Hi Georgie, yes you will! The easiest and most eco way of beginning is to create some fixed in-dig beds. So so simple. Pick an area, if it is grass simply cut and put about 6 inches deep compost. I don’t use wooden edges because the collect slugs and slug eggs. Simple plant straight in. Plant what you like to eat. You can buy plug plants online and at nursery’s if later in the season. Tell me what you like to eat then I can help some more. If using pots, again you can grow lots. In the little garden out back we are growing most things in pots because there is so little ground space. To keep it cheap you can even use good sturdy cardboard boxes — must be thick and sturdy or they will collapse too quickly with watering.
Thank you. Planning no-dig beds for when I design my garden, but for now it will be makeshift pots, I think. Cool to know even cardboard boxes could work!! I like eating all the same things you do... Vata-pitta sisters! 😘 Also: Would you recommend trying to use organic seeds / seedlings or it doesn’t matter too much so long as I follow organic growing practices? I take it I need to only buy organic compost?
I usually buy my seeds from realseeds.co.uk as they save their own seed to sell and it will be organic. They are a little family run business in Wales. Definitely organic compost. You can pretty much grow all vegetables in pots if they are big enough!
That final photograph is absolutely magical, isn’t it? I meant to get a garden going this year, but regretfully it will be another year for that. We had several bad storms that damaged quite a few trees in our neighborhood. Not only did we have tree damage, the grandchildren’s playscape was demolished and much of our back fence. So, we’ve been busy:) Still, grateful for our homes and families being safe and well! Gardening will return in due time.
I’m a Vata type and that fig and almond porridge looks amazing! So delicious, comforting, and nourishing I bet. I appreciate your gentle comments about the use of meat. I’ve leaned towards vegetarianism for over forty years, but also struggled with low iron, getting enough protein, etc.
Loving the dream-like quality of your writing Lucy. Your words give me a little pang of homesickness for English summertime. Here in Auckland, autumn is turning to winter. Your porridge recipe sounds perfect for damp chilly mornings (and my vata constitution) Thank you 😊🙏
Ah I’m sorry we are not seasonally in sync. I shall have a think about posting for all seasons now I know some of my readers are on the other side of the world. If you are a vata type and heading into winter, you may need more protein. I would eat eggs too, and if you eat meat, smoked salmon and poached eggs are great for Vata types at breakfast, as are eggs and bacon. It is hard for Vata types to not eat meat if living to Western burn out pace. But I respect this advice isn’t for everyone. And happy to brainstorm alternatives
So interesting to hear that. I've dallied with vegan styles of eating, but always come back to meat as my body does not seem to do well without it, and my iron levels are often on the low side. That is great confirmation, thank you
A beautiful post, Lucy. I was so inspired to hear about the abundance of delicious food growing in your shared garden. It made me hungry!! Any advice for someone new to food growing / yet to start? Including, perhaps, ideas for a few easy things to start with? I won’t be able to get my new garden set up the way I’d like to this year, but am wondering if I might be able to start by growing a few things in pots, even late in the summer...
Hi Georgie, yes you will! The easiest and most eco way of beginning is to create some fixed in-dig beds. So so simple. Pick an area, if it is grass simply cut and put about 6 inches deep compost. I don’t use wooden edges because the collect slugs and slug eggs. Simple plant straight in. Plant what you like to eat. You can buy plug plants online and at nursery’s if later in the season. Tell me what you like to eat then I can help some more. If using pots, again you can grow lots. In the little garden out back we are growing most things in pots because there is so little ground space. To keep it cheap you can even use good sturdy cardboard boxes — must be thick and sturdy or they will collapse too quickly with watering.
Thank you. Planning no-dig beds for when I design my garden, but for now it will be makeshift pots, I think. Cool to know even cardboard boxes could work!! I like eating all the same things you do... Vata-pitta sisters! 😘 Also: Would you recommend trying to use organic seeds / seedlings or it doesn’t matter too much so long as I follow organic growing practices? I take it I need to only buy organic compost?
I usually buy my seeds from realseeds.co.uk as they save their own seed to sell and it will be organic. They are a little family run business in Wales. Definitely organic compost. You can pretty much grow all vegetables in pots if they are big enough!
*no-dig not in-dig 🤦♀️
That final photograph is absolutely magical, isn’t it? I meant to get a garden going this year, but regretfully it will be another year for that. We had several bad storms that damaged quite a few trees in our neighborhood. Not only did we have tree damage, the grandchildren’s playscape was demolished and much of our back fence. So, we’ve been busy:) Still, grateful for our homes and families being safe and well! Gardening will return in due time.
I’m a Vata type and that fig and almond porridge looks amazing! So delicious, comforting, and nourishing I bet. I appreciate your gentle comments about the use of meat. I’ve leaned towards vegetarianism for over forty years, but also struggled with low iron, getting enough protein, etc.
Loving the dream-like quality of your writing Lucy. Your words give me a little pang of homesickness for English summertime. Here in Auckland, autumn is turning to winter. Your porridge recipe sounds perfect for damp chilly mornings (and my vata constitution) Thank you 😊🙏
Ah I’m sorry we are not seasonally in sync. I shall have a think about posting for all seasons now I know some of my readers are on the other side of the world. If you are a vata type and heading into winter, you may need more protein. I would eat eggs too, and if you eat meat, smoked salmon and poached eggs are great for Vata types at breakfast, as are eggs and bacon. It is hard for Vata types to not eat meat if living to Western burn out pace. But I respect this advice isn’t for everyone. And happy to brainstorm alternatives
So interesting to hear that. I've dallied with vegan styles of eating, but always come back to meat as my body does not seem to do well without it, and my iron levels are often on the low side. That is great confirmation, thank you
Hi Vicki, I wrote a little about this topic in this post in case you are interested, I think it will help even more https://whattodo.substack.com/p/to-meat-or-not-to-meat-its-a-difficult
Great, thank you, I will have a read 😊
PS - LOVED how easy those recipes are. Thank you! Will definitely be trying the soup. (And the porridge once I get a slow cooker.)
I’m glad you like them, if you have favourite ingredients let me know and I will come up with some recipes 😁
A beautiful post, Lucy. I was so inspired to hear about the abundance of delicious food growing in your shared garden. It made me hungry!! Any advice for someone new to food growing / yet to start? Including, perhaps, ideas for a few easy things to start with? I won’t be able to get my new garden set up the way I’d like to this year, but am wondering if I might be able to start by growing a few things in pots, even late in the summer...
I have replied, but the reply shows as a separate comment 🤦♀️ I need to do much better at navigating substack