Balcony Garden

  • Gardening & Growing

    Roots of Wellbeing: Unearthing the Mental Health Benefits of Gardening

    A blog post about the importance of Gardening and how it can help support your mental health and wellbeing. In this blog post we’re going to talk about the topics covered in the podcast episode 47 with Alex from Alex Penelope Art.

    Trigger Warning: This episode and post mentions the topic of baby loss.

    Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts

    Did you know that there is a profound connection between nature and mental health? In this post, and the accompanying podcast episode I want to share with you the benefits of gardening and how it can help you mentally and physically. In the podcast episode – Ep. 47: Roots of Wellbeing: Unearthing the Mental Health Benefits of Gardening I was joined by Alex, an allotment gardener just like me and a passionate advocate for the mental health benefits of gardening. Be sure to check out the episode by searching for The Slow Living Collective wherever you listen to your podcasts.

    Get ready to unearth the transformative power of cultivating a green thumb and discover how gardening can nurture not just plants, but also our own wellbeing. Now, let’s explore some of the mental health benefits of gardening in more detail.

    Stress Relief and Relaxation

    One of the most significant benefits of gardening is its ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Engaging in gardening activities, such as planting, weeding, and pruning, allows us to disconnect from the pressures of daily life and immerse ourselves in the present moment. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of these tasks creates a sense of mindfulness, helping to calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and restore inner balance.

    Nurturing a Sense of Purpose and Accomplishment

    Gardening provides us with a tangible sense of purpose and accomplishment. As we plant seeds or care for young plants, we become custodians of life, fostering growth and vitality. Witnessing the transformation of a tiny seedling into a thriving plant can be immensely fulfilling, boosting self-esteem and instilling a sense of pride and achievement.

    Connection with Nature

    In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, many of us have become disconnected from the natural world. Living seasonally is something that is embedded into our very make up, but modern society has almost encouraged us to push this aside. But those natural instincts are still there, all we need to do is remember how to tap back into them.

    Gardening offers an opportunity to reconnect with nature in a meaningful way. Spending time outdoors, feeling the soil in our hands, and observing the cycle of growth and renewal awakens our senses and grounds us in the present. This connection with nature has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety while fostering a greater appreciation for the beauty and resilience of the natural world.

    Mindfulness and Mental Clarity

    Engaging in gardening requires focus and attention to detail, which naturally leads to a state of mindfulness. The act of nurturing plants demands our full presence, allowing us to temporarily set aside worries and distractions. We are, when we are in our gardens undertaking tasks, present in the moment. This state of heightened awareness in the garden can bring mental clarity, improve concentration, and promote a sense of calm and inner peace.

    Physical Exercise and Wellbeing

    Gardening is not just beneficial for our mental health; it also contributes to our physical well-being. The various tasks involved in gardening, such as digging, lifting, and bending, provide a low-impact form of exercise that can improve strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. Regular physical activity in the garden has been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases, increased energy levels, and improved overall fitness.

    Community and Social Connection

    Gardening has a remarkable ability to bring people together. Whether it’s participating in a community garden or simply sharing gardening tips and experiences with friends and neighbour’s, cultivating plants can foster social connections and a sense of belonging. Engaging in gardening as a group activity provides opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and a support network that promotes overall wellbeing.

    Gardening is a powerful tool for nurturing both plants and our own mental health. As we have discovered through our conversation with Alex on the podcast, cultivating a green thumb can lead to reduced stress, enhanced wellbeing, and a profound sense of connection with nature. These things can help you move through some of the difficult times as Alex discussed in our episode.

    Whether you have acres of land or just a few pots on a windowsill, gardening offers a fulfilling and accessible way to improve your mental health. So, grab a trowel, get your hands dirty, and embark on your own gardening journey. Whether you’re growing flowers, herbs, or vegetables, remember that the process itself is just as important as the end result. Take time to appreciate the beauty of nature, be present in the moment, and savor the joys of nurturing life.

    Embrace the therapeutic power of gardening and let nature’s gentle embrace guide you towards a healthier, happier, and more grounded state of mind. Remember, our roots are not just in the soil but also in the connections we forge with the natural world. So, let’s continue to cultivate our well-being through the transformative practice of gardening.

    Where to find Alex online

    Instagram: @alexpenelopeart

    Substack: Alex’s Substack

  • Gardening & Growing

    Balcony Gardening: How to Grow Your Own Veggies in a Balcony Garden

    Don’t let the small size of your balcony keep you from growing your own vegetables and trying balcony gardening. In this post we will show you the best vegetables to grow on a balcony, how to prepare your balcony for a vegetable garden, and what kind of maintenance you need to do to ensure your balcony garden is productive and healthy.

    Balcony garden apartment living

    Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts | Listen to the episode on Spotify

    If you live in a flat or apartment with limited outdoor space, you don’t have to settle for a bland or boring balcony. Transform your balcony into a vibrant oasis and grow your own vegetables with balcony gardening! Balcony gardening is easy and efficient, allowing you to fill your balcony with delicious fruits and vegetables in no time. In this article, you’ll learn about the basics of balcony gardening, from choosing the right plants to creating a secure and efficient setup. Plus, we’ll share some great tips and tricks to help you get started and make the most of your balcony garden. With some creativity, commitment and a little bit of know-how, you can create a balcony garden that you can be proud of.

    Welcome to my balcony garden

    Gardening can be a fun, rewarding activity for those looking to get started growing their own vegetables. Balcony gardens are a great way to optimise the space you have, especially in cities, flats and apartments. Growing your own food is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and add fresh organic produce to your diet.

    It’s hard to imagine that you can grow much on a balcony to make a difference, but you absolutely can. Every single piece of produce you are able to grow can go some way towards helping to feed your family. While you might not be able to achieve self-sufficiency on a balcony alone, I think you will be surprised to find out just how much is possible in a small balcony space.

    This post will provide step-by-step instructions on how to design and maintain a successful balcony garden.

    Selecting the Perfect Pots: What to Look for in Containers and Pots

    When it comes to selecting the perfect pots for your balcony garden, the possibilities are practically endless. You can choose from a wide variety of materials, sizes, shapes, and colours to make your balcony come alive. I am a big fan of making my balcony as colourful as possible too, so all the thumbs up here for anything that brings colour to my little oasis.

    You can consider going for terracotta planters that are both classic and elegant, plastic planters for those on a budget, or wooden planters if you want to add texture and richness to your outdoor space. You can also choose to mix different materials and create a unique look that reflects your individual style.

    There are so many different kinds of containers and pots that you can use when gardening in a small space, such as a balcony, so let me share what has worked for me.

    Hanging pots:

    Utilising the space I have on the balcony has always been a huge deal to me so the pots that you can hang over your balcony, either outwards or inwards, have been great for me. These pots enable you to grow a decent amount of produce and/or plants and utilise the space you have available. Our balcony construction includes a metal railing which means I can hang these pots over the top rail but also lower too, almost creating a wall of produce. These rattan planters also work great on a balcony too.

    Obviously the pots that are lower are more shaded so it’s worth rotating these to ensure everything gets adequate sunlight, or plant produce that doesn’t need as much sun lower down.

    Large floor pots:

    As well as utilising the upward space on our balcony I also ensure the floor space is used as well and for that I use a multitude of larger pots that I have gathered over the years. When it comes to things on the floor I always make sure I stand it in some kind of container or saucer to ensure I catch any water upon watering. These saucers are great to stick under any pot with holes to catch the excess. This not only helps the roots soak up water when it needs to but ensure that any water doesn’t drip off the edge of the balcony onto our neighbours below. Trust me, I accidentally watered my neighbour once!

    Plant Selection: Choosing the Right Plants for Your Balcony Garden

    When it comes to what you can grow in your balcony garden I always like to say that the sky is the limit. Honestly, I really don’t love the idea of limiting myself when it comes to what you can grow in a small space. While it might not be possible to grow everything, and maybe not in the volume that you might do in a ground garden, I think you will be surprised to realise there is so much you can do in a small space.

    My favourite things to grow on our balcony have to be herbs and I opt to grow these on our balcony over at our allotment, mainly because of their location to our kitchen. I love to be able to pull herbs from a plant and be able to put them straight into whatever we are cooking. This wouldn’t be so easy if we were bringing it home from the allotment. If you’re growing on balcony you might find herbs a great starter crop. You can utilise the idea of a kitchen garden and you will be able to create delicious meals with the freshest of fresh ingredients.

    Balcony garden tomatoes
    balcony garden tomatoes

    The salad garden is another great option for balcony gardening and can include things like lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. Tomatoes are great to grow in pots and on patios, in fact you will find that there are varieties which work better than others. Small cherry tomato varieties are a great option for balcony gardens and whether you purchase plants or grow from seed these are perfect to pick fresh and pop in your salad.

    I have also had great success with lettuce, both little gem and salad bowl leaves. These can work great in containers and have used hanging container pots to grow mine.

    Cucumbers are also good, especially if like me you have a south-facing balcony because cucumbers really like the heat. I always seem to find cucumbers a little finicky to grow from seed, as gardeners we all have our one nemesis and cucumbers are mine. However, I am determined to keep trying. All you need for a cucumber plant on your balcony is patience, time, the ability to water it enough but not too much and then also some trellis or a bamboo cane to tie it too.

    balcony garden potatoes
    balcony garden peas

    Other vegetables I have grown successfully on my balcony include: Peppers, Pea’s, Beetroot, Radishes, Runner Beans and Potatoes.

    If there is one fruit plant that is absolutely perfect for balcony gardening it is the mighty strawberry. I love growing strawberries on my balcony and it’s definitely something I do year after year. If you do nothing else on a balcony, strawberries are a wonderful addition and also a great way to start learning how to garden on your balcony. If you want to try more fruit on the balcony other than strawberries check out some patio fruit trees and see if you can find something small that will work for you.

    Balcony Garden Maintenance: Tips and Tricks to Keeping Your Plants Healthy

    Keeping your plants healthy on a balcony is much the same as in a regular garden, with a few minor adjustments. In order to keep your plants in top condition, it’s important to give them the care they need. Make sure to water them regularly, and this is especially important on a balcony. Plants that grow in plots can dry out much quicker than those in the ground because they are unable to reach their roots further for water. Therefore it is important to keep your balcony plants watered.

    Also, it is important to use the right type of soil for optimal growth. Prune them when necessary, and always use gloves when doing so to protect your hands and the leaves of the plants. Monitor for any pests and use natural methods to get rid of them whenever possible. Make sure to give your plants adequate sunlight but be sure to monitor whether they are in direct sunlight all day and take care of accordingly.

    Finally, don’t forget to fertilize your plants to provide them with the nutrients they need to thrive. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to keep your beloved balcony plants looking healthy and vibrant all year round.

    Creative Solutions: Ideas for Making the Most of Your Balcony Garden

    When it comes to creating your own little garden paradise on your balcony there are many ways you can make the most out of it. Space is obviously at a premium when it comes to growing on the balcony and if you’re anything like me you will want to balance using the space for growing, space for the kids to play and also space for you to enjoy. Here are a few tips for making the most out of the space you have when it comes to growing.

    1. Use vertical space where possible.
    2. Containers on the floor in dishes.
    3. Be sure to keep everything hydrated.
    4. Only plant things that you know you like and will eat. Space is at a premium.
    5. Get yourself a chair and be sure to sit out there and enjoy it all growing around you.


    Growing a balcony garden is a great way to be creative, sustainable, and to reap the rewards of fresh vegetables. Balcony gardens can be tailored to whatever space or budget constraints you have, and require just a bit of effort to maintain. Remember to keep in mind the size and weight of the pots you choose, select plants that will bring sun and shade to the space, maintain the plants regularly, and think outside the box for creative solutions. With these tips and tricks for balcony gardening, you can have a beautiful and bountiful garden in no time.


    If you’re looking to get inspiration for your own balcony garden, share your gardening successes, or simply find out more about starting a balcony garden, come and follow me over on Instagram where I share my balcony and allotment gardening, and let’s start growing together.

  • Simple Living

    How to start an urban homestead in 5 easy steps

    There is something about my 30s that made me rethink the way I wanted to live my life. Much of that has revolved around living simply and dreaming about living on a homestead. Here’s the thing though I don’t have land or pasture. In fact, I live straddling the town and countryside and the land is ridiculously priced to build on. That aside I actually really like where I live. I like our lifestyle so creating our own full-blown homestead is also not for me either. Not at the moment at least. So what next?

    Wanting to live a different way of life

    We’ve been living a simple life since the birth of our first child over 4 years ago now; switching off from the mainstream of modern society and ultimately living differently than the norm. We eat ethically raised meat from regenerative farms, we take a holistic approach to our health (unless necessary), we live and eat seasonally, we grow our own food on our allotment, we educate our children outside of the school system and we don’t live the fast-paced life modern society tries to push on us. Some might call me a bit hippy but it’s not even that. More and more people are opting out of the rat race and embracing slowing down and creating a simpler lifestyle. 

    Simple as in simplicity, not ease

    Now sometimes there is a disconnect when people think about slowing down and running a homestead. The latter is obviously a lot of hard work, but I think it’s important to remember that slow and simple isn’t supposed to equate to easy. Instead embracing the slower or traditional way of doing things. Creating an urban homestead, a regular homestead, or growing your own vegetable garden isn’t always easy but it is fun. Working hard on something you love doesn’t make it the opposite of a slow and simple life. In fact, I would argue that it is the very essence of what builds that simple life you desire.

    Creating an urban homestead

    Now most of us don’t have the luxury of buying land or living on a small farm or smallholding. But as I have been creating for our family over the last four years, you can create your own urban homestead in the space you have. Whether you live in a flat, apartment, or house, there are many ways that you can embrace an urban homestead life. I currently live in a split-level flat on the edge of the countryside and the outdoor space I have at home is a balcony. While I don’t have a farm or small homestead, I have creatively crafted my own urban homestead. Whether you live in a flat or house, I want to help you do the same. Today I am sharing my top five tips for creating your perfect urban homestead in the space you have available. Let’s start living that life you dream of without breaking the bank.

    sourdough starter urban homestead
    wooden sign with the number 44 on on our allotment
    homemade cleaner in brown amber bottle

    1. Create your garden & grow your own food

    Grow your own produce

    If you have outdoor space, no matter how large or small, then create your own garden and think about ways you can start to grow your own produce. I grew solely on my balcony for five years. I was creative with the space I had and I was able to grow an abundance of produce. A year ago we also got ourselves an allotment, a small piece of land we rent for growing our own produce. Through this, we have been able to really level up and be more sufficient in the food we are able to grow. 

    Evaluate your space and consider what you would benefit from most, and what would work in the space you have. If you have a garden you might find it possible to do more extensive growing compared to a balcony. If you are limited on space you can consider putting your name down on a list for an allotment. Allotment lists can be long so I definitely recommend doing that sooner rather than later. In the meantime, you can start growing in the space you have available.

    You can absolutely grow on a balcony

    Growing on a balcony or in a small space can be incredibly rewarding. My advice is don’t count yourself out just because you think your space isn’t big enough. Anything you are able to grow is amazing and one less thing you have to purchase from the supermarket. All you need to do is be smart with the space you have. I recommend a small, plastic greenhouse (remember to weigh it down) to start off your seeds and young plants. Investigate what would work best in a small space or even in containers. Pre 2022, I did all of my growing in containers and pots on my balcony. I grew things like Strawberries, Beetroot, Peppers, Tomatoes, Radishes, Potatoes, Cucumbers, and lettuce. There was so much joy being creative in a small space.

    The allotment plot
    The plot at golden hour
    Shed at my allotment
    Our free 6×4 shed
    Parnsip seeds in my hands
    Parsnips ready to sow

    2. Create Compost & save your kitchen scraps

    If you have a bigger space in your garden or at an allotment then get creating a compost heap. This will help you create your own compost and reduce food waste. It is a great addition to your urban homestead. You can use your coffee grounds and food scraps to feed your compost heap. It’s not really possible on a balcony, but anywhere where you can put a compost heap onto the earth is a winner. You can make your own compost heap from wooden palettes or purchase ready-made bins. Whatever works for you I think you will find a compost heap a valuable addition to your urban homestead.

    And if you can’t have a compost heap?

    If you don’t have outside space see if your local council recycles food scraps or has a composting scheme. While you might not be able to have a physical compost heap you can certainly find ways to contribute to it.

    3. Buy local produce & regenerative meat

    Buying local is hugely helpful to the ecosystem, encouraging fewer food miles and enabling a more farm-to-fork culture. If you are urban homesteading then chances are that you aren’t raising your own meat. Search your local area for farms, farm shops, or farmers’ markets and see what produce you will regularly be able to source locally. Also, look into regenerative farms that may be able to provide you with the meat you require. If you’re a meat eater learning to eat nose to tail is another great way to ensure you are eating all of the animal. It will also help you in getting some of the greatest, most bioavailable ingredients there are. Farms often provide seasonal produce too and again will be from either their farm or other local farms. Shopping at a farm shop, and buying quality produce and regenerative meat can be more expensive, however even if you just swap a small amount, if it’s affordable, you will be making a positive contribution.

    4. Transform your kitchen into an urban homestead kitchen

    The heart of the (urban) homestead is in the kitchen. I am here to tell you that it’s time to transform your kitchen into a homesteaders kitchen. Now don’t worry, it doesn’t require any kind of refurbishment. Instead here are a few tips to embrace your urban homestead kitchen:

    Learning to cook from scratch

    Learning to cook from scratch is the heart of the homestead kitchen, so go ahead and start that sourdough starter, and learn how to bake sourdough bread, sourdough discard crackers, and pizza. Pull out recipes for meals you know your family will love and most of all, have fun!

    homestead kitchen
    sourdough urban homestead
    sourdough pancakes urban homestead

    Preserving your food

    Preserving your fresh produce is key in any kind of homestead kitchen, so you will want to learn how to utilise your freezer. Another thing I couldn’t live without is my dehydrator. It’s always the thing people ask me most about whether it is worth investing in. Learning canning techniques and making produce shelf stable is something else you will want to learn. This will ensure you are getting the best out of the produce you have.

    We only live in a small home but we invested in a small chest freezer last year. It has been a game-changer, allowing us to preserve more produce and especially enabling us to buy meat in bulk. 

    Fill your pantry (or cupboard) with shelf-stable items or tins. Buying in bulk, if you have the space, can help keep your costs low. It is great for those cupboard staples you use in meals frequently. We always pick up local honey in bulk so we have a constant supply. 

    5. Embrace a simple homesteaders handmade home

    Another key to the urban homestead is creating a handmade home. Whether it be creating your own items, repairing what you have or creating products to use around your home. When we started living a more simplistic life we began to think about the things we use around our home and whether they fit with our lifestyle. When you start living more naturally you definitely call into question the items and products around your home. We now make our own washing-up liquid, hand soap, and cleaning products. We also have the intention of making our own laundry powder and dishwasher tablets soon too.

    Whether you are just starting out or consider yourself a more seasoned urban homestead, I hope you find these tips helpful. I hope too that it helps validate that your homestead work in important. Urban homesteading is often overlooked because you don’t have land or raising animals, but your work is still important.

    Do you have an urban homestead? I would love to hear from you in the comments, or follow along with our urban homestead on Instagram @lifeonplot44.

  • Gardening & Growing

    March on the plot

    When we took over the plot in October 2021 there was so much to do, the plot itself looked fairly easy as it had been used for growing the previous season and wasn’t completely overgrown, but I soon realised to get it into shape for the current growing season there was a lot I would need to do. We’ve had a solid, productive winter as we cleared the ground, moved our double compost heap, laid out some beds and started to landscape it. These are jobs that (hopefully) only need doing once, so we made sure we made the most of the winter in order to get everything we needed ready for spring.

    blossom on the plot
    Beautiful blossoms on the plot
    coffee cup overlooking the plot
    Coffee overlooking the plot
    view of the plot at golden hour
    The plot at golden hour

    Finishing off the plot

    Like I said, we achieved so much through the winter in regards to transforming our plot into the workable plot we have now. It’s by no means done but it is slowly getting there. When the hope of spring rolled around as March hit we decided it was time to prepare ourselves for the coming season. 

    Some of the jobs we did on the plot in March include:

    • Moving our bean poles and re-erecting them reading for growing our first runner beans.
    • Laid our shed base – we went for an eco base with pea gravel.
    • Scored a free 6×4 shed + paid £50 for a smaller storage shed.
    • Laid weed membrane and play grade wood chip for an area for the kids to play.
    • Started laying our stone path across the plot.
    • Dug over, stripped back, weeded and started sifting out stones from the beds.

    All the strawberries

    A good friend of mine, in clearing her garden, had loads of new and older strawberry plants that she wanted to clear and asked if I wanted some. Of course, always open to more produce I emphatically said yes and rehomed around sixteen plants. Our plot neighbours also gave us 6 plants as a welcome to the allotment kind of gift that I have planted in an old bucket there. 

    Up on the balcony, I have 7 plants that I have had for the past 5 years, they stopped fruiting last year but gave me 5 runners, which have been overwintering in my mum’s greenhouse. I have decided, with those older plants to see if they will do another season and possibly give me some more runners this coming season. I have repotted them and so far seeing some early signs of life, so stay tuned to see what they do this year. The 5 runner plants are doing amazing and I have recently bought them home to my own greenhouse before planting them out. With the current cold snap, although I am sure they will be fine, I have left them to be planted out until it is slightly warmer. Instead, I have left them in my greenhouse on the balcony.

    Strawberry runner plants
    Last years runners are thriving

    Of course, because this isn’t enough strawberry plants for anyone, I couldn’t resist purchasing some strawberry plants from the garden centre when I visited the other week. I purchased 2 early, 2 mid and 2 late-season varieties. I have potted these in hanging pots on the balcony and they are so far doing great.

    First up at the plot: Parsnips

    As soon as March hit a switch flipped in my brain which made me want to sow all the seeds. I have somehow managed some restraint because I don’t want to go too early when I don’t have a lot of indoor space with adequate light (ie, I’ll end up with leggy plants) or a heated greenhouse, a zip-up greenhouse on the balcony is the extent of it so far. I decided to start a few things off in March, firstly my Luffa’s, which (at the time of writing) aren’t doing too bad. I went for pre-germinating them in wet paper towel, in a plastic bag (LFT bags work a treat if you have leftovers) and putting them on a shelf that sits above a radiator. I also clipped the base of the seedlings before germination too, to help it along. Almost all the seeds I did this germinated and have so far gone on to produce strong-looking seedlings. 

    You can watch a fun reel I did on my Instagram page about my Luffa’s, which gives you an idea of how it works.

    What I did focus on this month, however, was parsnips and some early tomatoes. Parsnips are quite hardy and have been something that is pretty much impossible to grow on a balcony. There isn’t much you can’t do in containers, but parsnips and carrots certainly aren’t easy. As with most things that I am growing this year I have some experience of trialling things on the balcony, so it is just adapting that to the allotment and a much bigger space. That being said I am trying something new this year: sowing in three ways.

    I decided to test how well things do, given the space, I have at home for starting off seedlings, a small zip-up greenhouse and no greenhouse at the allotment yet. So I have decided to try and plant/sow three ways.

    1. Direct sow where possible.
    2. Plant in pots or trays either indoors/in the zip-up greenhouse.
    3. Pre-germinate in a wet paper towel before planting.

    Using these ways I plan to see what works best and what produces the best plans with the best crops. I am planning out my growing season in my trusty allotment log book & planner*, which I can’t rave about enough.

    Parsnip seeds
    Parsnips ready to sow
    Parsnip seed protection
    Built a little fleece protection through the cold

    The first rhubarb

    We inherited three glorious rhubarb crowns on the plot and they have been ready to harvest for the past couple of weeks, cue lots of rhubarb all around. I am not the greatest fan of rhubarb crumble but I have heard that it will make a wonderful rhubarb and custard cake, so I am off to harvest some as soon as I have finished this blog post.

    Rhubarb plant
    Rhubarb is flourishing

    Propagating a raspberry plant

    Something I want for the allotment is some raspberry canes, my mum grows raspberries in her garden and she says they are wonderful. Our plot is very exposed and I am creating almost a wall of growing things to shelter the plot a little, and raspberries are in the plans. After some quick googling I saw that you can have somewhat of success by propagating a cutting from a raspberry plant, so I chopped off the top of one of my mums, popped it into some soil and I am waiting. The ideal way is to split the plant at the bottom and this way is only about 50% successful. However, it’s been 2 weeks and it hasn’t died and I think there might be a new shoot, so it is looking promising. I have been keeping it in the zip-up greenhouse for now until I see how it goes.

    March & fools spring on the plot

    Fools spring got us good and proper this year didn’t it? 20 degree days, making us feel like it was finally here and it was time to sow and plant everything. Then one week later it’s -2 and snowing. Hello fools spring, you got us again.

    The beautiful weather did serve us well and we got our shed up and re-felted. We were lucky enough to score a free 6×4 shed that someone was getting rid of and it’s honestly in such great condition. My original plan was actually going to be for an 8×6 shed so I also picked up a second-hand plastic tool storage shed for £50, and the two together work a treat. I plan to paint the shed when the weather warms up for real.

    View of the plot
    View from the shed
    Shed on the plot
    Our free 6×4 shed
    Kids area on the plot
    Beginnings of the kids area
    Kids area and their bed on the plot
    Kids area + their bed

    Other than that we used fools spring to finish up the plot, dig over some beds (we plan to do no dig after this year but didn’t have enough time to really see it come to life this year), create a play space for the kids (that is still a work in progress) and start laying a makeshift path. We have gone for stepping stones and also grabbed these for free from Facebook Marketplace.

    Sowing wise, we have started off some seeds indoors (Luffa’s, Tomatoes, Peppers and sunflowers, started off some parsnips in pots in the zip-up greenhouse but also directly sowed some into our first bed a week ago. Not much can be outside at the moment but it’s a start. 

    On the balcony

    It has also been busy up on the balcony, with lots of seed sowing, planting out some of the early seeds (parsnips, tomatoes and Luffa’s), potting on some of my garden centre purchases (strawberries and some herbs), as well as getting the balcony ready for spring.

    My zip-up greenhouse has served me well but had a couple of rips from the storm, so I sorted it out with some weatherproof tape. I have also just ordered myself a second, smaller zip-up greenhouse for the balcony to deal with some of the overflows. I do eventually plan to have something at the allotment but at the moment I don’t know what.

    Despite having the allotment I still plan to have a very productive growing season on the balcony. Firstly it will be where I start off most seeds, but also I am still going to be growing an abundance of produce up here too. Our balcony is south facing, beautifully warm and sunny, as well as a wonderful, peaceful oasis. This year I get to decide what I grow and where, so the balcony is going to be full of herbs, salads and strawberries. I am also going to do those things at the allotment too alongside everything else. 

    Balcony herb garden
    The beginnings of the balcony herb garden

    I’ve been making a start on my herb garden up on the balcony, and so far have mint, chives, oregano and thyme. I am also waiting on some rosemary to germinate indoors too. I created this fun gutter herb garden on the balcony and I cannot wait to see it thriving.

    So that’s been my month on the plot & balcony, it’s been so productive and the season has barely started. I am rolling into April so excited for more sowing, more potting on and even more hours outside.

    See you next month & don’t forget to follow along our daily growing adventures, along with living a slow and simple life, on our Instagram page.

    https://www.instagram.com/lifeonplot44/
  • Gardening & Growing

    5 simple things you can grow on a balcony (or any other small space)

    I’m going into my sixth season of growing on our balcony and today I wanted to share with you some of the tips and tricks I have learned over that time. We’ve been so lucky to be slowly developing our own allotment this year, but that doesn’t render my balcony useless, the opposite in fact. This year I plan to utilise both the balcony and the allotment to grow a whole host of fruit and veggies to hopefully help us become a little more self-sustainable. 

    grow tomatoes

    It’s not about the space but the way you use it to grow!

    I often hear from people that they don’t have a lot of space so they think that they can’t really do much growing, and trust me, I felt like that the first year I thought about growing on my balcony too. However, it turns out a 1m x 4m balcony is just perfect for growing a whole host of different fruits and veggies. You really don’t need to have a big garden to delve into growing a whole host of things, especially if you think that most people aren’t using the entirety of their gardens for growing like you would an allotment anyway. I’ve put together this fun list of 5 simple things you can grow on your balcony or in a small space this spring/summer season.

    Tomatoes

    Tomatoes are a firm favourite in our house to be grown in pots, and there are so many different varieties that we like to try a few different things. Tomatoes work great in pots that you can stand on balconies, patios, in gardens and allotments. They also do great hanging too.

    This coming season I plan to do almost all of my tomatoes in pots, both on the balcony, hanging on the balcony and also in pots at the allotment.

    Strawberries

    Strawberries are one of those fruits that I find so versatile, come back year after year (with the right care) and at the end of their fruiting life give you runners to help your strawberries live on. We bought a few strawberry plants in our first year living here and they have given us an abundance of fruit every year. Last year they lost their steam when it came to fruiting and we were able to get 5 wonderful runners to keep them going. I find them extremely easy to look after, grow and overwinter ahead of next year. We live high up on a hill where the balcony can get particularly weather-beaten but the strawberries always do great. I overwinter my plants just outside as normal and they always come back year after year. This winter I am overwintering my runners in an unheated greenhouse.

    You can grow from seed, purchase strawberry plants or find someone giving away runners to start your own little strawberry crop.

    This year I am going to be growing strawberries on the balcony in hanging pots, in the ground at the allotment, and also in pots at the allotment. I cannot wait to see what abundance of fruit we can get this year.

    Beetroot

    You might think this is a weird one to try and grow on a balcony but wait, hear me out. While beetroot probably does better in the ground by its very nature, and you’ll obviously be limited by the amount you can grow on a balcony, beetroot does surprisingly well in pots. In the 2021 growing season, we went all out with our balcony and beetroot was something we really enjoyed growing. The seeds were really easy to raise up, they grew wonderfully out in our little unheated greenhouse and we grew a number of them on in hanging pots.

    Peppers

    We have grown all kinds of peppers on the balcony over the last 5+ years: Sweet Peppers, Chilli Peppers and Banana peppers being some of our favourites.

    (FYI, don’t ever cut a banana pepper and then touch your eye, trust me on that one).

    Some you can also overwinter in a greenhouse (not something I have tried yet) to keep your plants going year after year.

    Herbs

    Herbs are a quick win for me and I love having access to home grown herbs for fun dinners and salads throughout the spring, summer and early autumn. With most herbs you can just cut off what you need and carry on growing the rest to ensure you have ample access to herbs as you need them. I like to grow my herbs outside but you can also grow them on sunny window ledges inside too.

    Try anything once

    I find growing in a small space such a thrill, it is great to see what works (almost everything) and what doesn’t (carrots and parsnips are a hard one in pots). Above everything else, just check when your seeds can be planted outside to protect from frosts and have fun!

  • Gardening & Growing

    Balcony gardener to allotment gardener: Our brand new plot

    A post about our brand new allotment plot. We’ll be levelling up our growing from Balcony to allotment!

    We have news and I am just going to jump straight into it – we have just got our first allotment!

    I’ve been a passionate balcony gardener for five summers now, each year trying more and more in our little balcony garden. We live in a small home, by choice, and have absolutely intention of moving. There are a number of reasons for this but most lean towards finances, not wanting to push ourselves beyond our comfort level and actually have money left at the end of the month for savings and to live the life we desire, not constantly reaching for the next bigger and better thing.

    Self sufficiency & our allotment

    We have a beautiful balcony garden that is absolutely thriving and the perfect space for our little ones to play and grow. As well as our little balcony paradise we are surrounded by open countryside and plenty of ways to spend our time outdoors. With all this, and on the back of a wonderful growing season on our balcony, we are so excited to start work on our allotment. We have had a wonderful growing season every year we have lived here, each year bigger and better than the one before, however even though there are many things we can grow on a balcony having this space will really help us grow more and work on being a little more self-sufficient.

    View of allotment

    Just one year from application to allotment

    We first applied for our allotment just over a year ago, and we’ve been incredibly lucky that spaces at our chosen allotment have come up very quickly. We have a lot of allotments around us, so maybe that is why, but it took little over a year between applying for our allotment to getting the key for our own little space. I know this isn’t the case for everyone and I have heard of some councils having waiting lists of up to 10 years. Feeling very grateful that this wasn’t the case for us.

    We had two options in our allotment when it came to picking our patch. One was a square plot which hadn’t really been tended to much and was full of fruit bushes that would have needed to have been pulled up or moved to create any kind of growing space close to what we desired. The other plot, and the one we ultimately went for, was a long narrow plot which had always had a fair amount of growing on there.

    Although the chosen plot still needs a lot of TLC this plot was definitely in a better position for being able to create the plot we wanted and being able to achieve some of our little plot goals quite quickly. We were viewing both at the same time as they are at the same allotment and it was difficult to immediately visualise which one was the better option and with more potential. Thankfully, after choosing I can really see that the longer plot was the right decision for us.

    We’ve had the plot for a couple of weeks now and have been able to start some work and it’s clear that it has so much potential. There is so much we want to do with it and I can’t wait to document it all as we go.

    Less processed, more home grown food

    It’s been fun, since we got the allotment, checked it out in greater detail I can see just how much potential it has. A lot of the plans we have will involve the children and their home education, but we’re also passionate about growing our own food and moving away from mass consumed food where we can. We’ve had the plot for a couple of weeks now and it has so much potential. There is so much that we want to do with in and I will of course be documenting it all here, to some extent on my Instagram account, but I have also started an Instagram account that will be solely dedicated to the allotment.

    A lot of my plans involve the children, their home education but also being passionate about growing our own food as much as we can, and participating in natural food sources and stepping away as much as possible from the horrendously processed food industry. 

    Woman and toddler picking carrots from the ground

    First up…getting the fence up!

    Our first task has been to install a small fence, having two children under the age of 3 means that working on the allotment is a bit more difficult, especially as we’re trying to keep our children on our little patch. Of course when they are a little older they will understand that they can’t just run off to roam in other peoples patches but for now I want to keep them where they need to be. We’re currently halfway through installing a small, low fence that is just right for keeping them where they need to be without looking too obtrusive.

    We decided that the best option was some PVC coated wire fencing. This is an edging fencing so only just over 2ft high, but perfect for keep toddlers where they need to be without being too obtrusive for the plot. We plan to secure it with some chicken wire poles, some garden pins and some cable ties, and hopefully this will keep it secure for a while to come.

    All the plans

    Next on the agenda is to clear the area at one end of the patch which really lends itself to having a shed, maybe a small decked area, a mud kitchen for the little ones, some cold frames and a small raised bed for the children to grow in too.

    I really plan for a lot of our home education to take place at the plot, especially in these early years where being outside, nature and play is of utmost importance to us. The area that I’m looking at putting the shed is very overgrown and empty, and so like I said it really lends itself to be used for this. It might seem like a funny place to start, but actually with the winter ahead of us it gives us a great opportunity to get some of these things in place and sort out some of the beds ahead of the growing season next year.

    Once we have cleared the area, put the shed base down and put the shed in I’m happy to see how everything pans out from there, and move my focus onto the beds and what we plan to grow ahead of next spring rolling round. We have a really long plot and currently the opposite end from where we plan to put the shed we have inherited an abundance of rhubarb and a fruit tree. The aim is to plant a few more fruit trees up there, possibly a gooseberry bush.

    view of the allotment

    Next along we have space to have plenty of rows of product (and some paths) and right in the middle of the plot we have a compost heap and a patch that is currently a pumpkin and squash patch, all of which we intend to leave for the next growing season, as this enables us to tackle other, more in need parts of the patch.

    On the other side of the pumpkin patch heading towards what will be the shed area is several rows where we can plant produce, create paths and also some canes to grow runner beans. I intend to leave the canes in situ and continue to grow runner beans next year.

    Woman holding up picked carrot

    Follow along with us


    If you would like to follow so our allotment journey I will be documenting it here. I think it would be fantastic to see where it started and where we get with it particularly across the next growing season but also it’s going to be great to see it overall as time goes and how it progresses. We’re not pro gardeners by any stretch of the imagination but a lot of the fun is in learning as we go and I’m really excited about that.

    If you would like to follow the allotment journey on Instagram you can follow us @lifeonplot44. The allotment only account will be a real deep dive into what we doing on the allotment and how it’s progressing how things are changing before and afters etc where is my main account is everything about our little life. Can’t wait to see you there!

  • Simple Living

    Balcony transformation 2.0

    Since the beginning of the year I have had some plans for our outdoor space. We live in a split level flat with a nice sized balcony and it was one of the first things that we renovated when we moved in four years ago. 

    When we first moved in it was a blank canvas of concrete on the floor and the metal railings, it looked so dull and boring and had so much potential. You can read all about my first renovation here, but essentially I added some wooden clip-together flooring, some artificial grass, and some cane fencing for extra privacy. This served us so well for the last four springs and summers, but with a growing toddler (who just turned 2) and another little one on the way this spring, I wanted to update the space. I wanted to ensure I had a safe space where the little one’s can be outside regardless of what is happening in the outside world, this became even more important throughout the pandemic and various lockdowns of the last year. I also wanted a space for all of us as a family including a safe space for our indoor cat to enjoy some safe relaxation in the sunshine should she want it. We are also passionate about growing our own produce and although on the waitlist for an allotment we also love to do some small growing at home too, and have done this for the past four years.

    A space for the little ones

    With a two year old toddler and also a baby on the way I began to think about the ways in which I could create an outdoor space that our children could use safely, use for an abundance of outside time for the times we aren’t out exploring nature, a place my daughter will be able to spend her time as I approach the end of my pregnancy and maybe am not as mobile as usual, and also a place she can be when we’re in those early newborn days. I also want it to be a place they can both grow into as they grow. We have a mud kitchen outside which we bought for my daughters second birthday which I am sure will get ample use by both of them throughout the years.

    We pulled up the old grass and wooden flooring and started from scratch, adding artificial grass across the entire length of the balcony* and making what appears like a grassed garden for children to play in. We have kept the cane fencing, although I do think it might need replacing sooner rather than later as it’s quite weathered. We live a few floors up but also high up on a hill above a valley so the weather can really get to us out here.

    We also added some privacy trellis and added some fake ivy on one end of the balcony*. We aren’t too overlooked thankfully and we’re also at the end of the building so we just wanted a little privacy from the one side. This also added an extra layer of height.

    Obviously being high up we have the worry of safety so we decided to add some secure safety netting. Our daughter is never left unattended outside but just knowing the netting is there means we’re much more relaxed ourselves when we’re all out there. We also have an indoor cat who does enjoy a little sunbathing on the balcony and we wanted to ensure she was safe too, so another great way to ensure the entire family is safe.

    A space for us

    We also wanted a space which worked for us. Although I don’t expect we will have a lot of free time to relax just us two out here for a while I wanted to ensure the space was as much adult friendly as it was child friendly. It meant added the netting with some height so it’s easy for us to walk out onto as well. At the moment we have our garden chairs in storage but they are there should we need them.

    A space to grow 

    We’re passionate about good food and growing our own produce and we’re hopeful that we will soon be able to scale that up a little more as we’ve been on the waitlist for an allotment for the past 6 months. But aside from that we also love growing on our balcony too, and have grown some produce every year we have been here. Lettuce and Strawberries have always been my favourite, and easiest, to grow. This year I was actually going to take the growing season off due to the baby arriving in late May, I thought I should probably rest and give myself chance to relax and not have too much to worry about. So what did I do? I bought a small greenhouse, various seeds and pots and decided to grow more than I ever have. That certainly does sound like me. We decided to put the greenhouse at the opposite end to the mud kitchen and create a beautiful little growing space for me but also that my daughter can help me with too.

    I am so overjoyed with how it has turned out. It has created a beautiful space that suits the needs of our whole family, our little oasis of calm in a crazy world.