I loved Sam's comment about polyculture being a version of foraging. It's so true! You're right about polyculture gardening being a treasure hunt. That is exactly why I love it so much, even if it isn't as efficient. I often joke that I have a "boutique garden" because there is just a little of everything, but it is all thoughtfully curated, and nature and the ecosystem that is present add their own touches. It is truly a source of joy in my life. I'm looking forward to trying the nettle chimichurri. What a great use of herbs and greens in the garden. Thank you for sharing in written as well as video form. So much great gardening advice and inspiration!
Exactly, and a healthy treasure hunt too. I love the idea of a 'boutique' garden - how fantastic! Oh I hope you enjoy it, it is so simple yet so tasty and versatile to work with your veg. And thank you for the kind words, they mean a lot!
There’s so much in here, Huw - such an interesting and helpful post. And enlightening too: my veg patch consists of no more than 3m2 of planting, and I’ve been a tiny bit apologetic about it when writing about what I’ve been harvesting - yet everything seems to grow perfectly well - with, at the moment eg in one bed spinach, salad leaves, parsley, carrots, calendula, sorrel and lettuce (and a few dahlias too). It’s all happy in there - and now I have a name for this system: polyculture! Thank you very much 🌱
Hi Jo! Thank you so much! Never be apologetic about it, but I do understand and can find myself still doing that for example with how I would describe one of my polytunnels...but still getting great yields haha! Polyculture indeed, and Dahlias in veg beds are an absolute must by the way!
Love the post. Because of age and health I’m a bit more of a vicarious gardener than a boots-on-the-ground gardener. But I have a small raised bed, eat Swiss chard daily for breakfast and just picked all my Asian pears with the help of a bunch of kindergartners from my Amish neighbors. Maybe, God willing, I’ll get them canned. Oh, by the way, I preserved some watermelon as JELLY this year!! That’s new!
I love the sounds of the chimmichurri - nettle seed is a thing my wife (a medical herbalist) has long been trying to get me to eat more of, and I reckon this might be the way!
What a wonderful read Huw. Thanks for being so generous. There’s so much I didn’t know.
Thank you so much JP! Really appreciate your comment
I loved Sam's comment about polyculture being a version of foraging. It's so true! You're right about polyculture gardening being a treasure hunt. That is exactly why I love it so much, even if it isn't as efficient. I often joke that I have a "boutique garden" because there is just a little of everything, but it is all thoughtfully curated, and nature and the ecosystem that is present add their own touches. It is truly a source of joy in my life. I'm looking forward to trying the nettle chimichurri. What a great use of herbs and greens in the garden. Thank you for sharing in written as well as video form. So much great gardening advice and inspiration!
Exactly, and a healthy treasure hunt too. I love the idea of a 'boutique' garden - how fantastic! Oh I hope you enjoy it, it is so simple yet so tasty and versatile to work with your veg. And thank you for the kind words, they mean a lot!
There’s so much in here, Huw - such an interesting and helpful post. And enlightening too: my veg patch consists of no more than 3m2 of planting, and I’ve been a tiny bit apologetic about it when writing about what I’ve been harvesting - yet everything seems to grow perfectly well - with, at the moment eg in one bed spinach, salad leaves, parsley, carrots, calendula, sorrel and lettuce (and a few dahlias too). It’s all happy in there - and now I have a name for this system: polyculture! Thank you very much 🌱
Hi Jo! Thank you so much! Never be apologetic about it, but I do understand and can find myself still doing that for example with how I would describe one of my polytunnels...but still getting great yields haha! Polyculture indeed, and Dahlias in veg beds are an absolute must by the way!
Nice one Huw. Thanks for introducing me to substack. This is fantastic listen to on the way into work!
Oh I appreciate the feedback regarding the audio! Thanks so much!
Love the post. Because of age and health I’m a bit more of a vicarious gardener than a boots-on-the-ground gardener. But I have a small raised bed, eat Swiss chard daily for breakfast and just picked all my Asian pears with the help of a bunch of kindergartners from my Amish neighbors. Maybe, God willing, I’ll get them canned. Oh, by the way, I preserved some watermelon as JELLY this year!! That’s new!
Great to see you here Hew! I made a nettle seed pesto today. Utterly scrumptious. Will definitely give the chimmi churri a go!
Thanks Huw, always appreciate your wisdom. Love from Lletty'r Gog Tragaron ☺ 💚
Living in a field in Wales sounds like my idea of heaven , spend most of my spare time chasing mountain goats round anyway !
I love the sounds of the chimmichurri - nettle seed is a thing my wife (a medical herbalist) has long been trying to get me to eat more of, and I reckon this might be the way!