It’s kitchen gardening time…! (image Luisa Brimble)
Hello everyone,
First, thank you for your flurry of excited response to the first batch release of BOTANICAL WATER! Tiny bottles are now winging their way across the country and how I hope they lift spirits wherever they land.
Thank you too, to all who participated in the first two CONVERSATIONAL PRESENTATIONS in the series: THE GARDEN JOURNEY and INSIDE / OUT where we embarked on an adventure of interconnectivity…between heart and mind, house and home, history, memory, garden and landscape. It’s been a delight to hear about your projects as I’ve replied to all your emails and messages. Sparks seem to be flying all over…how I love that!
The purpose of this newsletter is twofold: given that spring is springing and the time is ripe to prepare the ground and plan the kitchen garden for the summer season ahead, it makes huge sense to continue the PRESENTATION SERIES but this time in KITCHEN GARDENING mode. Hitherto, I’ve skipped the kitchen garden altogether, because it is such a vast topic and I knew that if I introduced it during the first two presentations, it would be a tangent I’d never get myself out of!
And so, I am delighted to invite you to the next two presentations in the series:
3. THE KITCHEN GARDEN an INTRODUCTION, SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 10.30AM AEST
and
4. THE KITCHEN GARDEN THROUGH THE SEASONS, SUNDAY 03 OCTOBER 10.30AM AEST(with 5. Seasons, Food, Flowers & Life at Glenmore House to follow)
As with the first two presentations, while you can view these two kitchen gardening episodes individually, I will be making reference between them, so for you to glean the most from them, I hope that once again (as most did with the first two) you will join me for both. It makes sense to me, to explore the bones…the steps…to gain an understanding and to digest that information before going on a transportive journey, allowing the beauty to wash over us (not that the introduction will be devoid of beauty!).
In the first presentation, an Introduction…we’ll explore the design and layout of the kitchen garden, compare different methods of growing and their respective results. While aesthetics will be very much part of the discussion, they will sit alongside practical information: from seed to soil, compost to tonics, companion planting to supporting structures. The following week, through the Seasons will be more of a sit back and swoon as we work our way through two big seasons of growth, from an autumn crop rotation through all the stages of beauty, harvest and expiry; to beginning anew with a spring rotation…and a whole new gamut of edible plant material whose complete cycle we will follow. Once again these presentations will take you on a journey…this time exploring the beating heart of the garden..and the edible rather than the ornamental (although ornamental they surely are!).
The details for booking are here and once again the presentations will be recorded, so if you can’t attend ‘live’ for whatever reason, you can catch up after. I’m not sure that ‘expanding’ on the podcast is an entirely apt description…perhaps ‘condensing’ it might be more correct! I think these two presentations will be extremely useful for podcast followers to join asa boost at this pivotal moment in the season; and also be particularly valuable for anyone starting their own kitchen gardening journey. (If this latter is you, you can then follow up with the podcast month by month, to underpin all you discover in the presentation…the podcast continues to be available…free to listen to, with the notes a compendium to which you can refer at any time).
The second reason for this newsletter is to let you know the updated schedule of spring events…covid-pending of course. Like everyone caught in lockdown, we haven’t been able to function here at all. I’ve moved several of our much anticipated spring events with peeps several times already and continue to wait apprehensively, to see if we can go ahead.
I am very sorry that it looks to be most unlikely we can welcome JADE MILES for her FUTURESTEADING Saturday afternoon on 9 October and hope we can get her up here from Victoria in the autumn. And of course our SPRING ITALIAN COOKING with ANGELA PALERMO which I was hoping would take place for the third year in a row on October 17. (Now I’ll have to wait another whole year to sink my teeth into one of her exquisite citron tarts!).
Those we have re-scheduled (or look like they may be possible) are as follows:
OCTOBER:
POPPY ILLUSTRATION with ROSE COLBECK, SATURDAY 23WILLOW WORKSHOP with PENNY SIMONS, FRIDAY 29
NOVEMBER:
LATE SPRING in the KITCHEN GARDEN with me, SATURDAY 06LATE SPRING HERBAL GARDEN with ANTHIA KOULLOUROS, FRIDAY 12INTERIOR DESIGN with ADELAIDE BRAGG, FRIDAY 19SPRING PERFUMERY & CANDLE MASTERCLASS with THE RACONTEUR, SUNDAY 28
DECEMBER:
EARLY SUMMER FLOWERS with JARDINE HANSEN, SATURDAY 04
Goodness I feel quite weak just looking at that list! They’ve all bumped up upon each other but…oh what fun and fingers crossed! What an exhilarating prospect to look forward to after months in isolation! How I hope you will be tempted to join us.
To add complexity to my life…I’ve hinted that my web platform is coming to an end and as I write, am betwixt and between websites. The whole is being transferred from one platform to another (and consequently I’m about to launch into a steep tech learning curve which is not my idea of fun!). Partly for that reason, I’d like to encourage you to only register your interest in any of the above events by contacting me rather than actually booking. (Except for the presentation series which is already linked to the new system). I’m keeping a running list and if I know you’re keen to participate in an event, will keep you in the loop.
With only one more newsletter next week to launch from this website, I’d like to thank Vanessa who has been my ‘web host’ these last ten plus years. We’ve never actually met, but via email correspondence she has implemented my hundreds of requests, ensuring the web page layouts I had in mind came to fruition. She’s helped me countless times when I’ve done something stupid, when things vanish or text goes out of whack. For some reason, I’ve never been able to get the newsletter image to settle into position in focus…so these regular missives to you have been a good excuse to keep in touch with V on a regular basis. I’m hugely thankful for her support and hope that one day we might actually meet face to face.
How I also hope you’re all doing okay. I feel there’s light at the end of the tunnel…but I’m still not sure how that light is going to play out. Keep strong everyone.
If you have any questions, as ever please get in touch.
I’ll very much hope to see your bright faces pop up on my screen for the KITCHEN GARDENING PRESENTATIONS…it’s time to prepare and time to plant! Summer is coming…woohoo…
Very best wishes as always,
Mickey
