|
Don't force yourself out of
the most profitable hobby in the universe because you
think it's too hard to learn ...It isn't!
Gardening is fast becoming
the world's number one hobby, and with all the latest
'alternative' information we have to hand, gardening as a
natural science is fun to learn about and rewarding in the
extreme...
Produce your own fruit and
veg - cut the shopping trips.
Keep it organic!- be nice
to the planet, and your body.
Stay fit and healthy with
exercise and fresh air.
Spend quality family time
in the outdoors.
Turbo boost your creative
spirit
And if that isn't enough to
be going on with, learn about plant-kind in all it's
glory. From trees through to fungi, there are millions of
plants to research, grow and eat- no chance of getting
bored!
First you have to take your
first step.
Start gardening, be a
gardener, enjoy your garden.
Starting from scratch? Let
your imagination run wild. Stand in the centre (-ish) of
your garden and imagine..close your eyes if you like.
Don't hold back. Let your
creative thoughts flow. How much can you do with your
space? Don't imagine for one minute that a simple lawn
will let you off the hook here. A lawn needs maintaining,
and mowing regularly - for EVER..and it can get kind of
boring to look at as well! How about creating
a butterfly patch
a wildflowers corner
a vegetable plot
a herb garden
a water feature
Then you will need a shed
to store your tools. Where would that be best placed in
your garden? Don't waste a sunny position with a garden
structure. Sheds don't need to be in full sun to survive!
Is there enough space to
place garden furniture? Rather than going for the
table-and-four-chairs-on-patio style, can you place
benches and small tables in semi-shady spots near the
honeysuckle or round the herbs?
When you think you have a
reasonable idea of all you want from your garden, take
some notes and think about it for a while. Don't leap in
too soon-more often than not you'll land up doing the same
job twice. Browse through garden catalogs, take a little
time and do a little planning.
But not for too long! Don't
let the ideas wither into another was-gonna-do-one-day
file.
If you have enough of a
budget to buy your garden structures and furniture, do
this first, and position them in your garden. Then create
your flower beds, vegetable plots and wildlife patches
around these structures.
If you don't have cash up
front, don't worry. The things you need will come to you.
For now, prepare the space as if you DID have the shed, or
bench or whatever, and work around these areas.
Start all the patches and
work on them as and when you can, or start one patch and
get it finished before moving on to the next. How you work
in your garden depends on a number of things...
size of land and budget
helping hands available
seasons and the weather
time slots and energy
levels!
Treat gardening as an
ongoing hobby rather than a project to be started and
finished. Plants are growing life forms and will always be
changing the shape and feel of your garden. Go with it
where you can, and prune heavily where you have to!
Get the kids involved with
quick-germinating seeds, and fast-growing plants. Many
retailers offer special seed mixtures for kids. Pumpkins
are great for getting the kids interested in gardening.
Learn about edible flowers
and teach the children what can and can't be eaten - and
why.
Don't let the grass grow
under your feet. Get in on the action now. Turn off the
TV, put your wellies on and leap into nature!
|
About
The Author
Linda
Gray is a freelance writer and, with her
partner. has spent ten years renovating a
neglected acre of woodland. Find heaps of
straight gardening advice and pots of
inspiration at http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com |
|
|
