Kat’s growing journey began thanks to both her mum and dad being keen gardeners. Growing up, they would enter garden competitions and win ‘Best Kept Garden in the Village’ awards. Kat and her siblings would spend all their time in the garden doing what you’d imagine kids from a fairy tale would do: collecting bugs, pressing flowers and leaves, and making dens and mud pies. It’s important to establish those roots at an early age; we perceive nature differently when we do.
Kat’s School Years
During her school years, Kat’s interest evolved around plants. She used to attend a gardening club at school, and after moving out and renting her own place, she had the time to start growing flowers and vegetables. Renting has sadly meant a lot of house moves over the years, and that’s not easy with plants. That’s when the idea of an allotment came about, a space that would be only Kat’s, no moving required, just an oasis. And indeed, it has become precisely that: a sanctuary where she can relax and connect with Nature.
Using What Others Can’t
There’s something so special about sowing a seed and nurturing it, then planting and watching it thrive. The whole process brings a sense of peace and connection that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s about slowing down and working in harmony with nature’s rhythm, rather than against it. Design-wise, Kat has acquired largely second-hand items sourced from around the local area and beyond. These include a perfectly usable greenhouse, a decent shed, paving slabs, lots of wood for beds, and pallets for fencing. Even the paint used across the plot was free from their local tip – there is so much benefit to be gained from using what others can’t.
Besides gorgeous sunflowers and sweet peas climbing a stylish archway, Kat has created a cottage garden featuring a wildlife pond, as well as numerous raised beds with a diverse array of vegetables and a crop cage. The space balances beauty with productivity, creating an environment that’s both pleasing to the eye and practical for growing food.
It doesn’t take much to create an oasis for us and all the other creatures that visit our allotments when we’re not there. It’s what the ‘Good Life’ is about: finding joy in simple pleasures and creating spaces where both people and wildlife thrive.