Starting from Scratch: What We Have Learned
Ten years ago we started digging and planting on what was a blank slate; the garden journey we are still on is something I very much enjoy sharing with others. It feels a little empty lately though, given the current state of the U.S. But it's what I do, what I know, and how I connect with the world, so I garden on for now. Two weeks ago I gave a presentation to the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group about our journey. Ten years in, we've experimented with a plethora of plant material and techniques to have a resilient garden that requires as little input as two acres can have. The title of my talk was "A Resilient Garden: What's Working Ten Years In". So it is in the spirit of community that I wish to share a glimpse of some of the highlights of that presentation and what we have learned having started from scratch. The garden on a warm day last summer. This is at the edge of the labyrinth garden, an extremely low water area that we are continuing to expand.
