Start small. Do one tub. Plant up some herbs or other things and have one lovely focal point to look at.
I used to look at people in summertime, planting bedding plants out their gardens in a wee line, you know, one here, then one 12 inches later, then another one. I've seen so many people just plant the same thing year in, year out, in exactly the same way. I always think that there's more value in having a small area packed with beautiful plants. To me, a garden should be something that is visually appealing, that it smells nice, and if you can also eat it, then you've ticked all the boxes in my opinion.
You have to work with what you have: some things work, some things don't, but it's all learning, and it's all fun. It's taking part in it, in the fresh air, with your hands in the dirt, that's really brilliant for your gut microbiome.
Hear Janice’s full chat on the Scotland Grows Show on Apple Podcasts HERE, or on Spotify below!
I would say don't be scared and don't be afraid to ask. I can see where people, even some of our volunteers, have made mistakes - it doesn't matter. It's about enjoying it, it’s about being outdoors. To be honest, it was always my stress buster, digging. I quite like weeding as well. It’s about that whole sense of well-being which is just so important.
My other real advice is don't try and do too much at once. I've got an acre of garden but I didn't do it all at once. I did one little bit, and then another little bit, and dug up another bit. I'm still digging up a bit, we make changes all the time. And if you do something and you don't like it, don't worry about it, do something else, lift it, move it.
The most important thing though is to have a seat wherever you are, I have lots of seats. Have a seat and enjoy the garden, be outside, and get that fresh air out there.
Hear Pam’s full chat on the Scotland Grows Show HERE!
Don't be too bamboozled by the industry, perhaps making it sound more difficult than it is. Plants want to grow, just give it a go, just enjoy it. We seem to have built up this muck and magic kind of aura about gardeners, but we're just ordinary people, we try things and sometimes it doesn't work. Don't be scared of failure, it doesn't mean that you're doing it badly necessarily.
Listen to people. See what the neighbours are doing. If they've had success then you'll probably have success too. Just give it a go, don’t be too intimidated, and learn from it.
Hear Stan's full chat on the Scotland Grows Show on Apple Podcasts HERE, or on Spotify below!
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