11 tips to help you love street gardening…
1- When I’m out street gardening, I love to greet as many people as I can with a smile and eye contact!
2- When planning my day, I double the amount of time I think I need in my street gardens to intentionally have the time to chat with neighbours…when this is done, you are investing in your garden with this, saving yourself time, money and energy down the track and making other people happy! It’s such a win win detail to incorporate!
3- Remember it is not your garden- it is everyone’s- your garden is your gift to the world, you are giving something back after all that you have taken.
4- I don’t do signs like ‘Keep Off’ or “Take Your Poo” signs….I have noticed this tends to build negativity within the gardener and the neighbourhood by bringing constant focus to the issue. Instead, I do the above three details and try to make the gardens so filled with plants and gorgeousness that the signs aren’t needed.
5- When building raised beds with timber angle the timber rings inwards so that when it warps it will warp inwards.
6- If you are building a garden keep the action going—something half-finished for a while becomes a target for complaining, negativity and grumpiness. If stalling is necessary however, negativity can be quickly turned around with…….communication!!!!! Put out a small polite sign explaining what is going on and what amazingness is about to take place and all will be well.
7- However, take the time to prepare your garden properly. There might not be much action straight up but this preparation will help ENORMOUSLY in so many ways down the track.
8- Create the best cleanest soil you can for your lovely plants.
9- No ‘cides. They simply aren’t worth it at any point.
10- Do “oo-aah” walks all the time, whether it’s by yourself or with another. What’s an “oo-aah” walk? Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and her head gardener Michael Morrison used to do these around Cruden Farm to simply enjoy their own hard work. Saying oooOOoo and aaaaahhhh at your gardening is always much fun!
11- Weed regularly and in small amounts. 5 mins here- 5 mins there. Weeds often grow, seed and germinate super duper fast- the trick is to get them before they go to seed.
To end with…..
“People can’t understand the world as a gift unless someone shows them how it’s a gift.” Robin Wall Kimmerer said this. In this context I take her lovely words as —- if you can show that street gardening is a wonderful and important thing that can make a difference to help the earth and our neighbourhood then other people will try it and love it.