Updated: Jul 18, 2023
Okay so you want to get started in your garden or always state that ‘your garden is too small to do anything in’. Well, whether you want to become a green fingered know it all, miniature farmer, help the bees or just love the beauty of a garden and want to enhance this as much as possible the size of your garden should not stop you. I understand that you can run into a problem if your garden is not the larges size but this should not stop you from making the most of it. Additionally, if you have no garden at all you can still do a lot to grow some wondrous plants. Today's, technologies and methods able you to fully utilise your property to meet all your growing needs. Examples of amazing use of small space can be highlighted in the famous Chelsea Flower Show, which although it may still be bigger than your backyard shows you some amazing things you can achieve in a confined space. I am writing this not just from a research perspective but as I have recently moved into my own property the garden is a bit limited on space. So if you are in a similar position such as those on new housing development with ever shrinking gardens or you only have a small balcony on your flat or you have no garden at all; here is my advice and tips you can use to get the most out of your limited area:
Vertical space:
This is defiantly the best option and easy to do. Although the area of your garden may not be the greatest but you still have the space upwards. You can add a lot of space to your garden by utilising vertical space throughout your garden. You can implement some of the following methods:
Stacking system – You can now get pots that can stack on top of each other and then grow all around them. Stack them to a height that suits you and put in a number of plants you want.
Rack system – This is similar to the stacking system but is racked, meaning it is often not on top of each other and takes up a little bit more space. However, can be great use of space and allows you access to your plants without bending down.
Trellis – A trellis is a framework that can be used for climbing plants to attache to. Add one to provide some green up your walls or fences.
Wall mounted – There are many systems that can be implemented onto the wall or fence and then have a number of pots or troughs added to them to grow in.
Hanging pots – Much like the wall mounted system, wall hooks can be put on the wall and stunning pot full of flowers can hang on them.
High plants – There are a large number of plants that naturally grow upwards, so get a few of those to add more colour to your garden.
Don’t stick to the back garden:
This is a frustrating one because it is so obvious but often overlooked. You can utilise your front garden just as much as your back. In many cased your front garden could even be larger than your back, so why not make the use of this space. However, there are is a ton of space that you can use and plant a large number of plants in. Whether you are putting in some flowers beds or adding a large shrub, start planting in your front garden. Although it is rare it can even be used to grow any fruits or vegetables, so make sure to use this space.
Don’t stick to the outside:
Okay, you have got as much use out of your garden or you don’t have a garden but you still want to grow many plants. Well simply, move inside where there is tons of space you can use. Even though part of gardening is being outside and enjoying the sun you can still bring some of that beautiful and usefulness indoors. You can grow a great amount indoors to brighten up your space and create amazing ‘décor’ to improve your home. Additionally, you can grow a number of plants that you can eat and grow; most the herbs I grow are indoors. Implementing plants into your life has been shown to have many psychological improvements to the people who view them, so even if you don’t have a garden you should defiantly add some plants into your house.
Get Creative:
Now this can be anything and even included the above I have mentioned but you should really try to think outside the box. You could turn your shed into a green roof or creating a platform above a bin areas to other elaborate and interesting structures all designed to make more space for you to grow whatever you want.
Get an allotment:
Finally, if you don’t have a garden at all or it is extremely lacking space, get on a list to get an allotment. An allotment is often quite cheap and can be used for the majority of your garden needs or desires. They can be considerable size, come with a shed, maybe even a green house and is perfect to grow fruit and veg. A bonus with this is that there is often many people their who can also help you with whatever you want to grow.
I want to see more people get out and enjoy the environment, wildlife and importantly plants. Not just for the benefits of the environment and wildlife but also due to the psychological and health benefits many studies have stated and that I believe you can get from viewing plants. However, I am sure you are already interested in growing your own food, beautiful flower and other plants but may be struggling to achieve this due to the space you have. Well don’t let anything stop you and make the most of what you have through using some of my tips above. Whether you use vertical space, bring it indoors, get an allotment or come up with a new place to grow what you love. Whatever it is make sure to get growing. Send me what you have done to make the most of your space via my Social Medias (Up there, right corner!).
Updated: Feb 6, 2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
Space – Even if you believe you can do the
Mechanical care – This is similar to the financial aspect. Mechanical equipment can fail and this often leads to animals dying or
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.
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.
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.
Updated: Mar 16, 2023
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.
Research:
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.
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.
The Natural Wildlife:
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.
Cruises:
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.
Buying gifts:
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.
