Exploring Eccentricity

Exploring Eccentricity

by | Nov 2, 2018 | thoughts

If you meet me in person I look pretty normal, but given that I chose to title this blog The Unconventional Gardener, you’ve probably guessed that I consider myself to be a little unusual. I had a very conventional upbringing, but it didn’t stick; I consider the...
Bye bye social media

Bye bye social media

by | Oct 1, 2018 | thoughts

I joined Facebook in October 2007, and Twitter in May 2008. Social media has been a massive part of my life for more than a decade. It was originally a way to find and connect with like-minded people, and a natural extension of my blog. I made good friends, some of...
The garden won’t stop flowering

The garden won’t stop flowering

by | Nov 24, 2017 | flowers, gardens, thoughts

I haven’t spent a lot of time in the garden recently (that seems to be my refrain this year!). I keep nipping out to fill up the bird feeders, but that’s about as far as it gets. To be honest, I am suffering under the deluge of hate and horror that’s...
It’s time to accept the facts

It’s time to accept the facts

by | Feb 15, 2017 | environment, thoughts

We can’t grow good crops without using pesticides, fertilisers and GMOs. We need to stop listening to ‘experts’ who say We can garden in a sustainable, organic way. Eco-minded people are creative and develop new ideas. But the thing is: The population is rising,...
What is salad?

What is salad?

by | Feb 6, 2017 | environment, ethnobotany, food, fruit, herbs, thoughts, veg

The news that Iceberg lettuces are being rationed in the UK, due to supply shortages, has made me ponder the nature of salad. When I was growing up, salad was Iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes and cucumber. I didn’t eat salad. Fortunately for me, my definition of...