What's your relationship with your compost bin been like this year? I'm not sure I'd come off well with mine. A soggy summer meant I was reluctant to feed it too many anaerobic grass cuttings (when I did eventually mow the lawn in July, three months after it was laid) and it's had more dedicated years of fastidiously combining browns (cardboard, loo roll tubes, envelopes, twigs and dry leaves) with greens (food waste, aforementioned grass cuttings, green plant matter). If I were on the therapist's couch I suspect I'd be called out for taking more than I gave.
I don't entirely regret this. This year has been one of garden transformation, and about five months in I was able to sit back, witness the growth of it all and think that, all things considered, it wasn't a bad achievement for a year in which I'd also given birth to a baby. In perfectionist terms, this is high praise indeed. Still, as we near the end of the year I'm prone to reflection, and I suppose I'm resolving to be more conscious in my composting next year.
Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
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Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER?
Giving your free time to volunteer in the community or as a mentor can have a big impact, and also benefit you in ways you can't imagine, says John Wyer
EARTHLY CONCERN
Weeds, slugs, birds and mice - all are welcome on Birch Farm in Devon, where Joshua Sparkes seeks to respect the local ecosystem and mimic nature in his innovative approach to growing
Gardening is good for you
In the first of his new factual column on the benefits of gardening, Dr Richard Claxton uncovers all the evidence-based ways it can help your physical health.
TANGERINE DREAM
On the edge of one of London's busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Growing your own edible plants is a great way to boost your gut microbiome. Discover expert picks of edimentals that are both beautiful and beneficial
Waste not, nice plot
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love
One for all
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents and garden lovers alike
Meet our horticultural HEROES
Discover the stories of the extraordinary garden champions who are making a difference to places, people, plants and the planet
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
In the culinary world, chefs and food writers sometimes closely guard their recipes, says Nigel Slater. Among gardeners, however, there is a refreshing spirit of generosity
Autumn at Sissinghurst
As the garden slips into a new season, head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are busy with tasks from hedge cutting and lawn work to bulb planting and sowing seeds.
