I am no permie, at least not with any training. I hope that will come in the not too distant future. But I feel I am, at heart.

I’ve always been an organic gardener. I am also, what many describe as a lazy gardener, I’m sure, as I allow Nature to do what she will. I find weeding isn’t as beneficial as it is made out to be. When I don’t cut grass, but allow it to die back in the summer, it falls flat on the earth, creating a mulch. No weeding work, automatic mulching, no fire risk all in one simple act of doing nothing. It’s addictive…

I do weed my veggie patch, but not that well. I pull up the mature succulent weeds and cut the stems of the tougher plants, leaving the roots. Just to allow the sun in, you understand.

I love foraging about in salvage yards and creating systems that may be Heath Robinson in design, but work. At least for a while. My grey water filtration system didn’t work very well, but the collection system in a salvaged pond did. It doesn’t smell because I am careful what I use. And the ducks like it as an additional water source as they wander the garden. I drastically cut my water bills.

I try to plant hedges for stock control rather than the Earth damaging posts and fences. Hedges are permanent and don’t rot or rust. They bring up minerals, create compost below them, supply some grazing material and look beautiful. Why does anyone even want a dead fence? A dense living fence can also slow a fast moving bush fire.

I plant local trees for the wildlife. If they have plenty of their own kind of food, they don’t want ours. I’m slow, but gathering excitement at what I have achieved and what I will achieve, as I learn more.