Design for life
Greener growing is relevant to all aspects of gardening and we can do it better, says Marian Boswall, if we take a step back to see whether our space is organised to help the environment
‘Design’ can seem complicated, but it simply means ‘to mark out’. By taking time to plan our gardens sustainably we can ensure that we are working with nature; saving resources; protecting what we have and looking after ourselves.
We each have billions of different bacteria and fungi living on our bodies, more than there are people on the planet, so we are part of nature before we even step outside! To take care of the planet we must first take care of ourselves, which means thinking about how we want to live. We know exercise is good for the body and stillness is good for the spirit, so however big or small our space we can plan for both, leaving room to work and to watch what is happening in the garden.
This time spent watching and listening is the most important part of ongoing design. Watching where the sun shines and when, we can plan where to sit and where to plant shade lovers and sun seekers. An old hose pipe is great for marking out areas and leaving longer patches of grass can help define space without the need for solid barriers. If there is room, plant a deciduous tree to shade a south-facing window in summer and allow light through in winter, reducing the energy bills through natural air
By taking time to plan our gardens sustainably, we can ensure we are working with nature
conditioning. Plan a classic veggie patch in a sunny spot, or plant an edible forest-style garden in layers to gain some shade too.
Watching the wind flow, you’ll see where hedges and climbers can filter it and create cosier corners, softening harder walls that cause turbulence and wind tunnels in cities. Noticing the weather, the seasons and the moon phases connects us to the universe we are part of and may even help us plan our growing, by making use of the gravitational pull of the moon.
By making time to look after our soil, we look after ourselves. Few of us live close to a farm with the black gold of manure, but in any space we can create our own compost with a wormery or bokashi bin, turning our scraps into nutritious plant food. This also helps us pay attention to how much we throw out. Planning our meals for maximum nutrition and minimum waste can be one of the biggest impacts we can make.
Water is a finite resource, with less than 3 per cent on the planet available as fresh water and this is not
distributed evenly. We can all save, reuse and slow water flow to prevent flooding and waste. A rain garden is a beautiful way to celebrate water and share it with creatures in the garden.
Keep costs down with recycled materials and planting, and it will provide biodiversity, light, sound and entertainment for children, too. Sadly 74 per cent of UK children spend less than an hour a day outside, so tempt them out with plastic-free play areas, using recycled sinks, or fast-growing willow for dens to give them their own outside space. Finally, reclamation yards, fairs and auctions are brilliant resources for eclectic furniture and accessories to make the smallest space both eco and chic.