As part of CoirProducts.co.uk Gardening Inspirations series, our Featured Grower this week is Kerry (@lottie_thyme_). Having inherited her love for gardening and growing from her parents and grandparents, Kerry and her family have been growing their own since their children were young. In this blog post, Kerry shared with us their family’s gardening successes, what they love to grow, and the value of gardening. Kerry also spoke to us how she has become more mindful and knowledgeable about the products they use, and reminded us what we can do to help protect the pollinators and wildlife we find in our gardens. She also explained how gardening helps build resilience, and why she regards gardening as her favourite and most effective therapy. Read on to learn all about Kerry’s gardening journey.
Having taken up their first allotment plot in February 2020, two years later, Kerry and her family have two half plots and a full size plot. “It is a family effort, involving my husband and our 3 sons,” she says. Yet, although they got their plot recently, Kerry says they’ve been growing at home since their children were young. “I think it’s really important to educate children about where their food comes from, and there is no prouder moment than picking that first ripe strawberry or tomato and eating it straight from the plant. You know the journey of what you are eating, from seed to plant, from flower to fruit, and you are rewarded with something that tastes far superior to that of a supermarket,” she explains.
Having thus been growing, Kerry and her family were only too eager to get started on their plot. “The first crops that got planted on our allotment were broad beans. I had even sown them before we had officially got the keys to the plot. To say we were keen to get growing was an understatement,” she says. Kerry adds that they filled their garden patio up with seedlings during lockdown, which were then walked or cycled to the allotment at each visit.
Speaking about who inspired her when it came to gardening at a young age, Kerry credits her parents and grandparents. “My love of gardening and growing was inherited from my parents. I was one of those children that had a fairy garden down by the shed. I spent evenings helping with watering duties, cutting the grass and I remember running and jumping over the lavender hedge in the front garden, much to my mum’s despair. My grandparents were also keen gardeners, with much of their back garden used for growing veggies. As I’ve started to find my flair with what I grow and what I’m drawn to, I have come to realise that I am very much like my Gran. She regularly gifts me lots of her excess plants to grow at the plot, and they are often my favourite.”
Reflecting on her first gardening success, Kerry says, it was growing tomatoes with the kids. She goes on to explain, “we didn’t buy any fancy packs of seeds back then, but instead collected seeds from the tomatoes in our fridge and popped them in some soil.” Kerry and her family have been growing tomatoes for nearly 10 years now and she says, they are by far one of our most anticipated harvests of the year, with the humble red cherry tomato being one of their favourites.
In addition to tomatoes, the family loves growing various veggies, fruits, and flowers on their plot, including potatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, garlic, onions, leeks, runner beans, strawberries, raspberries, apples, sunflowers, chives, and salad leaves. Their first year on the plot, Kerry says, was “all about the sunflowers and beetroot”, however, “last year the giant cucumbers and brussel sprouts stole the show, and this year has been a potato and dahlia fest.” Kerry adds that edible flowers are also a big feature in her growing plan, noting, “they add a wonderful flavour and can visually enhance any dish with very little effort required.”
Kerry says she has learnt so much over the years and has also become more conscious of how she gardens. “I’m more mindful and knowledgeable than I used to be, especially when it comes to what products are being purchased and used. We grow as organically as we can so as not to harm the pollinators and wildlife and use peat free products. One of the first projects on our plot was to put in a wildlife pond, and I would highly recommend adding one if you can spare a little space. We have frogs spawning in ours, birds and squirrels drink from it, and it provides hours of fun for the kids who love to go on a frog hunt,” Kerry explains. Kerry is also aware of the insects in their plot, “I also pay attention to what the insects are up to and each year give them more of what they like. The bees love to snooze on cosmos and globe artichokes and the ladybirds like to nestle in amongst the petals of the dahlias and sunflowers, and you can never have too many dahlias, right?!”
Kerry is in her plot most days of the week, although during the winter this dwindles down to mainly weekends. Some days, however, are just about unwinding with a frothy coffee and a slice of cake!
When it comes to deciding on what crops and flowers the family would grow, there are several factors that come into play. A key factor is what they love to each. “We go for family dinner staples first such as potatoes, onions, runner beans, pumpkins, tomatoes and salads,” Kerry says. Then, they would add something new, which is usually heavily influenced by a fellow gardener on Instagram who has recommended a particular crop due to its taste. Kerry recalls one event where her son did his own experiment, “my youngest son took on his own growing experiment this year and decided to grow Dragon fruits from collected seeds, and so we now have 24 tiny plants to find homes for.” Being a very visual person, Kerry says she is also attracted to plants by colour and texture, with shades of pink, peach, and cream particularly appealing, which also influences what she would choose to grow.
Reflecting on what she enjoys the most about gardening, Kerry says, “I like being out in the fresh air and getting lost in the world of nature. I also like the sense of achievement it gives you. The best part about growing your own food is being able to use your produce in home cooking. It’s one thing to say you have cooked a meal but quite another to say you also grew what went in it, even better if you have a jug full of freshly picked garden flowers on the dining table too.”Kerry also appreciates the benefits of gardening she has come to enjoy, stating, “gardening is my favourite and most effective therapy. It has helped support my mental health in ways I could never imagine, and if I’m feeling low the allotment is the one place I can go to recharge. It’s a little pocket of escapism and helps to calm my mind.” She goes on to add, “Gardening also builds your resilience. Mother nature is not always on your side, whether it be a summer of drought or the slugs eating all of your dahlias, you have to let these things go. There is always another chance to succeed, and the gardening community is always there to cheer you on.”
Having started using coir products recently, Kerry says they are impressed so far, especially with the versatility of the products. She adds, “The kids are obsessed with rehydrating coir and mesmerised by how much it expands.”
With plenty of plans for next year, Kerry is also very excited for the 2023 growing season! “We are currently preparing our new plot ready for next year, where we intend to have an entire 25ft bed dedicated to dahlias. Tromboncinos are on the growing list as a new veggie for us, and we are planning to add some rescue hens to our family. The chickens were the main reason for taking on this extra growing space, and we are very excited to be getting our own flock.”
Sharing tips with others, Kerry encourages new gardeners to break down the gardening jobs by working on small sections at a time. “It can be really exciting when you first get your new growing space, but as you take stock of the jobs that need doing, you can quickly become overwhelmed. Gardening should never be a chore. Also, if your allotment comes with a shed, then get that organised as a priority. Not only do you want to be able to keep your tools there to save ferrying them around. but you will be glad for the shelter during an unexpected rain shower, and it’s a great place for making a brew!”
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