As a gardener I get to see quite a range of gardens. I work for clients who's gardens range from small conventional plots to large sweeping meadows some with rivers and others with fantastic views of the countryside.. It's a broad spectrum and there are really some lovely gardens to work in. To be honest though it is a bit dreary at the moment, there's not a lot of life about, a majority of the plants, shrubs and trees are conserving their energy and are keeping it stored in their base until the spring arrives. When this time comes we will all gaze upon the vast awakening of life and all it's vibrant colours and smells. I began my trainee position in November and before I started I was curious as to what work I would be doing at this time of the year. I was quite surprised to find that there is a fair bit of work to get on with still. The winter provides a good time to prepare the garden so it is in it's best possible state cometh the heat and warmth. I have been doing a lot of pruning the last few months on fruit trees and bushes, preparing them so they are ready to sprout new growth in a quick and efficient manner. By pruning in such a way so the new buds grow outwards and upwards promotes a healthy shape for it to thrive. Allowing enough space for air to flow freely between the stems is important as this minimises the impact airborne diseases will have on it. It's a good organic technique, and echoes the sentiment of 'prevention rather than cure'. Weeding is probably the gardeners least favourable job, but is unfortunately necessary. I have been doing a fair bit of this recently. The organic approach is just hard graft to remove them, instead of spraying weed removal chemicals. Funnily enough though it can be quite rewarding to see how much you have cleared from a given space, and also quite meditative. Despite weeding's renowned negative connotations, in my opinion it certainly beats sitting at a desk with a headset glued to your head. The other day I was working at a property near Bath creating a support structure for some cultivated Blackberry. We used tree branches that were lying around and fashioned a fence for them to grow along. It's great to use left overs and find another purpose for them, instead of spending money on purchasing bamboo sticks. Here I am with the finished product. Over the coming months I will begin a whole new phase of gardening. I've got lots to learn, and plenty of work especially on the land we're turning into a Permaculture smallholding. I will keep you up to date with what I experience and acheive!
1 Comment
Cath Smith
1/26/2016 03:10:08 am
Fantastic Adam. It sounds really interesting and it's great that you are reusing stuff. Lot of waste in this world. X
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AdamThe idea is to document my perspective as I embark upon a journey into the world of organic gardening and permaculture, through the medium of literature, music and art Archives
February 2017
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