Garden findings

Although new to gardening, we have always wanted to grow our own veg. Over the past few years in France we have tried a variety of styles of gardening beds, types of vegetables and even various timings. We keep learning from our mistakes, and our successes, and then sharing our garden tales with you.

Explore with us as we re-purpose water bottles into planters and recycle pallets into garden beds, try our hand at wattling and simply see what grows in our garden.

Oh, and let us not forget foraging…

How to make a vertical garden out of recycled plastic bottles | PumpjackPIddlewick

Every time I tweet about our recycled milk bottle, wall garden I get lots of interest. And it kind of makes sense. After all, the cost is minimal, the space is minimal – could be done almost anywhere you have a vertical space, inside, outside – and looks rather cool (at least I think so).Read More →

What to make with celery seeds at PumpjackPiddlewick

So I am thinking about what to do with celery seeds. It will make sense why in a long minute. As you enter our duck enclosure on the immediate left, in the corner, after the honeysuckle, is the lettuce patch. Except the lettuce was eaten by the ducks. (Intentionally.) ItRead More →

making a climbing bean tipi basket at PumpjackPiddlewick

Uh oh, serious Oops. I planted climbing beans amongst my dwarf beans in the veg garden by accident. I have been watching their little tendrils snake upwards in search of something to climb, pondering what to do. A little research and decided on building a climbing bean teepee. As climbingRead More →

Unearthing cobblestones at PumpjackPiddlewick

We have discovered cobblestones in our courtyard. Actually, we knew there were cobblestones, we just hadn’t quite realised they were ‘COBBLESTONES!’. You see our courtyard has gravel in it. And gravel is very, very annoying at times. Fine if it is outside, say, in the garden. But when it isRead More →