Hello!

[greenieinabottle]

Hi everyone!
I've just joined and thought I would introduce myself. I am a keen gardener who's had a couple of years of inactivity due to having a baby, getting back to work, that sort of stuff. My daughter is now almost 20 months, and I'm itching to get growing things properly again. We've gradually moved to organic food, and I've decided to turn our sunniest, nicest bit of garden, which happens to be the front garden (oh well...) into a pretty but useful veg plot. I want to have raised beds, perhaps on a slant, to make it a little less regimented, and grow flowers around them, provided access is OK. Everything in the garden will have to be either edible or useful for pollination, etc., as well as being pretty. I'm thinking about growing herbs, and swiss chard, that sort of stuff. Any ideas, photos of similar gardens, etc. greatly appreciated.

[bubblewrap]

Hello greenieinabottle & welcome to the vine as you can see it's not just gardening here it is also fun!

[bluemoon]

Hi. Greenie and welcome.

[Nicos]

Hello- and welcome to the Vine!

Sounds like a fun project!

[greenieinabottle]

Thanks! Yes, we'll see how it goes! The idea is to lower our food bills, eventually, but we'll see if the creepy crawlies let us eat anything... Wish us luck!

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine greenie. Have fun with your growing.

[Hans Mum]

welcome from me too, dont worry about using your front garden, veggies can look pretty too just hope passers by dont help themselves

[kirsty b]

Welcome to you greenieinabottle. Your little girl is about the right age to start 'helping'!
I grew stuff in my front garden too before I got my allotment, don't worry about what others think.

Kirsty

[greenieinabottle]

Welcome GIAB

I'm coming up your way with another Grape (my sis, Lady Jana Muck) at the weekend for a family get-together - please tell me just how cold it is up there

Piskie aka soft souverner

Today was lovely. In fact, I enjoyed the sun for a good couple of hours while I got on with the clearing of the garden... I won't lie to you, it's not warm, especially at night, but with no wind and unbroken sunshine, you could think it was spring in the middle of the day. In short, not too bad, but I'm not sure if it'll last... Probably not...
But Newcastle is great whatever the weather!!!! Really!!!

[greenieinabottle]

Welcome to you greenieinabottle. Your little girl is about the right age to start 'helping'!
I grew stuff in my front garden too before I got my allotment, don't worry about what others think.

Kirsty

Yes, I can't wait to get her started with the gardening, it's going to be great!!! And hopefully she'll want to eat the greens she's grown herself... I'm thinking about leaving her a good little patch for her to grow stuff herself. I think we'll start with radishes...

[Seahorse]

Hello and welcome Great username!

I love getting my children involved in the garden. Doubt I'm telling you anything you don't know but my little ones have especially enjoyed things like peas and sweetcorn that can literally be picked and eaten on the spot.

[momol]

Hello Greenie, welcome to the vine.

Fron't garden (sadly) can actually invite unwanted guess who help them self.
I think your herbs and edible flowers garden sounds like a better choice as they will be left unnoticeable (hopefully). You could always slip in couples of unusual looking veg such as Nero Di Toscano, red kale, garlic, red japanese mustard, etc.
Happy gardening.

[Flummery]

Think about the possibility of a wigwam of canes as a focal point and grow a mix of sweet peas and runner or climbing french beans. The insects that come to the sweet peas will help to pollinate the beans and result is decorative AND edible. There are some lovely unusual lettuces around - frissee and lollo rosso for example. Get hold of a seed catalogue and choose something unusual. The bonus is they don't look as inviting to 'help-yourself-ers' as the recognisable ones.

[greenieinabottle]

Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome, and for the thoughts and ideas about the project. We'll keep you posted!

[bobleponge]

Couple of years inactivity after having a baby? WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
Welcome and enjoy.