I am surrounded by many very interesting (and occasionally rebellious) gardeners. They inspire me constantly and also teach me all sorts of interesting things – not least about growing food. Often I write stories about them which is a great excuse to pick their brains and find out what makes their gardens tick – more…
Category: Garden
Making a Mound
Always fun to try something new in the garden. Especially with a friend who is strong and keen and knows more than you do! I don’t usually have company when I garden, but I can highly recommend it. Recently, I have become intrigued with Mounds – Hugelkultur – so decided to give it a bash….
Char’s Share Garden
“Even right in Howick, there are people with not enough to eat,” remarks my friend, Charlene Russell “I worry about the kids especially.” Realising that not everyone has the time or space to grow their own and hoping to inspire people to grow more food, she has created a Share Garden on the pavement outside…
Khula Shanti
When Carol was still embroiled in the corporate Jozi world, her business was called Organic Optimism. Undoubtedly, she was already plotting her escape. On a smallholding in Boston, over the last ten years, Carol, her husband Tyron and their team, have crafted magnificent food gardens – a veritable temple of good food. As it is…
Sunflowers Reach for the Stars
An absolute riot is one way to describe Chatelaine Cullinan’s micro-farm in suburban Howick. Sunflowers reach for the stars, purple zinnias are a buzz with bees, brown cucumbers (yes, brown) twirl along fences, plump butternuts climb the walls and chickens cluck contentedly. Riot might conjure up images of disorder, but this is incorrect – Chatelaine…
What did I have for lunch today?
Inspiration. Abundance. Hard boiled eggs, peanuts, raisins and pumpkin seeds. Read about it here: http://midlandsconservanciesforum.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/exploring-the-umthinzima-through-mpophomeni/ Afterwards, Tutu gave me an enormous lettuce, just plucked from her fabulous, flourishing garden.
Garden Breakfast
One would think that the excitement of harvesting whole meals from the garden would eventually wear off. It doesn’t seem to. I get a thrill every time. Yesterday I planted peas and lettuce and dug up some potatoes. Always fun as you never know how many you are going to get. I was pleasantly surprised. Nothing…
Tutu Zuma’s Garden
Tutu Zuma can often be spotted trundling around Mpophomeni with her wheelbarrow piled high with grass, manure and discarded plants. “People throw so many useful things away” she says. “the only thing I have to ask for is manure because in Zulu culture, women can’t go in the kraal, so the men put it outside…
Mr Organic
“I don’t consider myself a farmer yet”, says Rob Symons of Broadleaze, “I believe that if you have a natural ecosystem and your soil is good, you will be able to grow food” Broadleaze had lain fallow for 25 years before Rob arrived, which meant the soil was alive, the natural system in balance and…
A Rainbow along the Road
Yesterday, I visited friends who live along the Dargle Valley – on the other side of Inhlosane beside the uMngeni river. They are officially the “Dargle Hippies”, because they live simply, wear tie dyed clothes and have unruly hair, I guess. They are also very nice and I like them a lot. I had never visited…
Plant Abundance 