Wow! My Duchess of Dirt column just celebrated 20 years!
Looking back, this translates into quite a few articles on a variety of garden-related topics. Seems there is never any fear of finding something to talk about in the garden. I just hope I have been diverse enough to cover interesting topics for the readers.
My humble opinion is that everyone should spend a little time each day… or week… in a garden. The rewards are phenomenal and never disappoint.
At the top of the list are the benefits as a stress reliever. If you do not do anything else in a garden, tend a small flower and herb garden. Add a dish big enough to hold water for a bird to bathe. Add a chair and just sit. Stroke your rosemary, rub your palm gently over your oregano, and crush a mint leaf. Now breathe.
Another reward is eating fresh from your veggie garden. Cannot beat it. No room? No excuse! There are lots of dwarf vegetables available now which are perfect for growing in pots for a patio or deck.
‘Sophie’s Choice’ tomato, for instance. The plant only gets 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) tall. Provide a tomato cage to give support for the proliferation of three-inch (7.5 cm) diameter fruits. Sow some lettuce seeds around the tomato plant and you have a cut and come again instant salad. (Hint: if you are bothered by deer, plant low-growing marjoram or oregano with the tomato plant. Deer appear to leave most herbs alone.)
Keeping on the educational tract… I admit I have shied away from some of the controversial gardening topics. But I have written specifically about genetic engineering three times in total and have heard from Monsanto twice.
Phew! Don’t think that is scary coming from a multi-national company? Think again. Have also had communications from others on this subject and I respect everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just know where I stand on the matter.
But local or multi-national, I will not shy away from writing about a controversial subject if I believe the readers should know. Heck. Monsanto now has my email address. What more have I got to lose… other than my sense of humour?
On that note, I hope no one is too upset about the topic of my last column – cardboard. I know it comes highly recommended for many applications in the garden, including permaculture. We even used it in one of the school gardens some years ago.
However, when I come across solid reporting on the results of qualified tests, I am prepared to pay attention. So much so, I felt compelled to share what I found out with all of you. (I should mention that I did not take the word of just one report. I researched an array of sources and articles from qualified horticulturists and scientists.)
All of this research takes some time, of course. And I know I promised more information on the topic of using cardboard in the garden in this column. Suffice to say, it has been a busy two weeks in the garden now spring has arrived. So, you will have to wait until the next column for the follow-up on cardboard.
Meanwhile, my heartfelt thanks to Comox Valley Record editor, Matthew Plumtree, who took a chance on me writing a regular gardening column in 2004, to Mark Allen who kept me on and Terry Farrell who currently sees that my gardening columns continue. Thanks also to Artur Ciastkowski (publisher) and the wonderful staff at the Record. You are great!
Leslie Cox co-owns Growing Concern Cottage Garden in Black Creek. Her website is https://duchessofdirt.ca/