How much can we grow in our tiny garden?
It's been a week of planning and prepping at the veg patch
Like the bees emerging from our beehive after their long winter in shut-down mode, we too are just poking our heads out, and we’ve shared our first bit of filming of the year. We’ve spent a lot of time at the allotment this past week, getting ready for the growing season which is upon us, and we’re feeling renewed!
Hey! Gabby here from This Tiny Life.
Just before we get into this week’s post, we just want to say a huge thank you for being here. This platform is full of beautiful writers, delicious recipes and endless inspiration, so we’re so thankful that you’ve stopped by on our little patch.
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We share seasonal recipes, slow living thoughts, veg patch tales, and other little snippets from our floating home in the Oxfordshire countryside.
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Right, let me take you back to earlier this week…
On a little bridge that connects our bubble of the boat world to the chocolate-box village we live by, there’s a border of plants lining the walkway. This border is cared for by volunteers, including one of our lovely allotment neighbours. Last summer, a smile would flicker on my face as, on reaching the summit of the short ascent from the towpath, I’d spot that familiar face tending to new shoots. What follows is always a minimum of 15 minutes of thoroughly enjoyable chitter chatter...regardless of where I'm meant to be.
But. Winter has a remarkable ability to turn us all into homebirds, and so it’s been a while since our last bridge meeting—possibly 5 months. So, when the bridge brought us back together this week, with the sun shining overhead, I welcomed the familiar social scent of spring.
Unfortunately, the 15 minute base level chat was all we had time for, as also in tow was Joe, Tilly, and a wheelbarrow full of sticks destined for the allotment to film for the end of our vlog.
The wheelbarrow full of sticks was from our collection of hedgerow cuttings from the end of last year. Putting it to good use, we wheeled it through the village to our allotment to try out a new gardening technique: Hugelkultur. (You can watch the ridiculous journey of getting them to the allotment in our episode below.) Hugelkultur involves lining the bottom of a raised bed with sticks, logs, and other natural matter. As it decomposes, it releases nutrients into the compost, and it’s also great for holding water for thirsty plants. If there are any seasoned Hugelkultur-ists out there, please share your tips and tricks!
To see what else we’ve been up to at the veg patch to get it ready for planting this year - here’s our latest vlog which is now live! It’s somehow been a few months since our last episode - like Jack’s bees, we’re just poking our heads out after a cold winter!
What are your plans for growing this year? What seeds have you got on the go already?!
Thanks so much stopping by - until next time,
Gabby x
I'm so looking forward to the warmer days and getting my hands in the dirt! Of course we have dipped back into the chill here on the east coast of the US 🙄 but I can feel it coming and I'm so ready! Looking forward to seeing for of what comes out of your garden!
Have you tried ‘square foot gardening’?- I tried it for a few years before we moved and it’s an interesting concept. I’ll leave you to look into it (if you haven’t already).
I found it very productive and attractive too especially as you plant bee friendly flowers in amongst the veggies. From sunny/frosty Somerset.