My garden is absolutely lush! My plants are thriving. When I dreamed up this cottage garden three winters ago, THIS is what I was envisioning.
Essentially, I took all the growing information I've learned over the years and applied it to this garden.
And my biggest emphasis was my SOIL. I mulched, I composted, I set up a watering system and used best watering practices. And my garden has flourished in large part because I've taken my soil health so seriously.
But I haven't always been like this! Yes, I understood that soil care was important on a theoretical level, but in practice, I missed the mark...
10 years ago, when I tried to create my first cottage garden, it completely flopped. I wish someone had been there to take a hold of my hands, look me in the eyes and say, gently but firmly:
- "You've GOT to care for your soil if you want your plants to thrive. Look at this soil: you cleared the ground to create your garden, but there's no life here. You can't expect your plants to grow in this."
- "You must set up a watering system out here. Everything is so dry and you've been trying to handwater, but you're simply not doing enough/consistently."
- "Here's all the info you need to know: .... And here's exactly how I care for my soil and what you should do: ...."
- "It really is simpler than you think: it's not going to take tons of time, just a few simple strategies so your plants have good conditions to thrive in!"
Honestly, that would have been so helpful. Instead, I planted in June and then by August, most of the plants had withered and many didn't make it to the next growing season. (Also I should note that on the other side of my driveway, I was successfully growing loads of veggies and fruit... It was just this cottage garden that was struggling).
So here's the deal. 10 years in, I've figured it out. My current gardens are testament to this. And I've created a workshop for you that includes exactly what I would have needed when I was planting my first cottage garden.
My Soil Made Simple Workshop is the workshop you didn't know you needed if you're just getting started, or even if you already started your garden but it's just not quite where you want it/envisioned.
It's linked here and only $27 until the end of June. It has 7 quick modules that all together are about 1.5 hours, and can be taken all in one go or paused when needed.
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