Category: Stories From The Allotment

STORIES FROM THE ALLOTMENT - SUCCESSES & FAILURES

8/8/2022

I am generally quite capable of sinking into despair but what I have experienced with this tiny plot is simply beyond my imagination. I try to joke about it, but the painful truth is that I am one lousy gardener. I tell you this story from some time perspective and my emotions are rather settled at the moment. However, then the mentioned below events were taking place I could hardly see any positive outcome.

It must be said that the list of my gardening mishaps is endless and just for the purpose of this post I have chosen the most spectacular ones. And as the modern approach to psychology and development encourages as all to see our failures as our successes I am going to present the events as such.

Success Number 1
-reduction of fish population in a garden pond by 50%
Success Number 2
-creation of a weed plantation almost in every flipping corner
Success Number 3
- designing a new style of cutting hedge by depriving it of any green leaves

All of these have no real happy ending. Thankfully, we managed to sort out the pond problem and no further deaths are expected. When it comes to weeds, I am afraid the problem is evolving; even though I have spent hours on weed whacking, laying geotextile, and following other permaculture ideas (like for example using cardboard). And finally the hedge. Here the situation is quite simple - I can either wait for a miracle to happen or plant a new one.

The good news is that I haven't given up yet. And there are small marvels that make this whole experience a little bit less bitter. I got a patch of sunflowers - selfseeded and a bed of lavender and herbs. I know it's a little comfort but the journey continues.

STORIES FROM THE ALLOTMENT

27/6/2022

I used to dream of growing my own plants and having a plot of land for a small permaculture garden. I have got plenty of books on veggies, fruits and herbs. I observe tons of Youtube or Instagram creators with #gardening hashtag. I spend time organising my Pintrest boards on green and flowery stuff. In theory, I have had it all. So, you need to understand that it basically hit me like a ton of bricks when I realised that my long-lasting dream of being a keen gardener has nothing dreamy about it.

This year, I came into possession of a small allotment. Well, I say small, because it's not particularly big in square meters but if I were to comment on the amount of work it needed, needs and will be needing I could risk saying it's enormous!

The very first problem I encountered was how to distinguish flowers from weeds. And I must confess I'm guilty of quite a few crimes on perfectly healthy and beautiful plants. Now I begin to understand that gardening needs time. You cannot be hot-headed, impulsive or impatient. You need to learn how to let it go, how to give time and how to nurture what's good. This is so not me- I want effects and I want them now! But I know that there are no shortcuts with nature. It's a very painful truth that I need to come to terms with.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. And even though, I don't think I should be taking any credit for that now I am able to reap some sweet rewards of the summer in full bloom. I'm not too sure what the future holds for me in this area, though. It might be that I will quit the whole gardening idea. But ... not this season
This season I will document my progress, share my joys and failures on my tiny plot. Stay tuned!

Rosemary & Lavender

STORIES FROM THE ALLOTMENT - SUCCESSES & FAILURES

STORIES FROM THE ALLOTMENT

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