Everything I Grew Last Year: 2020

This was my second year in my own house allowing me to grow anything I want in the space I have, which is quite limited. I wanted to start of easy due to still sorting out bits, moving into the house and getting everything set up that has taken a long time. However, I still grew a fair bit for my little garden. I have always wanted to grow a number of unique plants, as well as my own fruit and veg to eat. However, I still have much to learn, so I am trying out new thing and love sharing my progress with you. So here is all the fruit, veg, herbs and other plants I grew, ate and enjoyed caring for in 2020.

Food:

One of my main goals throughout the year was to grow as much edible food, as possible. I have always loved the idea of being somewhat self-sufficient and although I will not be anywhere near that with the size of my garden I still hope to grow some delicious fruit and vegetable to eat and learn what works for the future, so this is what I have decided to grow:

Strawberries:

This is a sweet summer favourite of nearly anyone in the UK. I thought I would start with a few of these sweet treats in one of my hanging baskets. I have three different types of strawberries two British and one French to see how they grown and if there is much difference. They all did well but the British variety defiantly faired better, I assume due to the fact it climatises better to our weather.

Fruiting Strawberries in Wall Planter

Carrots:

Although I did not have a full sized planter, I did manage to get my hands on three small troughs that I planted two rows of carrots. I created a mix of soil and sand, so the carrots could grow easier and watered regularly. As they sprouted and gotten larger I have thinned them out by repotting them into the third planter. We got a decent number of carrots from this but I believe the planters were too small to allow the carrots to properly grow.

Carrot Shoots in Small Troughs

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are the quintessential gardener food of choice and the first point of call for anyone wanting to grow some veg.. They are easy to grow, incredibly rewarding and can produce a huge amount of food, I have three tomato plants in a single grow bag with a bamboo support frame, with garden twine between them to support the heavy fruitful tomato growths. One thing I have learnt was not to forget watering them, seeing these plant droop so low like a sulking child is saddening, so it is a every evening job and sometimes in the morning too.

Three Tomato Plants in Growbag

Potatoes:

I wanted to grow potatoes, as I believe they would give the highest return in nutritious value and volume. It is also one of the most versatile vegetables that can be used for a number of things on your dinner plate. I have a small garden but still wanted to get as much out of it as I can, so seeing these grow bags in my local garden centre and quickly berried a sprouting potato. The amount of foliage this plant sprawls out is outstanding and really indicates a large return.

Potatoes Growing in Growbag

Herbs:

Additionally, I am growing a number of herbs that can be added to loads of dishes and be used to feed my rabbits. I have some outside permanently and the others growing in the windowsill. They are useful and provide a great aroma whenever I walk by them. I don’t do much to upkeep them, just keep them watered and occasionally pull out any weeds that manage to join my herbs. Here are the herbs I am growing this year

Thyme, Oregano & Basil Grown Indoors

Indoors I am growing:

· Basil

· Oregano

· Thyme

Outdoors I am growing:

· Thyme

· Parsley

· Mint

· Sage

Flower:

My main goal, whilst trying to make my garden look nice and colourful was to help the bees and other pollinators, so I tried to ensure the plants I picked benefited them and their efforts to collect nectar and pollen. I won’t mention all the flowers growing in my garden, you can look at some of these through scowering my social media. However, some of the key flowers I grew are:

Clementis in Bloom

Clematis – It came with the garden when we brought it and it comes up beautifully with more than three dozen flowers each year. All I have to do is provide a little wire for it to climb up and keep it well watered.

Dahlia – After seeing these in a number of gardens I was keen to have them in mine. I have been told these are difficult to grow, especially in pots, so I decided to give them a try, although I did get it to grow unfortunately it wasn’t the grand Dahlia I was hoping for.

Senetti – Me and my partner saw a beautiful bunch of purple Senetti at the garden centre and could not leave it there. After picking it up we put it in a larger pot and left it to its own devises. It was clearly a good choice as the bees seemed to love them.

Roses – We have a couple of rose bushes at the back of my garden, again, I don’t have to do much other than water them regularly and ensure my rabbits don’t try to eat them. However, each year they flower nicely for the local insects to enjoy.

House Plants:

As mentioned above this is my first year in my own house and I am trying to grow as many things as possible. This is because I enjoy the site of them and think they are incredibly beneficial for the environment and my household. They provide tremendous benefits mentally, cleaning the air and a tool to learn from in one of my bid to grow a nice collections of plants. I won't be able to name them all but some of the ones I got this year:

· Pilea Peperomioides

· Snake Plant

· Fairy Washboard (Haworthiopsis Limifolia)

· Dracena Fragrans

· Calathea

· A couple of cactuses & succulents (sorry, I don’t know their names)

Collection of House Plants

For Fun:

Further to the above, I also thought it would be a bit of fun to have a little competition between myself ad my partner. So on top of everything we decided to grow some sunflowers. We picked up a giant variety to see how well we could do and who would come on top. We had a lot of fun watering our own plant, carefully putting them into larger pots to see who would get the largest one. It is also a great flower for the wildlife, we saw tons of bees on them and when they had finished growing you can either use the seeds for yourself or leave the heads out for the birds.

Garden Tools, Plants & Soil

Finally

My garden is quite small and I am still learning a lot about growing both indoors and out. However, I am still managing to grow a lot and having a lot of fun doing so. I hope to continue to grow more and learn about how best to grow them and when. I already feel like I have become more akin to gardening and growing food, which I hope to develop to increase my return in the food I grow year on year. I also hope to grow more flowers and other plants in my garden to make it look nice but to also help the hopefully growing wildlife in my backyard. I am just starting my journey into gardening and growing my own food but I hope to learn plenty and develop my skills for the future. I would love to hear what you are growing this year, so let me know in the comments or by tagging me in your pictures on Instagram, twitter or Facebook.

Stop Buying Pets!

Hear me out, I understand everyone wants a pet. Whether this is a cute cuddly cat, ‘man’s best friend’ the dog or even the other amazing creatures such as lizards, snakes and fish but the simple fact you are taking care of these animals does not mean that you are helping their species or existence, as a whole. Many animals have genetic problems that affect them throughout their life. Additionally, many animals are bred in horrendous and dangerous condition that can lead to their death. Further to this, there is an extremely high number of homeless animals that are looking for a home. Having said all this if you are getting a pet I would like to think this is because you have a great love for animal and want to introduce one into your home and to join your family. I decided to write this post to raise awareness of what you are contributing too when you go and buy a brand new pet from a breeder and why you should seek to obtain a rescue pet first. Here is what you should look into before purchasing any pet.

Cat & Dog Playing in the Grass

Ask where it is from:

You would be surprise to know that when you are buying pets you may be contributing to the capture of wild animals. I am sure I do not need to tell you why this is wrong, as I would like to think you agree that wild animals should remain, wild. Now, this can affect all types of pets but is mainly a problem with marine life, reptiles and the more exotic species. So find out where the animal comes from and ask can you see its mother and father, is it captive bred, do you know the family tree and other similar questions. Further to this, a growing horrible trend is stolen pets and then reselling them. Essentially, if you think something is wrong don’t buy the pet and report them to the appropriate authorities to stop them potentially stealing or harming more animals. Additionally, look at the impact on other humans, especially in Less Economically Developed Country (LEDC). Many animals such as exotic fish that are captured in the wild put these peoples lives at risk for small amounts of money and by purchasing them you are contributing to this.

Stunning Tropical Fish Tank

Are you being lied to:

Always be careful of what the breeder tells you, as they often have the goal to make money and will lie to get it. This can be considering everything the breeder has told you about the age, breed, parents, history and importantly its insurances. Additionally, look at state of the animal and even advice on its care, which can all be wrong. Think about what the breeder is saying and assess it for yourself. Your instinct is often correct and you should research to find out what is correct to ensure the best life for the animal.

Money

Can you get your chosen pet from a better place:

Lastly, in regards to getting your pet ask yourself if you can get it from a better place. I understand that you may have you heart set on a particular pet. However, before you rush and buy this pet search for the best place to get it from. Often, this should be choosing to get a rescue pet, as there are plenty that need a home.

Dog on Bed

Can you take care of it?:

I have heard far too many stories about people who have got a pet and didn’t understand the real ramification of owning one. This often ends in two ways it has either led to the pet being in a poor state of health despite the love the owner has for it or it is given up after its ‘cute’ phase. So before you get any pet do your research and consider:

Dog Food & Toys

• Financially – Can you pay for your pet. This should take into account, the initial cost (House/ bedding food, all essential for the animal), the healthcare/insurances (If the animal has an accident can you give it, its best chance?), can you pay for its enrichment (the initial toys don’t last forever and animals can get bored and stressed).

• Time – can you give it the time it

Dog Walking

• Space – Even if you believe you can do the

Exotic Animal Cage

• Mechanical care – This is similar to the financial aspect. Mechanical equipment can fail and this often leads to animals dying or

Exotic Sea Enemy

Should it be?

There are a number of animals that may look cute and have a large fan base online. However, suffer from some incredibly poor genetic problems. Look for information online about the animal you want to get and see if they have a number of problems, just because of the type of breed they are. Try not to support the breeding of these animals, as many suffer through their life and die because of these problems.

Frenchie Bulldog

Some figures:

I thought I would highlight the number of homeless animals there are in the UK alone and why you should aim to give one of these a home:

Cats:

The number of wild, feral or homeless cats in the UK often differs but is usually agreed to be easily over a million. I have even seen sites that have stated there are nine million stray cats, which is crazy and not right at all. Instead of paying for a new kitten, rescue one of these.

Dogs:

Number of homeless dogs is said to be about 50,000 but the dog trust also claim to get about 50,000 phone calls a year from people who are trying to give up their dog. Please do not buy a dog if you are not willing to understand the full requirements of it and to give it up in such a short time.

Cat Staring at the Camera

This is just arguably the two most common pets in the UK and only figures from the UK; this is not taking into account the even greater numbers of homeless pets outside the UK. Additionally, I can guarantee you there are a lot of other animals that are released into the wild or even ‘destroyed’ in very unfortunate events. Please take this into account when considering taking on a new ‘friend’ into your home.

Please think before you buy a pet. There are already so many animals that need a loving home that you could provide. Additionally, there are many things to consider before you buy a new pet. You need to fully understand what it will mean in regards to taking care of it. Before you get any pet make sure you have the time that the animal needs, get the knowledge to take care of your pet and the money for all its needs. Doing all this will ensure that not only will this improve the animal’s life but also your interaction and benefits you get from it. Finally, before you do take the leap, think about the affects you might be having on the species, as a whole or the place that your pet comes from. Avoid puppy farms and other breeders that keep their pet in terrible conditions or mass breed them. When you do buy a pet, remember it is not just that animal you are affecting.

#stopbuyingpets #whyyoushouldadopt #adoptapet #AnimalCruelty #stopanimalcruelty #petcare #pets #animalharm #animals

Is Your Holiday Harmful?

Well, no holiday is ‘Evil’, in fact most holidays are full of fun, sun with some incredible sites and possibly some amazing wildlife. However, these amazing feats of nature or once in a lifetime experiences from the most alien like environment to the most exotic animal, may not be what it seems. My goal for this post is to highlight some of the key ways your holiday may not be what it seems and how you may be causing more harm by contributing or participating in certain activities or adventures. Before I start, I want to clarify please do not see this, as a post stating that you should not go on holiday or cancel your current trip but to consider these factors in the future. Additionally, I believe you should go on holiday and see as much of the world as you can and gain an insight to other cultures and new experiences. By seeing more of the world, it broadens your knowledge but also awareness of our effects on the world and wildlife by highlighting these issues, so you can start doing something about it.

Beautiful Pool & Crystal Sea

Research:

Computer Typing

Now, I know it is hard to restrain yourself from potential once in a lifetime experience, especially thanks to social media and the possibility of obtaining an amazing picture that will make all your friends jealous. However, before you do please try to ‘stop and think’, even if everyone around you is doing it and it all looks okay, this is rarely the case. Importantly, you should consider that just because you cannot see any harm that doesn’t mean there isn’t any. This is primarily seen in animals that look fine physically but can be sedated, have been tortured to behave in a certain way or have psychological affects from the abuse they have suffered. To help you with this I have highlight some of the things you may want to look out for, before you book your next trip away or an extra excursion. Here is how your holiday or holiday activities may be affecting the culture, environment & wildlife you visits:

The locals:

Seeing another culture is fascinating and it can in turn help those in that culture. This can especially be beneficial for people in Less Economically Developed Country (LEDC), where tourism is a huge source of income for them. Having said this there are those who will take advantage of them. You want to be careful when giving money to the organisation of a trip, as you want to ensure that the money goes to the locals and not in their back pocket. Additionally, remember these are people too, who are often very proud and belittling them as some helpless individual can be an insult and undermining to them, so treat them with respect. Having said all this, learning new culture is an amazing experience you should enter with an open mind and to help that culture is another great feeling.

Frilly Dress & Dancing

Riding Animals:

Now, you may have the opportunity to ride an animal or you may be going on an adventure, where an animal will carry your baggage. Well both are bad and you should not support either. Usually, this is seen with donkeys, elephants and camels but can be other species too. Although you may think that this does not have a huge effect on them, I am here to tell you it does. The animals that have to do these daily tasks of carrying heavy loads often lead to their short lifespan, as well as many health problems and pain during it. Most commonly, the heavy loads they often endure create severe back problems and deformed feet and toes that will often never heal in their lifetime. Additionally, many are worked in horrendous conditions with little water leading to them collapsing and dying. If this was not enough to make you think, these animals will often be ‘trained’ in a cruel and violent way to continue to work in these terrible conditions. This is often seen in elephants, infact to training of elephants is often called "breaking of the spirit". Finally, an often overlooked feature is the psychological effect on the animal from the way they are treated. Whatever you do, please do not ride an animal.

Camels for Transport

The Natural Wildlife:

Dolphin in Crisp Blue Water

I wouldn’t blame this one on the guides, even though they could do more to stop it but rather the stupidity of people. You may have even seen this on your holiday where you are taken to a beautiful spot like a lagoon to view the amazing sites and swim. However, one person then decided to pick up a starfish and instantly an animal is stressed, harmed or even ends up dead. One striking article that blew up a few years ago was about a baby dolphin passed around on a beach for pictures and was taken out the water for so long it sadly passed away. Remember when you visit these locations that they belong to these animals and we should respect that and leave them be.

The Natural Environment:

Going to amazing picturesque scenic views can be a life time experience but for how long will these scenes stay beautiful? and what affects is tourism having on the location? The more people who visit these sites there is a higher chance of it being ruined. This is often by people climbing over them, picking up natural ‘souvenirs’, and most stupidly just plain old littering. This can even be underwater and the effects of your flippers on the sand bed when scuba diving. I believe everyone should see as much of the world as possible, so although I want to encourage you to see these sites, please do not do the above. All of which can in turn be detrimental to the wildlife and ruin the area for the locals and other who plan to visit it. I encourage anyone to see these beautiful sites around the world but also to be a person who actively tries to preserve them for the environment and ecosystems they are.

Human Waste Pollution

Cruises:

Cruise Ship

Cruises can be incredibly harmful to the environment and wildlife in their own right. Here are some key points on how cruises are more harmful than you think. For example, did you know that when a cruise ship is beyond 3 nautical miles of any shore it can legally dump raw sewage straight into the ocean. Also, they are often referred to as floating cities and this is largely because of the amount of air pollution they produced, which contribute to global warming. Another often unheard-of problem is that large cruise ships hit whales and dolphins killing them outright without even realising they have done. These are just a few points on cruise ships and how they are killing the wildlife and coral reefs, so lets try to change it!

Petting the ‘Pet’:

From getting your picture with a parrot or a monkey to cuddling big cats, you really need to ask yourself 'is this right?'. Obviously, it is not, even if it seems like the animal is healthy, calm and in good condition it probably isn’t. Even if it is all that, you need to ask yourself ‘is that the kind of life that this animal should live?’ Additionally, there are often hidden reasons to why these animals may seem okay with being petted and held. This can be through intensive training (maybe with physical punishments), sedation, right up to removing teeth. All of which I am sure you will agree is disgusting. You may see pictures on social media and think it would be a great experience but think of the animal rights before your own goals.

Tiger in Captivity

Buying gifts:

Dried Out Starfish & Ornament

Buying gifts may help to contribute to the local economy, which is something I strongly agree with but sometimes this may be having a negative effect on the environment. Depending on what it is of course. Key things to look out for are coral, dried marine life, rocks from historical sites and similar items, all of which you should not buy. You may think it is not a big deal because it is just a small piece but when millions of these are sold, it does have a large effect.

Now, there is no point in listing all that’s wrong with holidays and the effects on the environment and wildlife, without detailing what you can do to prevent your negative impact. Try to ensure your trip is eco-friendly and if anything is beneficial to the natural habitat and local environment. Not all holidays are ‘evil’ or 'harmful' per se and there are genuine places that rescue animals and protect the environment and you can help by visiting these locations, volunteering and financial donations. However, before you book your next adventure think of the things I have mentioned, take a moment to do some research and look for companies that genuinely want to help the environment and wildlife. A good way to do this is to look for accredited organisations that approve trips or the destinations you plan on visiting. My main goal in this article is to highlight the issues there are in the world of tourism and the unknown negative affects you might be having. Before you book your next holiday or adventure take into consideration the ethical, sustainable and environmental impact and aim to make the right decision.

Man Hiking up Rocky Mountain