I'm reading a couple of books at the moment, Doreen, one of which is The New Complete Book of Self Sufficiency. The author talks about 1-acre and 5-acre plots, but I'm rather interested in how much one can produce from a smaller garden. You say you grow herbs and that they grow quicker than you can produce them. What else do you grow and how self-sufficent are you in whatever else you grow?

That's lovely Doreen. I like all the pots.

Pots are a brilliant way to grow things. Last year I grew runner beans, strawberries and tomatoes in pots.

We made a small patio last year – well somewhere to put a table and chairs really. I will sort some photos out after lunch so you can see. I love being in the garden.

Admin said:

I'm reading a couple of books at the moment, Doreen, one of which is The New Complete Book of Self Sufficiency. The author talks about 1-acre and 5-acre plots, but I'm rather interested in how much one can produce from a smaller garden. You say you grow herbs and that they grow quicker than you can produce them. What else do you grow and how self-sufficent are you in whatever else you grow?

I don't grow vegetables any more because……….

?? am I too lazy.

I like to sit in the yard in my comfy chair and either read a book or watch the clouds float by.

I do try and keep it all tidy, I make my own compost for which my flowers and those wriggly red worms say thank you

and anyway somebody has to buy that which other people grow

Oh Cider I looked at your house, my dream house…….

Doug Harvey wrote,

“The outdoor area is one that takes a lot to describe. The property features lots of mature fruit trees and includes apples, plums, oranges, lemon, lime, grapefruit, apricots, pears, fejoia's, boysenberries, olives, mandarins, hazel nuts, avocados, cherries, figs as well as grapes to mention but a few. There is a good sized vegetable garden to help keep the pantry full as well as a chook house/run plus two pig pens. There is the ability to run some stock, children's pets or maybe a pony or horse.”

If we all here could pack our bags and go.

doreen said:

I like to sit in the yard in my comfy chair and either read a book or watch the clouds float by.

I wish! I don't know why it should be because I'm far from lazy, but I cannot sit in a comfy anything and read without falling asleep. If I'm going to read it has to be 'military style'. Sat bolt upright in a hard chair, resting on what used to be my nates which somehow seem to have disappeared over the years

doreen said:

Post edited 6:18 pm – 16th April 10 by doreen

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PS… oh dear sorry for I have written Anna instead ot Ann. That is perhaps because one of my friend is called Annamarie.

I don't mind if you put Ann, Anna or Annamarie. It is Ann-marie but if you would prefer just put Ann.

doreen said:

Post edited 6:18 pm – 16th April 10 by doreen

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Then we have that in common  Annamarie, for I love being outside.

This afternoon I have been sitting in my workroom (oh it is chaos in here) sewing  cushions for my yard.

I am not having many flowers this year but am going into the “ZEN” design with wood and pieces of rock.

A Zen Garden sounds lovely. I think it's a great idea. In my pots I have some acers and a small bonsai I'm working on. They would be ideal for your Zen Garden.

I'm a member of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). I love going to their gardens to get ideas. Wisley in Surrey has lots of small gardens. When I go and see my mum we often take her to Wisley for lunch. It's only 30 mins from my mum's house and because I'm a member, we get in free.

My father had a friend, a dark-skinned Frenchman, presumably originating from one of the French colonies. They met during WW2 and ended up living in the same military town after the war.

I grew up as I'm sure all of us here did, in the days when every friend of your parents was either uncle or auntie, and so you addressed those individuals as uncle this or auntie that, according to the way your parents addressed them. I cringe today at the thought of this young person addressing this particular dark-skinned gentleman as 'Uncle Darkie' every time he arrived at the house