Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Hi. I just joined and I am already glad I did. I am an amateur edible landscaper. Five years ago or so a good friend of mine literally gave me a van load of free plants...everything from Ajuga to Yucca to Peony plants. I practically hounded him to death asking questions so that my new little plants would find just the right spot! An avid gardener was born! I have since evolved into quite the practical gardener...deciding that the plant must give me something tangible back in order to be added to my gardens! I planted a small orchard in the back of the property, complete with some unusual items like Jujube, Paw Paw and Asian Pear. My back yard is slowly being taken over by a massive vegetable garden. The side yard has several kinds of Lavender, Rosemary, Southernwood and several other herbs, with Artichoke plants "peppered" in. Am I becoming more and more obsessed with this idea of sustainable living? Yes, but it hasn't hurt me a bit! I stay busy and am constantly amazed and impressed with nature. I'm looking forward to learning from you and hopefully sharing something meaningful back!

Hiya! I was so surprised to see another marylander on this site that I had to email you. I was raised in Westminster, but now I live with my husband and three children (with another on the way) in rural Ireland. I am excited for your new sustainable life and the great thing is that you are in the right part of the world to garden extensively! If you can stand the melting heat of the sun!!! I couldn't so I will have to build a polytunnel or hoophouse as the Yanks put it in order to grow corn and maters here in rainy Ireland!

How much land do you have to play with there? I read a great book on backyard self sufficiency and Tractor Supply has some nice books too as well as loads of magazines. My mother sent me Countryside Magazine and Hobby Farmer Magazine, but here I like to buy Homefarmer Magazine. It is printed in the UK, but almost everything worth reading about self sufficiency seems to have to be filtered here drip by drip from the Uk. That makes this site even more helpful its self sufficiency being done in Ireland.....not England. The weather is just a bit different, it seems to be wetter and cooler here. We had a nice summer last week though! Oh my dream is to grow peaches here, but you can't just plant a peach tree and let it grow, here you have to plant it against a south facing wall, fanned out and cover it during certain times of the year.....Well that is the way they are taught to do it in the UK....I have yet to find a peach tree in Ireland to learn by. But how I have fond memories of softball sized peaches straight from the tree in MD, with the peach juice rolling down my arm and dripping onto my legs. Ahh summer. My other memories of summer seem to involve sweating....even sitting in a rocking chair doing nothing on the front porch... No thanks too hot for me. I seem to prefer the liquid sunshine of Ireland.

Well good luck. Karenlq

I visited Ireland as a 6 year old and I can still picture the gorgeous expanses of vivid green grass that I marveled at 45 years ago! My dream has always been to end up in rural UK or near it, so, I quite agree with you Karenlq...especially after yesterday's humidity and heat!