Newhouse Farm

ClareE · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

Chickenofthewoods - It's a nice thought that we're keeping some of his ideas going in a small way but awful that somewhere loved by so many has fallen into the hands of people who don't appreciate it. Certainly don't miss the lawn at all - dig them up and get growing!

Jim'll - really glad we took photos as you forget so quickly what it used to be like. As novice gardens we've been amazed at how fast it's developed.

Thank you Cadfael and Kaffleck! - it's all very scaleable - you can even use the principles in containers. If nothing else just sowing some Phacelia or clover is well worth doing as the bees absolutely love it and it acts as a green manure for the soil.

Marie FG · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

All I can say is wow-what a transformation-its so lovely-well done
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Lakshmi · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject:

I was thinking, looking at your slideshow... that's almost exactly what I would like to do if/when I ever get a back garden. very inspiring as others have said.
How long did you spend researching for it?
Did you have any experience of gardening before?
How long did you live in the house beforehand (to see how it behaved)?

Thanks for showing us!
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ClareE · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks Marie and Lakshmi! We didn't spend a great deal of time researching - having decided to go for it we just jumped in with both feet really. I was avidly reading Toby Hemenway's fantastic 'Gaia's Garden' which is so inspiring and full of good advice as we went along and watching the DVD of Robert Hart's garden was a big inspiration too. Once we'd made the commitment of digging up the lawn and relaying the path, which was the hardest work, we then just added bits gradually. Ken Fern's 'Plants for a Future' was really helpful in suggesting the more unusual plants. We're very novice gardens, it's such a small garden we kept most of it as lawn whilst our children were younger so that they had a play area and it's only now that they're teenagers that we felt we could reclaim it! We've lived in the house for 15 years and the little that we planted always grew well and the soil is teeming with worms so we knew we had a solid base and it's south facing so get a good mixture of sun and shade. It's taken us by surprise how well it's all developed and I don't really feel able to take much credit - we did our best to enrich the soil and plant things where they like to be with friendly companions but the garden's developed a life of it's own!

Janco2 · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject:

I've had computer problems and been away on holiday so have only just seen this.
What a tremendous difference you have made to your garden. It looks great now and should continue to grow well.
Keep up the good work.

ClareE · Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks Janco! It's going to be interesting seeing how it develops as the trees mature. Met friends from Transition Dorking yesterday and they've just been given an orchard to restore and turn into a forest garden. Really jealous - all that space and possibilities!
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