Some challenges and what I have learnt…

When I went to write a list of all the challenges I have faced over the years with my street gardening, it honestly wasn’t as long as I thought it might be! Of course I’ve had all of the normal gardening challenges- plants big and small dying and tough aspects under the street trees but here are some that spring to mind that are specific to gardening in a public place. I have added how I have dealt/am dealing with them…

• I had hundreds of dollars worth of plants ripped out by a neighbour I love and trust.

  I learned that communication is paramount and, even though I was pregnant, out of it and the situation still doesn’t make sense to me, better communication would have solve this one I feel.

• I had to pick axe my way into the street squares out the front of our home to create enough room for soil.

  This day is clearly etched in my mind. A few years on with loads of healthy gardens it was reinforced to me that garden preparation is totally worth it, no matter how ridiculous!

• I constantly have chewed gum spat into one of the street gardens.

  I remove it with a tissue quickly and without a fuss. I move on!

• I have had many flowers picked then seen them up the street thrown on the ground.

  Ah this one is a toughy for me. I pop the flower back on the garden bed to be mulch. I tell myself that there are many other flowers!!! I also chat to anyone I see doing this with explain that the flowers are for the bees and that if they would like one make sure they take it home and enjoy it!

• I have watched a flower grow with joy only to have it picked on the day it opened.

  I hope that the person who took it loved it……then go and put another round of seaweed solution on the garden to create more flowers.

• Tradies have poured their cement/plaster/paint into THGP gardens

  Well this one is also a toughie for me as these products seep into the soil that I am trying to bring back to life— all I can do is make the gardens look as beautiful as possible so that possibly the tradie might see what is trying to happen in the space!

Challenges at The BEE Gardens (an even more public place!)

• 6 plants were stolen at the very beginning of the gardens

  I put up a lovely sign (see above pic) explaining with love who I was and what was happening- it never happened again and over the coming months I received a lot of very positive feedback about it.

• An off-the-lead Rottweiler chased me

  This was terrifying. I spoke to a dog trainer. learned to always make my presence clearly known around dogs, especially on dark mornings ( I had scared the dog!) and if I get chased to try and stand still (I can always try to do that!!). I also realised that it wasn’t the dog’s fault, it was the owner’s.

• I had a complaint against The BEE Gardens.

  This was , after many months and major community upheaval, worked out. What I learnt here was to ALWAYS take the high road which leads to immense support that comes at the most wonderful times.

• About 20 signs were stolen from The BEE Gardens over many weeks.

  I stopped putting out signs….and built a website…..!!!

• Many dog poos on the lawn around The BEE Gardens

  I carry around dog poo bags (we have no dog so they are bought especially for these messes) to clean up quickly.

• Doggies wee on certain corners and the plants suffer

  I wash down the places and choose plants that work with doggie weever these spots .

Overall, what have I learned?

That these things will always happen. To expect them! When working in spaces around people and doggies things just will happen.

Focussing on these things is soooo not worth it. For me, the awesomeness of street gardening outweighs the annoying and silly 100 to 1 because I choose it to. I get on with focussing on the good stuff…creating, thinking, watching, pondering, researching and enjoying making a tiny and positive improvement to the earth and talking and chatting and smiling to locals as they wander past….soooo much more rewarding.