Introducing Crofting Garden Designs

It’s been a pretty wet week here on the farm.

Muddy chickens, and the garden is growing like crazy. Our basil is happy. And the beans have finally taken off up the tripods. 

Top left: Dakota Tears onions are blloming and I’m hoping for seeds. Top Right: Sunset Runner and Sadies Horse Runner along with Trionfo Violetto and True Cranberry pole beans on the tripods. Bottom Left: Indigo Rose cherry tomatoes from Seeds of Imbolc. Bottom Right: Tulsi (Holy) Basil is loving all this rain. Smells like blueberries. We love it!

Lots of new projects on the go as always. I’ve been working in the garden, sowing seeds for the native plants going into the Rose Garden, weeding the Potager, trying to keep the mud hole that the chickens have made in front of the coop covered in enough mulch that they can’t scratch it back into a mudhole. 

One thing about farm life I’ve come to realize: the animals will keep doing what they’re meant to do, even if that’s the exact opposite of what you want. So, as with dog training, if you can prevent the action from even being possible, you will be so much less frustrated. Like mulch preventing weeds from sprouting. Do the work first and it can’t overwhelm you later. 

I’m having so much fun doing research for the Botanicus. Plants are truly amazing and their relationships with everything around them continue to delight me. 

I think that’s why I appreciate a garden with a little bit of everything in it. Sure, the motherwort isn’t native, neither are most of my vegetables, but I’m going to grow vegetables, and herbs, and flowers to enjoy, and eat, and nourish myself with. 

However, ...

I’m not going to be foolhardy with invasive non-natives. I’m not going to plant vinca on my woodland edge, or allow the garlic mustard to go to seed, or allow Japanese knotweed anywhere near my property.

There has to be a balance between enjoying gallica roses and also feeding the hummingbirds by planting Tall Larkspur, or having peonies for the scent, and beauty, and making jellies or wine, and then also having plenty of monardas for the native bees. 

Over the years I’ve felt my way along gradually, naturally coming to a principle of design and an ethos that suits me and my ideals. Everyone’s different. You’re allowed to be. 

Maybe you feel the same way I do. Maybe you’d like a garden with your favourites and vegetables and herbs but you also want to take an active role in conservation and protecting what makes our bioregion so unique and special. 

So I’ve developed a section of our website for clients. Here I’ll compile garden designs based on ideas that I’ve found, or maybe even you’ve found on Pinterest, in gardening magazines, or pictures you’ve taken that show what you like. The concept will be shown using native plants that can produce the same effect without the benefits-vacuum that non-native can create. We can also take all of your favourite plants and then make sure that we support them with enough native species for a non-native neutral planting. 

Let’s say you saw this gorgeous pin from Shoot Gardening and you wanted to replicate it in your garden with native plants.

I can help you find the right planting combinations to replicate the feel of the cool tones and contrasting textures using plants that are going to thrive here and benefit their environment.

Here’s an example of a trio for a summer contrast garden design.

Top: Tall Larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum), blooms July and August. Bottom left: Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), architectural and year round interest. Bottom right: Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), blooms July to September.

Here’s to the start of

Crofting: Garden Designs!

An excerpt:

Garden designs are as varied as the designers who make them and the clients that enjoy them. 

Each person is looking for something a little different; something personal, that gives them a sense of place, a rootedness deep into their piece of land. 

Because of more information and instruction, many are looking for ways to become active participants in our stewardship of the land. They know how essential it is to not only support biodiversity, but the right plants and animals and insects - the ones biologically suited to this beautiful place. 

They also lead busy, successful lives caring for their families and homes and jobs. 

Maybe you don’t know how to get started, how to produce the garden of your dreams that includes your Grandmother’s roses and your Mom’s peonies, but also lots of native species for our bioregion to support your backyard ecology. 

That’s where my idea of non-native neutral planting comes in. Have you ever heard of the concept: for one pair of shoes you buy, they plant a tree? 

Why?

Because they understand that more and more people are concerned with their carbon footprint and trying to reduce it as much as possible. 

Let me help you do the same with your garden. Keep the plants you love and make sure there are lots of other options available for the birds and bees and insects we share our yards with.

If you’re interested in starting our partnership in crafting your land into the biologically diverse haven you desire please let me know. We’ll get you started on an exciting journey of wonder and discovery getting to know how incredibly important all the bits and pieces that make up your backyard ecosystem and foodweb really are.

So much to do. So much to discover!