T12:49:11.657+01:00

Supporting Today's Blog Action Day for Climate Change Recently I've found myself wondering about the environmental implications of digging deeper and deeper into the ground for irrigation water – a phenomenon that has only been commonplace relatively recently here in Spain as previously the boring equipment to dig that deep wasn't widely available or, where it was, few farmers had the money to

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-6981463289853352952009-10-09T15:37:00.002+01:002010-01-26T12:49:11.657+01:00

For more information go to: change.nature.org

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-25717495003546558232009-10-04T21:03:00.009+01:002010-01-26T12:49:11.658+01:00

What if we already had all the tools and technologies to not only mitigate the most dangerous effects of climate change but to begin to reverse the trend? What if instead of impending scenarios of food shortages in developed countries and starvation in the developing ones, we could feasibly achieve an acceptable worldwide balance between food and people? What if we could drastically reduce the

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-88314591332326899752009-09-26T18:56:00.006+01:002009-10-16T15:21:40.395+01:00

Why do we so, often berate ourselves when we feel unable to begin a new piece of creative work immediately on finishing the last? We worry about losing the thread of our creative habit and we feel guilty for needing to rest. Yet, how successful do you think it would be to sow seeds into hard, weed-filled, denuded ground where last season's plants still languished? If we want new plants to

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-82844329111466058252009-05-29T11:39:00.008+01:002009-10-16T15:11:59.808+01:00

PLANNING FOR THE DOWN TIMES IN OUR CREATIVE CYCLES Last winter we had snow. Hardest in our garden were the succulents particularly our, beloved aloe vera plants. Out of the six or seven large healthy plants only two survived. One that was in a pot in the patio which we brought inside and another that was planted very close to our back wall. Snow is highly unusual where we live but the winter

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-40681394673059852952009-04-20T14:02:00.016+01:002009-09-07T16:59:26.540+01:00

Have you ever planted some seeds straight into the garden without really being sure you will be able to identify the plants when they are grown? Then, a few months later, you go out to look to see whether the seed is coming up only to find the whole patch covered with weeds. Or are they weeds? Could it be that some of those unrecognisable sprouts are actually the plants you are waiting for?This

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-66700528367314152952009-02-22T17:43:00.004+01:002009-02-22T17:49:57.858+01:00

Ingredients1/2kg fruitUp to 1 cup vinegar1/2 cup water1 tsp chilli powder400-425g sugar4 tsp salt2 tsp chopped ginger2 cloves garlic3/4 tsp cardamom seeds/powderPeel and remove stones from fruit and cut up into small chunks.Cook fruit, garlic and ginger in water on low heat. When tender, add sugar, vinegar, chilli, cardamoms and salt and stir until thick and golden. Remove from heat and leave to

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-18540797493744149692009-01-16T12:20:00.005+01:002009-01-16T13:57:04.856+01:00

One of the principles of Permaculture - according to its founding father, Bill Mollison - is that in a sustainable garden system, all elements should fulfill at least two, if not three, different functions. One example would be a fruit-bearing tree that gives fruit to eat, rinds for compost, leaves for mulch, twigs for kindling, and shade for humans, animals and other plants; Or chickens which

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-75208349636680483732008-12-17T14:53:00.008+01:002008-12-20T17:38:24.557+01:00

Because we live in a continental zone where the summers are scorching and all but the hardiest plants withdraw into themselves, our best time for tomatoes is actually autumn when the days are still balmy and the night-time temperatures don't fall too low. As a result we are able to still pick fresh tomatoes for salad right into November. Unfortunately this year at the end of November it was very

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-84279338280818322132008-12-05T12:59:00.011+01:002008-12-05T13:53:44.462+01:00

Whenever I come across an article that isn't about nature or gardening but uses one of them as a metaphor, I just have to go and take a peek! Here's a few worth sharing that I've come across this week:In Rotating Creative Crops, multidisciplinary artist and creativity coach, Cathryn Hrudicka talks about the effects of mixing different creative disciplines in varying sequences and the effect this

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-46284785083007271412008-11-23T12:31:00.008+01:002008-11-23T12:57:20.461+01:00

As I go about the garden, I see empty posts scattered here and there unwashed and abandoned after the plants they contained have long since been transplanted to new homes or have left the land of plant life to go to the great compost heap in the corner. I know that what I need to do is to gather up the pots and take them to the sink to be scrubbed; then to leave them to dry in the sun and tidy

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-75757295150589985872008-11-16T18:53:00.018+01:002008-11-18T10:20:44.671+01:00

I'm trying desperately to find the time to explore more of what's going on at one of my favourite sites, WiserEarth because every time I visit, I find myself so stimulated by the broad range of discussions and information on offer that I end up bookmarking more things to revisit than I can ever hope to catch up with in a lifetime.WiserEarth - according to the site itself - is "an online community

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-79741834851036038352008-11-09T12:39:00.003+01:002008-11-10T07:47:01.459+01:00

"Consider a flowering plant: its new leaves stretching open, reaching for the life-giving sun; its roots anchoring deep into the earth, drawing sustenance into itself. As if prompted by an invisible imperative, it forms its blossom and develops its fruit. In time its flower magically unfolds, inviting response to its sensual delights of color and scent. Nature, in turn, participates in

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-5318293107374391392008-11-05T12:14:00.009+01:002008-11-10T07:55:20.050+01:00

"Within a fertilized cell or the seed of a plant lies a pattern for the fully mature organism. Given time and proper environmental conditions, a person, tree or zebra is formed. The growth of that organism as the unraveling of its inner patterns is what I mean by the term “joy.” “Joy” in this sense implies nature proceeding along its natural cycles, for the seed is but one part of an endless

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-47851610168352435202008-10-18T22:19:00.003+02:002008-10-18T22:25:55.257+02:00

Watching the news and reading the papers and seeing the panic seeding and growing worldwide produces an odd sensation in me. Firstly, I can't help feeling that the more we shout, 'Recession is Coming', the more likely it is to come or is that obvious only to me? Put it this way: If someone keeps telling me that a plant I had hitherto believed to be perfectly healthy, is in fact suffering from

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-27457455374655583992008-10-17T12:55:00.002+02:002008-10-17T13:13:13.730+02:00

Maria Pacheco from Guatemala is an organic farmer, social entrepreneur and an accomplished champion of indigenous rural women’s empowerment. In 2004, Maria founded Kiej de los Bosques (Protectors of the Forests) to create eco-friendly economic opportunities for indigenous women. Today, Kiej de los Bosques provides 300 rural women’s associations with invaluable technical assistance focused on

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-56983211302044660382008-10-05T16:19:00.002+02:002008-10-05T16:31:54.583+02:00

I've never been much of a royalist - and since living in Spain I've become even more distanced from the doings of the Great British Windsors - but I can't help but bark in approval at the latest ecological doings of our lovely Lizzie.Apparently Queen Elizabeth is planning to build, at her own expense*, an absolutely enormous wind turbine - apparently equivalent in size to over 600 corgis standing

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-35792952225774369062008-10-02T16:31:00.010+02:002008-10-02T17:32:50.286+02:00

We must allow the bolt of pain to strike us.Remember, this is useful pain; lightening illuminates.p7, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron So often in life events and emotions seem t come at us out of nowhere. These lightening bolts cans trike us down or bring our lives into focus with a brief illuminating flash, depending on how we view them.When a spark or jolt of thought hits you—a feeling that

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-71838209414201030602008-09-20T18:45:00.005+02:002010-02-21T14:53:38.651+01:00

The pond is where we go narcissistically looking for a reflection of ourselves, trying to discover who we are; But unlike the cold looking glass, In the Pond we cannot help but see ourselves in context - not isolated beings but part and parcel of that also-reflected world around us and the hidden universe in the depths below us; the perfection of our image broken by the ever-changing,

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-37692727201930734132008-09-20T13:22:00.005+02:002008-09-20T13:37:22.036+02:00

This is not about giving things up. It's just about giving and taking action. Neither is it about asking other people to do something - like politicians - it's all about doing it ourselves. This is about having a positive "handprint”" to reverse the ecological damage happening around the world. Restore the Earth.org are asking us to sign up to the vision to Restore the Earth and to do

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-32933218607159836662008-09-18T11:59:00.006+02:002008-09-18T12:23:23.190+02:00

What does it mean to be an “Organic Creative”?What we’re talking about here is creating in the way that’s most natural and organic to you, finding the ways of creating that work best for you and your unique creative make up.There are 5 key elements to being an Organic Creative that you can consider:The times of day you create best: We’ve all heard expressions like “I’m a real night owl” or “I’m

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-25406466195306339022008-08-24T20:19:00.019+02:002008-08-24T21:13:32.467+02:00

A good cyber-friend of mine, Dabs, has allergies to most chemicals so she's always got loads of tips about alternative products to use in the home and for personal care. However I was somewhat surprised when she told me recently that she used Listerine to keep mosquitos away just spraying it into the space around her.'Apparently mosquitos don't like Listerine much.' she told me.Now, I had always

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-51875456700598078632008-08-22T19:00:00.007+02:002008-09-01T18:29:17.949+02:00

Click to Play Did you know that one large tree produces the cooling effect of 10 room-size air conditioners? And if you did, do you know why? The latest podcast from What We Grow.com explains all the benefits to be had from the planting of a humble tree.You can download the full transcript for this podcast here.If you prefer you can download the MP4 version here.

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-70245219554952282652008-08-06T18:06:00.005+02:002008-08-06T18:28:07.023+02:00

Come together for forests:The European Commission has delayed a vital vote on protecting forests from illegal logging till September. Make sure the commissioners don't forget about it during their summer holiday. Show your passion amongst the trees and help Greenpeace make an extra impression before the September vote. After all, its summer so what better time to get out amongst the cool green of

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-23786915585556611082008-08-03T08:26:00.003+02:002008-08-03T08:35:49.307+02:00

THE CHICKEN BLOG: A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE GROUNDJuly 2008I was down buying chicken feed from the shop and saw a tiny notice offering Andalusian hens of all colours for sale. Of course this had to be followed up and one evening I went with Paco to a rural cortijo up in the hills. I was amazed to find I now had an introduction to Almuñécar's main breeder of speciality hens.Although he sells

Big Chicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-24274794519980426492008-08-03T08:08:00.005+02:002008-08-03T08:29:28.850+02:00

THE CHICKEN BLOG: A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE GROUNDMarch 2008Illnesses can crop up but generally if chicks are kept in good conditions you just have to keep an eye to see if they have worms or if they have trouble eating or drinking. Sometimes they look poorly, with droopy and colourless combs and wattles but usually they recover, especially when fed on yoghurt garlic and extra protein-even

Big Chicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-31919734174392065742008-08-01T17:55:00.004+02:002008-08-01T18:04:27.964+02:00

Do you find yourself sighing over the decisions of politicians when it comes to climate change policy? Surely the answers are more than obvious?Unfortunately, introducing policy changes is not just a matter of deciding to do it. As a politician you have to take into account the popularity of your measures with the electorate and seek support from other countries across the world. Think you could

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-9683466268529721842008-07-11T19:09:00.006+02:002008-07-21T17:53:26.523+02:00

Click to Play This week on What We Grow we ask "Why Shop Local?".You can download the full transcript for this podcast here.If you have problems playing this version, try the MP3 version here.Music for this podcast is from the album Manos Unidos by Santiago Louvet. It is distributed under Creative Commons License and available from www.jamendo.com

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-88610985375292018042008-07-09T15:45:00.010+02:002008-07-09T16:51:20.915+02:00

Click to Play The first in our new series of podcastsThis week we talk about the Tree of Heaven and try to decide if it is a pioneering shade tree or simply a noxious weed. You can download the full transcript of the podcast here:-)

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-30089475242791460232008-07-04T10:07:00.002+02:002008-07-04T10:07:00.261+02:00

Many of us know the benefits of home composting, collecting up vegetable scraps, paper, tea bags and other organic waste from our kitchens and putting them on a compost heap or in a compost bin to break down. A few months later you have a highly nutritious compost that your garden will love and thank you for. All from stuff you would’ve previously thrown out in your rubbish bin and would’ve ended

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-3431779169209818972008-07-01T18:48:00.003+02:002008-08-03T08:37:46.848+02:00

GARDEN DESIGN IDEASThe Majorelle Gardens are probably best known worldwide for one colour – a fabulous dark cobalt blue that has become associated with fashionable gardening…but of course there is more to the garden than an aspirational paint swatch!The garden is in the city of Marrakesh in the centre of Morocco. You enter through a gateway in the high wall that leads from the hot, bustling,

Barb: Growing Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15015976015809804141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-40436686749893817392008-06-17T17:25:00.016+02:002008-06-19T13:29:33.121+02:00

Brazilians will have to plant trees to get married, get divorced or buy cars!Brazil is taking the We Are What We Grow idea to its logical conclusion with a new law that will mean, if passed, that all Brazilians must plant trees when they get married or divorced, buy a car or construct a new house.The law, which is currently going through parliament, proposes that every Brazilian plant ten trees

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-43576804176126900472008-06-09T14:24:00.009+02:002008-06-09T16:48:09.945+02:00

A year or so ago we bought one of those bread boards that has wooden slats and a tray underneath to catch the breadcrumbs when you cut the bread. I had always thought of it as a mess-saving contraption which stops the crumbs scattering in all directions over the work-surface but the other day it occurred to me (ok, I'm slow!) that what I was looking at was, in actual fact, the original

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-81173176665570857862008-06-09T10:10:00.002+02:002008-06-09T16:52:01.932+02:00

'Migas' are tiny cubes of fried bread and are traditionally served as a tapas in Spain with freshly fried sardines and sometimes with spicey sausage (chorizo), bacon etc. As with all breadcrumb recipes, it is a way of using up stale bread leftovers that dates back to times of scarcity. Here is a recipe for the sardine version.Ingredientsstale bread,green peppers (usually the small pointed variety

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-40904154374742675462008-06-02T13:34:00.005+02:002008-06-02T14:37:38.997+02:00

As we colonise more and more of the available space in our garden/vegetable plot for cultivation its getting harder to find a place to leave wild for the birds and native species. Every inch of space seems so precious when you only have a small area in which to grow things and its tempting to use every last bit of earth for planting. And yet, according to the permaculture system, a wild area has

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-69296962456208677132008-05-26T22:24:00.009+02:002008-05-26T22:45:35.558+02:00

Everyday this month, visiting birds cause over 50 small yellow nispera fruit to fall onto our patio floor with a loud thud, disturbing a stretching cat or a snuffling dog from their daily activities.As I watch the fruit being pecked to pieces by these airborne urban invaders I am left with mixed feelings. On the one hand as the fruit rots and falls into the dog's bowl, I am tempted to clap

Gazpachomonknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-32861097859960763722008-05-23T18:19:00.004+02:002008-05-23T18:32:26.978+02:00

Sometimes it feels like our creativity is a once beautiful garden that’s now overgrown and choked with weeds. We know that underneath all this unwanted foliage we planted the seeds for some gorgeous plants – those initial creative ideas are all there and ready to be nurtured – but somehow the weeds have overtaken, using up all the nutrients and sunlight and robbing our tiny seedlings of the

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-82922764895176138452008-05-09T10:48:00.006+02:002008-05-09T11:34:54.012+02:00

This morning I woke up with an idea for a blog post about the power of the small, based on a dream I had last night. Whilst having my morning tea and toast I turned to one of my favourite philosphers for a bit of inspiration - Winnie the Pooh.Rather than one of the original texts, I picked up The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. Having not read this book for a while, I decided to just start at the

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-85440215536779947102008-04-30T19:14:00.005+02:002008-04-30T19:42:07.800+02:00

Here at WWG we take it as given that nature has a lot to teach us. Now it seems that that concept is entering into the consciousness of designers and engineers in a big way.This fascinating TED video shows how nature might soon be influencing the solutions we use for the most mundane of problems.

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-45315106555494636292008-04-27T14:51:00.007+02:002008-04-27T15:30:54.093+02:00

I was shelling some of our modest crop of peas the other day ready for lunch. Pea-shelling is rather a meditative experience and it got me musing. I remembered tranquil afternoons as a child shelling peas for my mother back in the days when peas were more likely to come in their pods from our friendly neighbourhood greengrocer than in a plastic bag from the freezer of a large, faceless

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-3804883485509305152008-04-21T10:51:00.004+02:002008-04-21T11:05:23.480+02:00

Garden design is a process where different ideas and different creative disciplines meet.When thinking about the design of your own garden, you might take a leaf out of the book of a professional designer: When talking to clients, garden designers have to find out more about the proposed garden than just the basics (if there is to be play area, where to put the bins, places to sit etc.) The

Barb: Growing Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15015976015809804141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-27797854173784160182008-04-09T10:48:00.003+02:002008-04-09T11:16:39.474+02:00

Most people know that vinegar is good for cleaning windows but sometimes its prone to streak especially if you have previously been using commercial cleaning products. The secret is to add a drop of soap:INGREDIENTS1/4 cup vinegar1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent2 cups of waterCombine in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Clean off with newspaper or rags made from old flannel pijamas.Tip

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-17305897523746551702008-04-06T10:56:00.006+02:002008-05-23T18:32:26.980+02:00

Companion Planting - carefully selected species of plants grown in close proximity - can help growth, mitigate the effect of attacks by pests and contribute to balanced soil composition.Monoculture - the growing of just one sort of plant, usually a food crop, over a wide area - on the other hand, is an open invitation to pest and disease and over time denudes the ground of nutrients which have to

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-61026935263806971792008-04-06T10:40:00.005+02:002008-04-06T10:49:33.238+02:00

Want to give your brain cells a quick burst of stimulation and make a small donation to aid world hunger at the same time?Head over to FREE RICEand play the word definition game. For each word you correctly guess the definition of, 20 grains of rice will be donated to the UN World Food Program. Watch that rice bowl fill!

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-21966654041072638912008-04-03T15:57:00.018+02:002008-10-02T17:01:46.284+02:00

It can seem frustrating at times to get any measure of how you’re progressing as an artist and as a person – or if you’re progressing at all.Yes, a large part of why any of us create is for the enjoyment of it. But a vital element to keeping your inspiration high and your motivation as fresh as a the first day of Spring is to feel that you’re an evolving artist too.None of us want to become like

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-5300313977106863042008-03-18T17:04:00.008+01:002008-03-18T18:17:09.543+01:00

PLANNING YOUR GARDEN PART 2If TV’s popular life-style programmes are anything to go by, the style of garden you have is a way of showing off your fashion sense and your income level, not a way of expressing yourself. But the look and feel of your garden is very personal and expresses who you are – much as the choice of colour for a wall in the house does, or the placement of a picture – it’s the

Barb: Growing Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15015976015809804141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-57423007423046607672008-03-12T13:31:00.008+01:002008-03-12T13:59:30.816+01:00

Wabi Sabi means the art of finding beauty in imperfection...accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay and death. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind.We hadn't heard of this concept when we moved into our current home - a 100 year old village house in the centre of a small Andalusian town - and it was evident that our Spanish

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-2011984801637304102008-03-05T11:40:00.004+01:002008-05-23T18:32:26.982+02:00

Many of us who are creative complain that if only we were able to havemore great ideas, we could be so much more creative.We feel like a passionate gardener without any plants, just staring ata field of dirt wondering when we’ll ever see a few green shoots pokingthrough. If only we had the beginnings of some plant life, we couldthen apply all of our passion and nurturing to cultivate them into

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-69689664615617034362008-02-25T13:40:00.011+01:002008-03-04T16:57:21.490+01:00

We all know that we ought to turn the T.V. off for our sanity as well as our health but here's a good reason to do it for our wallets...Household appliances left on standby consume energy, but do we have any idea HOW MUCH?Check out this Vampire Energy chart and be prepared to start switching things off!

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-25903216657542142792008-02-19T18:42:00.010+01:002008-03-18T17:39:25.135+01:00

THE NECESSITY OF WINTERIf the cold days and long nights are getting you down perhaps its time you looked at winter in a different light...Check out this sympathetic article about the growth that goes on below ground on Daily OM

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-81924904549715282002008-02-17T18:10:00.008+01:002008-03-04T17:57:27.989+01:00

The gardener is a cultivator of soul, a regenerative keeper of seed, soil, and root...The gardener's function is regeneration...There is a natural entropy, or wearing down and using up, of psychic parts.This is good, this is how the psyche is supposed to work, but one must have energies-in-training ready to backfill. This is the role of the gardener in the psychic work. He keeps track of the need

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-60455739755580303662008-02-06T11:30:00.003+01:002008-05-23T18:32:26.983+02:00

Spring is a time of optimism and fresh hope, the long dark days of winter finally giving way to warmer sunshine, as new shoots begin to poke their heads bravely from their hibernation underground. The sun is out longer and we all feel a little brighter, energised with all the new growth and promise around us.How would your creative life be different if you were able to feel this same kind of

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-72845161770234498772008-01-05T13:39:00.002+01:002008-03-05T13:50:20.654+01:00

I can't help feeling that slugs are just snails that evolution has left without their portable home but all the same, there are times when I just don't want them around.So to keep the slugs off your plants and vegetable, save your eggshells and coffee grounds and put them round the bottom of the plants.TIP BY: WILDCHERRY

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-21961553195582036532008-01-05T13:39:00.000+01:002008-03-05T13:45:00.845+01:00

Stinging nettles are nitrogen fixers so having a lot of them is a sign of high nitrogen content in your soil. Here's a way to make the most of their properties without getting stung all the time.QUICK METHOD1. Collect 100grams of fresh stinging nettles - not the roots.2. Chop up the nettles and macerate for 24 hours then spray undiluted on plants to reinforce the plants against plagues in

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-13683599941958786402007-11-23T13:03:00.001+01:002008-11-23T13:06:35.172+01:00

Routine tasks are the jobs that need to be done on a regular basis in order to keep our patch spruce, healthy and productive.Keeping the weeds at bayWashing PotsReaping HarvestPruningLook at the Pretty Flowers, oh how fast they fadeWateringDaily TasksSharpening ToolsFelling Trees

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-12776872770908079672007-11-14T12:58:00.003+01:002008-03-04T18:01:03.442+01:00

The good old British allotment is seriously back in fashion these days with many council waiting lists for allotments running in the hundreds. Consumers are turning their backs on heavily-suspect supermarket veggies in favour of growing at least some of their own, pesticide-free, seasonal produce. However, it is now becoming apparent that the benefits of having a garden or allotment go beyond

WildCherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03393052608940307899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-73926721742935126122007-11-05T18:54:00.003+01:002008-05-23T18:32:26.985+02:00

Do you enjoy gardening?I’m no expert myself, but I know the basic principles of taking careof your garden to ensure it thrives and blossoms as fully as natureintended.Just to survive, each plant needs water, sunlight, warmth andnutrients. But what about beyond this? What are the main causes ofending up with a sad and tired looking garden that struggles to evenpush up the smallest blooms?In a word

Dan Goodwin (Creativity Coach)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12028534664396047431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-82652562725138376182007-10-12T17:43:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:03:54.843+01:00

THE WORM FARM: THE POWER OF THE SMALL: 1After practising organic horticulture for a number of years I have come to the conclusion that if you want big green cabbages, lush spinach, enough mint to make mint tea every day for all of your friends and tomatoes that taste of something, you need a good fertiliser.Compost, in my experience, is good but mainly as a soil conditioner or mulch; as a

Toshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10723385326822887745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-50385505364576885842007-08-24T16:25:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:07:34.245+01:00

THE CHICKEN BLOG: A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE GROUNDThe one thing you can say with certainty about broodiness, is that it passes! Just as well really, otherwise we’d live in a totally overpopulated world full of millions of babies and chicks. Our two broody hens have been on an off for about 3 months now. At first it’s difficult to know why the hens start losing tail and neck feathers and stop

Big Chicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-2391996047348337032007-08-19T14:10:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:09:00.241+01:00

PLANNING YOUR GARDEN PART 1You need to know your plot inside out before you start to apply your ideas. Firstly record your gut reaction to the site – it might be a feeling of claustrophobia, or that you feel exposed. What do you want to keep? What is in the wrong place? What is missing?Next make a rough sketch of the plot, don´t measure precisely, just pace it out and use a big enough sheet of

Barb: Growing Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15015976015809804141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-1835927571594105972007-08-16T11:29:00.003+02:002010-04-17T17:27:09.488+01:00

As a child, I loved the story, ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett but probably more because of the thrill of the mysteries it contained than because of its reference to gardening. Recently it occurred to me to make contact with the book again and I did so by downloading the audiobook from the Librivox* site. I then spent many a happy night being lulled to sleep by Kara Shallenberg’s

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-43836908106125163272007-07-08T11:20:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:13:36.434+01:00

THE ZEN GARDENImagine that it is late morning in the heart of one of the most frenetic and densely populated cities in the world. It is hectic and noisy, as all cities are at that time of day, and exhaust fumes hang lethargically like a haze... But, believe it or not, we are aware only of the sound of birds, the crunch of ground underfoot, and the rustling of leaves.You might be surprised to

Isabella Jardinerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12389275752739487995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-74750004169494275552007-07-05T12:32:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:14:29.783+01:00

THE CHICKEN BLOG: A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE GROUNDBingo! It’s midsummer day and there are six eggs in the hen house. Well actually there are five behind the curtain (a favourite spot) and one from the rugged individualist (there’s always one!) who insists on leaving her offering just inside the door on the floor to see whether I am clever enough to avoid stepping on it in the dark.This is the

Big Chicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-43141812612967323202007-07-05T12:09:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:16:11.157+01:00

Not so long a go a couple with a mule and hens lived in this old house; whilst we have had to knock the mule shed down, so far the chicken coop remains (see photo) and the quality of the soil is a living reminder of those past times when the world went slower and people didn’t so much choose to live in a natural way but simply lived the only way they knew. The first tiny tomatoes have appeared on

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-12152677268154113192007-06-26T13:37:00.002+02:002008-03-04T18:16:55.273+01:00

GROWING DESIGN: REFUGE AND PROSPECT EXPLAINEDA feeling of "refuge" comes from the fact that I am comfortable and secure, in a spot from which I am relatively protected with a broad view of the landscape in front of me. The "prospect" comes from the fact that I can look out over a vast terrain that holds a number of potentially good and/or interesting things to think about. Refuge and prospect is

Barb: Growing Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15015976015809804141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-29803850561874213532007-06-26T12:08:00.002+02:002008-03-04T18:21:03.374+01:00

I’ve had a disastrous six months on the terrace with my veg growing. I would put it down to suddenly finding myself in such reduced territorial circumstances if it weren’t for the fact that P has had as spectacular a time horticulturally as mine has been miserable - producing a dazzling array of baby avocado trees, figs and palms. So evidently I need to look a little further for the cause of my

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-87309348351047478182007-06-12T19:17:00.002+02:002008-03-04T18:24:09.668+01:00

THE CHICKEN BLOG: A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE GROUNDWe’re just a small flock of six hens. We still consider ourselves young though admittedly we are not spring chickens any longer. I’m not sure we are what you’d call free range but we’re happy enough with a large house for nesting and roosting (under the swimming pool) and a big outside fenced run. Baby One did get out last week but she didn’t get

Big Chicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-65501822216271683302007-06-12T06:55:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:24:51.128+01:00

THE STARTING POINT FOR A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE THEME OF GARDEN DESIGNThe need to create gardens – to carve out, from nature, places of order and retreat – is as old as time. Whether the garden provides food, a place to relax or a place to impose “order” on the wilderness beyond, it is somewhere where we all act out a drama of perpetual optimism. Our plans are often thwarted by nature´s

Barb: Growing Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15015976015809804141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-14943149646701947412007-04-27T12:04:00.002+02:002008-03-04T18:30:22.181+01:00

“My freedom will be so much the greater and more meaningful, the more narrowly I limit my field of action and the more I surround myself with obstacles.”- Richard Diebenkorn (artist)Going down from 12,000 sq m of wild mountainside to a 20sq m terrace (plus two balconies) has been a challenge to say the least (especially for the dog and cat).Although its not what I would choose as a permanent

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-17366165370132159702007-04-27T12:01:00.001+02:002008-03-04T18:31:57.393+01:00

An overview on six months cultivation on our 20sq m terrace The radishes, now in small window boxes are much bigger ad more lush-looking than any we ever managed in the baked earth at our previous mountain residence. Whether that means they are putting all their energy into leaf and not into the edible root, its too soon to say. The chillis and peppers haven’t taken off the way I’m used to. Did

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-20498665192832093202007-03-15T11:51:00.002+01:002008-03-04T18:36:30.738+01:00

• A delicate plant must be nurtured in the right conditions.• There are seasons of growth and seasons of die-back.• There is always unpredictability.• I have to plant many seeds and expect that just a few will make it through.• A lot can be learnt about how to nurture a particular plant by observing something similar that lives in the wild.

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-37908648873873930112006-12-15T12:13:00.001+01:002008-03-18T17:27:27.674+01:00

I dream I go to look at my courgettes, the sustenance I am trying to cultivate. All the fruit is on the ground instead of on the plant; it has been attacked by something - ants - aunts - relatives. I think I must bring coffee grounds and put it on the nest. I must bring stimulation to my life and kill of the bad factors that undermine my growth.

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-34383629599628045852006-12-10T11:49:00.001+01:002008-03-18T17:29:03.811+01:00

Ok, I’ve got to admit it. I miss living in the country. Not the endless drive to and from the town, nor the isolation and definitely not the freezing north winds whipping around the house but the green and the space and the silence, I miss those. As compensation we have taken to going out for long lunchtime walks with the Bear. Today we took advantage of the necessity of moving our van from its

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-36194266288072822202006-11-28T11:42:00.002+01:002008-03-18T17:32:09.738+01:00

Its nearly the end of November and I realise I haven’t been paying the attention I should to my horticultural side.With the upheaval of moving it seemed enough just to manage to transport all the pot plants and try and find them a suitable habitat in our new location be that on the little patio-terrace, on the two balconies or an assortment of windowsills or inside. We did buy a few new plants in

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-35879961897259094042006-11-15T11:38:00.001+01:002008-03-18T17:34:34.963+01:00

Went to the garden centre today which was lovely apart from the extensive use of nitrogen fertilizers in evidence. Lots of wonderful plants including banana trees in pots so we are very hopeful for the survival of ours now. I will bring my mini-greenhouse on the next removal trip so we will have somewhere to put smaller, fragile plants - such as the avocado saplings - over winter if it gets very

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544585850801995754.post-92123768727937310812006-02-12T14:20:00.004+01:002008-03-18T17:42:57.592+01:00

There is something very magical about seeds; a Jack-in-the-Beanstalk potential compressed into the tiniest of modules. When our life is stagnating, its good to plant seeds both literally and metaphorically. The care and nurture of these tiny life-capsules into blooming beauties, helps us to understand how our own life can be changed dramatically by small acts and how very often something can

Wild Cnoreply@blogger.com0