Plans for 2022

So, tidying up the garden for winter started yesterday rather than last weekend, with the delay being procrastination as much as anything. But as I ripped out the runner beans, it got me thinking about 2022 and future blogs.

(In truth, 2021 has been more than a bit half-hearted; my brassicas chiefly fed caterpillars, I sensed my crop of strawberries was half the full potential, my oldest, most established, apple tree was diseased with Woolly Aphid and produced nothing, my rhubarb was too young to harvest, much seed wasn’t planted, etc. My one bumper crop was runner beans, but you can’t really go wrong with them unless you’ve totally screwed up!)

So, ideas for 2022:

1. Put more effort in. Gardens, I realise, as per almost everything else in life, require increased effort to produce increased results.

2. Try to get to the point of partial self-sufficiency, where from, say, July to October I am a stranger to supermarket fruit/vegetable aisles.

3. Cut down my intake of chocolate bars, cake, and other such shop bought ‘treats’ by only allowing myself to eat examples of these I have made myself. If you’re going to indulge, make sure it’s 'self'-indulgence…

4. By October 2022 I dream of kitchen cupboards laden with jams, chutneys, pickles I have made myself. Similarly, my freezer should be stocked by my garden.

5. Have a DIY Christmas in 2022, where I may flick through the super-market Christmas brochures that start arriving with the post in November, but they merely act as inspiration. Rather than adding to a shopping list, I will make my own home-made versions. Which I know, from the little experience I have already, will taste far better. (I may do a bit of this this year, but next year I’ll push it further…..)

So that’s the plan. With a fair wind, less procrastination, and much more effort, this time next year I should be well set for a wonderful Christmas.