THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Best Logs for a Woodfire
What are the best logs for a fire? This poem should tell you more about what wood to look …
Vita Sackville-West – Sissinghurst
Vita Sackville-West’s Sissinghurst: The Creation of a Garden is a beautiful book, where garden writer Sarah Raven (you can find more of her ideas at Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden) remixing the words of Vita with a history of the garden itself. It introduces the idea of gardening with a ‘fine carelessness’ – a phrase of great nuance and, let’s face it, difficult to achieve in the garden as it requires a balance between art and chaos. But what a peg upon which to place your gardening hat… The opening chapter, though a ‘Brief History’ and of course a necessity for …
Urban Bees
Urban Bees is bringing bees to our cities. They are not just training people in beekeeping, or partnering up beekeepers with people who have the space to keep a hive (much like the ‘adopt a beehive’ scheme run by Richard from Essex Bees) but they are also promoting bee-friendly spaces. Just study the Trees for Bees poster above (you can also view it on the Urban Bees website.) Bees don’t want to waste energy, so planting a tree gives the bees an efficient way to earn a vital food source. We love using lime trees in a garden for a …
What Is Your Garden’s Story?
What is your garden’s story? Are you a minimalist? A lawnsmith? Or perhaps a maniac for a meadow? In this beautiful Ted talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, she explains that the tales we tell ourselves affect how we identify with the world – and that if we are not careful, if we only have and believe one story – it ‘robs people of dignity.’ Please do take the time to watch her talk, allow it to affect you and help you decide what the stories of your life (and not just your garden) really are… (If you like this, you may also be …