One of the things I'm loving most about these garden tours is seeing how, despite how very different our gardens may look and grow, many of our reasons for having one are the same. The peace it brings, a connection to our food. I'm being especially inspired by those gardening in smaller spaces than I, who exercise so much creativity and thoughtfulness in the way they use their space. That's what you'll find today, in Kate's garden, along with some fun and whimsy too.
Welcome to Kate's garden!
Name: Kate Eggleston
Garden Location and Zone: Upstate New York, zone 5b
Garden Size: approximately 40' x 40'
Why do you garden?
I garden because it is the one and only thing that brings 100% peace to my life. There are lots of positive influences in my day to day existence, but my garden is my church, my therapist's couch, and my place of happiness all rolled into one. It is the one place that makes me feel centered and alive. To have that in my own backyard is nothing short of a blessing. I also garden because I want to give back to the land. I focus on building healthy soil in order to give back to the earth that feeds us. I focus on building trust with the wildlife: feeding the birds who provide pest control, the bees, hummingbirds and butterflies who provide pollination, and the earthworms who keep the soil aerated and alive. I focus on symbiotic relationships between myself and the creatures around me, instead of forcing them to yield to my demands. That said, I have yet to figure out the role of the squirrels and chipmunks here, but that's what netting and screen is for, I guess.
How would you describe your garden?
It changes from year to year. I spend my entire winter reading and researching gardening styles and techniques, and then plotting out my own little area over and over again until I'm content with it. One year I'll opt for square foot gardening, another will feature nothing but straight lines and harsh angles, the next is wild and crazy like a cottage garden. There's no rhyme or reason, just whatever I'm feeling. There's always a whimsical touch in there though. Lots of gnomes, crystals, cairns. Those things are a constant every year. I have beds tucked in all around my property, and those I mostly allow to just be what they want to be. Large swaths of Lily of the Valley, big bulging patches of Black Eyed Susans, long rows of lilacs, and peonies wherever I can cram them in.
What's your biggest gardening accomplishment?
We own just shy of an acre of land, and our house takes up most of that. The garden started out small and grew a little more every year. I think my biggest and proudest accomplishment is that we are finally able to grow enough fruits and vegetables to last us the entire year, without visiting the supermarket. The freezer and pantry go a little dry around March (really? squash again???), and I'm constantly trying to remedy that. I like to utilize every spare inch of space in my garden, so once the largest crops start taking off, I'll jam some lettuces, onions, leeks or radishes in the empty spaces. It helps to keep the larder full.
Can you share one of your favorite gardening tips?
Absolutely! My favorite tip always comes in handy in early spring when weather is fickle. I go to the local dollar store and buy clear drinking glasses in various sizes and use them as cloches to protect delicate plants that might not be sturdy enough to survive a frost/heavy wind/snow, etc. Dollar stores sell drinking glasses for a song, and chances are good I'm going to break one or two every year, so I keep myself well stocked. Sure, I have a few vintage and antique cloches, and I do use those. But the drinking glasses are easily replaceable, and I'm not heartbroken when the inevitable squirrel comes along and knocks down a whole row like dominoes. It works!
Can you tell us about yourself?
I am a full time housewife and crafter who lives with the absolute best husband a person could ask for. We have two (soon to be three!) dogs who keep us on our toes. In my spare time I love sewing, crochet, metal work, and various other crafts. I sell my wares online in my shop and in local brick and mortar shops. I also have a Tumblr blog where I post regularly about the goings on in the garden and in my life.
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Thank you, Kate, for sharing your garden!
(If you'd like to share your garden with us this season, send me an email for more details.)
