Winner: Chef Jude

 

Chef Jude’s garden uses every inch of space, but still has room for you to sit and admire. It also provides beans, cukes, tomatoes and corn!

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Runner-up: Kathryn

Kathryn’s garden shows how important a small greenspace can be.

And no matter how small, it can also provide something for the dinner table!

Read Kathryn’s reflections on her garden, below.

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The judges

Jane Marie

Aude

Sharon

Kathryn’s Garden

This is my balcony garden. It makes me very happy, believe it or not. This year I made the choice to not plant very much as the year before because I camped out of town this summer. So you’re seeing it with amazingly enough what’s come up from last years. Things such as petunias I didn’t think would reproduce but did. And time and again it’s always constant discovery and ongoing
learning. It’s fascinating and quite easy and fun.

Although I’m well aware farming and gardening aren’t easy and at times aren’t fun. I really enjoy this way of contributing and kind of living. I am very proud of my little balcony garden. Often sharing photos with family and friends. I’ve got mint on the top row curently as I love making myself mint tea. It’s really soooo good and aides in digestion too. Mint is well known for spreading so having it contained in this way helps my relationships with neighbours lol.

I’m always open to trying new things. For the last 3 years it’s mostly been a friendly herb garden with an abundance of means to produce tasty and healthy food bank meals. I will sometimes freeze too for winter. A local marketplace resident made this planter box and I purchased this find at an affordable price. I told others too about his handyman’s creations I was so impressed and happy I bought.

And although there have been doubters come and go, it really does serve a space saving purpose and excites my green thumb enthusiasm. I love waking up to see its green fresh daily growth and daily newness. Makes me feel soo good to witness. I love gardening to begin with and this allows me the joy of it.

I make everything I can to be well worth the effort, and this always is. I’m a member of the Stratford Horticulture Society. I do at times see this planter as a chance to enjoy flowers.

I am Open to trying new green house discoveries. I love to explore these peaceful places. I enjoy the green house experience. Last summer Cozyns hosted an early annual sale and therefore I was surprised to see the petunias had grow back this season. Well worth the sale, I thought. I’m glad I
participated.

Having this planter box also allows me great space for my dog and I to enjoy our breakfasts, cooler evenings and peaceful stargazing. I have myself a solar garden globe to see my way. It’s home. I love it. I admit in the picture it looks quite sparse but I assure you everything has grown very well and gets plenty of sunshine and water.

When I saw the petunias growing back I immediately put in the soil some unknown flower seeds from the Stratford public library seed garden program. I’m looking forward to asking my Horticultural Society friends how to harvest seeds for new growth. And that goes for anything I plant. It’s so exciting. And to think I can share and share alike. And it’s the joy that keeps a person constantly discovering.