Four Seeds In A Row...
…One for the rook,
One for the crow,
One to die
And one to grow.
~Old Country Rhyme
It’s almost the middle of February and I find my mind always turning to the garden. I can’t deny there is a sense of impending pleasure that comes with deciding what to grow this year. Perhaps this year will be the one I can successfully grow pumpkins in the garden (the one time I was close, and the last time I even tried) one of the boys, only around 12 shot the only one with a BB gun and it went bad.
There is a very simple pleasure about being in the garden, working in rhythm with the cycles of the land where you live to grow plants, whether for the pure delight of flowers and foliage or for food. Whilst gardening in itself might not be an act of witchcraft, there is no denying that there is certainly something magical about cooking and eating food that you’ve grown and tended yourself. Indeed, there is something spiritual about working with the land, of running your fingers through dark, fertile soil, of working in sync with the cycles of the season. For those of us who do practise witchcraft, working with the land in this way can deepen our connection to it as well as the spirits of land and nature. And there is little else that beats the simple pleasure of sitting down to a supper of homegrown goodness.
Where to begin?
I suppose the first place to start is deciding where you will grow. If you’ve got a large garden, then great, you’re bound to find a suitable spot. If your garden is smaller, then you will need to spend some time deciding where and what to grow. Whatever the size of your garden, you will want to make sure you choose a position that gets at least four hours of full sun a day. A south facing garden will ensure you have sunshine most of the day but if not, then choose a spot in your garden that gets the most sun.
But what if you don’t have a garden? Well rest assured there’s plenty you can grow indoors, you just need a bright room and a warm windowsill (plus there’s the whole hydroponics and lit set up, but for beginners I’d recommend sticking with the windowsill for now as those setups are pretty pricey).
And you’ll need some tools. I can remember once when I first became interested in gardening reading an article where the author said it was worth shelling out on good quality, expensive tools. Whilst this in itself is generally good advice, after all you do get what you pay for, at the time I had two young children and only one wage coming into the house, the idea that I would have to splash out about 50 quid for a garden fork was almost enough to put me off before I’d even started. The point is that while it is a good idea to buy the best you can afford, do not let lack of funds deter your gardening adventure. What I did was to go to a discount home store and buy a garden fork for about a fiver, as well as a spade and a hand trowel. The total was less than half of the brand suggested by the writer. And I still have the fork.
If you will be growing outside, the next thing you will need to do is prepare your plot. Mark your area and if needed, remove any grass. Give your patch a thorough digging over as this helps break down lumps and clumps as well as aerating the soil. Remove any stones and if you have a rake, then smooth the surface. If you don’t have a rake, use your garden fork by dragging it across your patch until it is even.
What to Grow?
You’d think the obvious answer is to grow what you eat but a friend of mine bemoans her husband every year because he just has to grow green beans even though nobody in the house eats them and he ends up giving them all away! So let your own personal tastes dictate what you grow.
You will also need to consider the time of year. As you read this, it will probably be too late to start growing from seed, with the exception of overwintering vegetables such as cauliflower and leeks. Onions and garlic too will survive through winter and often do better for a cold snap. Spring cabbages can be started from seed now as well. I am a big believer in seed packet gardening, that is simply following the instructions on the seed packet.
For those vegetables that it is just too late in the season to start from seed, then plant nurseries, markets and garden centres sell young plants. These are a fab way for those who have left it too late to get a head start, or who perhaps are not confident enough to start growing from seed to get a foothold in gardening for food. You’ll be surprised at the choice available too. Some plants such as strawberries are an absolute bargain because they will come back every year and you will even end up with new plants as the mature strawberry plant sends out runners with young plants attached to the end. You simply have to press these into the soil and they’ll take root ready to fruit the following year.
If you are growing indoors, then there is still a wide range of foods that can be grown on a warm windowsill or in a bright room. Salad plants are great for growing indoors and can be grown all year round too. By simply snipping off the amount you need, you can have fresh salad all year round. Tomatoes thrive in a sunny window, and you can grow root vegetables such as carrots and onions in window boxes and in troughs.
But maybe the idea of growing your own vegetables just seems like a little too much too soon but you still want to grow something for the kitchen, then herbs are a must. These can be grown indoors or out and are a great way to flavour foods. Many herbs will thrive on a warm windowsill and are so much better than those pots of herbs in the supermarket. Start with those you use a lot or most common such as thyme, rosemary and sage.
Companion Planting & Pests
Of course, when we talk about gardening for food, we also need to talk about pests. I hate pesticides with a passion but as a gardener understand how annoying it is to lovingly tend a plant for weeks only to have it decimated by pests. Companion planting is a great way of avoiding pesticides that can be harmful to nature, including friendly garden visitors such as birds and hedgehogs. The idea is that by planting those plants that pests are repelled by or more interested in will lead them away from your veggies.
Planting mint near your tomatoes and carrots will confuse and deter flea beetles and garlic will repel carrot fly. Nasturtiums are much loved by cabbage white butterflies, so much so they will choose these to lay their eggs there rather than your cabbages, and the strong scent of lavender will repel aphids. There are so many options available that companion planting is not only easy but will give you a garden that is pleasing to look at.
When it comes to larger pests such as snails and slugs, please do try and avoid pellets. Even those that say they are mammal safe can be dangerous for wild animals and pets. If you really must kill them, then at least ease their passing with beer traps. These are small containers of beer left in the garden that will attract slugs and snails because they love beer! But I hate the idea of killing so much prefer to use copper strips from the garden centre as well as roughly crushing up eggshells and sprinkling among the plants (the sharp edges deter our slimy garden visitors).
Birds such as sparrows will love young shoots, especially those of the pea and bean variety. They also pull up young onion shoots. Netting is good at keeping them off, but so too are those pin wheel type garden windmills. Place these in the ground around and among your veg plot and when they catch the wind, the movement and noise should be enough to startle and see off any feathered friends looking for an easy meal.
Community Gardening
Gardening is a good way of building community in the real world. In the UK, allotment gardening is popular, with many allotments having huge waiting lists. Allotments, for those who may not know, are small plots of land split up into allotted plots. These are rented out by local authorities for people to grow food.
But not everyone has access to allotments.
If you have a garden, then it is easier to grow your own herbs and food, but if you don’t then getting involved in community gardening projects can be a good alternative. These are particularly good as you can share the workload. Perhaps you have loads of tools but are no longer able to use them, perhaps because of health and mobility issues, lack of garden etc, lending them to someone else in exchange for some of the good stuff is a good exchange. Or maybe you have a garden but are unable to manage it, or vice versa, you have no garden but want to grow. If no such schemes exist where you live, then set one up. It needn’t be anything official, nothing more than neighbours working together to create a better community!
EMMA KATHRYN
Emma Kathryn, practises traditional British witchcraft, Vodou and Obeah, a mixture representing her heritage. She lives in the sticks with her family where she reads tarot, practises witchcraft and drink copious amounts of coffee.
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