Has the world gone bonkers? Are we totally brainwashed by capitalist adaptations of age-old celebrations? Think Valentines Day? And you may just start to understand where I’m coming from, but it’s not the only hijacked ‘festival’ in our calendar. Don’t get me started on Christmas and Easter! Everywhere you look at the moment are adverts […]
Nurturing precious plants is just one of the delights of the winter greenhouse. But when you are intent on the three R’s, (reducing, reusing and recycling), heating the greenhouse is just not an option. You wouldn’t have a single glazed room in your house, exposed on all sides to the elements, with a concrete floor […]
I’m starting a new campaign, resolution or whatever you want to call it. Gardeners Against Gluttony; where fellow growers, gardeners and greenhousers continue to do what we do best. Share. We love to share our gardening secrets, share garden produce, share our time and share our plants and seeds. Many more open their private gardens […]
Flavour is one of the main reasons most people grow their own food. You might be able to buy bags of low cost veg in the supermarket, but you can never replicate that just picked, fresh, harvest taste and by growing your own, you can have ingredients that are hard to find in the shops, […]
Generally the garden is a place of healing, full of medicinal herbs, aromatic foliage and scented wonders to lift the spirit and relax the mind. But just sometimes it has a bit of a sting in its tail. Take care in your garden and greenhouse this autumn; a chance mishap, a trip or slip can […]
When you invest your time and money into a greenhouse you want it to saturate every part of your life. The obvious benefits are registered by the leisure and pleasure receptors that are fired up and illuminated by simply taking time out to garden, grow and reap the fruits of your labour. The sense of […]
Maybe I’m getting old, but I find I am more and more attracted to plant collections these days. I used to think it was a male phenomenon, that need to tick boxes and own every single member of a plant family, but now I’m not so sure. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t filled the […]
OK, it’s bees again, but not just honeybees, this time it’s bumblebees and solitary bees too. Without these little heroines (sorry chaps but it really is the girls that do that work), we would have a real dearth of food on our plates and the classic quote, always attributed to Einstein, but in my opinion […]
Time and space management in the greenhouse is essential to keep it productive and prolific, but keeping up with the lush greenhouse growth this season has proven to be a bit of a challenge and if I don’t catch up soon there’s a chance that the greenhouse might burst from inside like a puff ball […]
Hartley Bean Feast May 2014 When you begin the greenhouse journey, even before you have even parted with any hard-earned cash there’s so much to consider and decide. Greenhouse gurus are generous with their advice regarding siting, ventilation and features, but the most vital consideration of all is its size. Most potential greenhouse gardeners are […]
The greenhouse is bursting with germinating seeds, flourishing seedlings and rooting cuttings. The aroma of spring is saturating every breathful of air and it smells fantastic. Rich, warm and vibrant, spiced with plenty of freshly made oxygen from the thriving plants. Spring is such an animated season in the greenhouse. Every new plant emerging from […]
Hartley BeanFeast March 2014 It’s no secret that I’m addicted to bees. I just can’t help talking about nature’s little heroes, or more accurately heroines, at every opportunity. Last week I met a small boy who started asking me very grown-up questions about bees and it made me realise how much bees are taken for […]
