. . . make light work. And how true it is.
About this time last year we formed a group called 'permamob' (permaculture friends) a local group of people equally concerned with getting the most out of a garden as us - ecologically and hopefully food wise. The mob have visited each household and worked on a project together - putting in a veg garden, cutting back, planting trees etc, and last Sunday at our place expanding our rather restricted top garden.
The previous owners had obviously been scared of vegetation and the garden was very much kept at bay with the very large brick terrace/drive taking most of the space. Wanting to invite in as much nature as possible we decided to take up the pink (ugh) gravel paths and dig into the brick area.
We are lucky to have an amazing mulch, stakes, compost and topsoil place near us so I went and ordered a large amount of soil and mulch. I thought I'd massively over ordered - the sight of six big bags filling the drive are a was a tad alarming - but we got through most of it, leaving aside two bags for the lower garden.
Of course, the paths having been constructed by the over zealous previous house owner it wasn't just gravel but 'geotextile' and some sort of bitumen substance. But with eight pairs of hands, limbs, muscles and enthusiasm it all got cleared, edging rocks put to one side and a first layer of top soil laid.
Curry was eaten, cake consumed and conversation shared. I wonderful, heart, and muscle warming afternoon.
This would have taken us at least five days, not the five hours kindly donated by our friends. And what a difference. Next stop I think it's fruit bush replanting at Hazel and Pierre's place.
April 2025 when we'd recently moved in - pond hole being dug
Me needing a large mug of tea
