I'm reading Medieval Gardens by John Harvey at the moment. There is so much useful information packed into his book that it's taking me ages to get through it, and I've already had to renew it three times.
It's my aim to incorporate many of the plants and methods used by medieval people in my allotment. This is because I have a fascination with that time period, and the methods given for controlling weeds and vermin are natural and harmless. I feel a strong desire to bring the old methods back to life.
I am discovering from reading the book that I have already introduced many of the medieval plants, and many of the others I have on my list to be planted. I intend to introduce plants for dying of cloth, and medicinal plants. I would also like to experiment with turf seats planted with strawberries and with a trellis backing tied with roses. Eventually I would like to introduce wattle raised beds. It's all a lot of work though, and I don't know when I will find the time to do it all.
I am already starting to replace the lawn with plants that will give the green covering, but won't require as much mowing. In the seating area I have planted chamomile, violets, strawberries and creeping thyme. In the other areas I am introducing oregano and daisies. I also plan to sow pennyroyal and more creeping thyme.
The lawn is quite a problem. I don't really like to rely on powered machinery, but the lawn requires it, fortnightly in the growing season. The lithium battery in the strimmer soon gave up, and now the only thing that can tackle it effectively is Jenny, my trusty Atco mower. She did live in the shed until there was a break in elsewhere on the allotments. It was much easier to have her installed in situ, but I daren't risk it, so I have to bring the mower down in my car and use a ramp to get it in and out. It's not ideal. Hopefully the medieval style lawn will be the answer.
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