To Build A Garden

If my plan to bikepack around the Baltic Sea this Summer has to be postponed, I’ll just stay at my parents in France and learn gardening.

They own half an acre (~2000m²) of land near the Garonne river, which is more than enough to grow a little garden.

I would first need to figure out which local vegetables are in season. Probably tomatoes and beans. The problem is that tomatoes require a lot of water, which is not ideal in Southern France during the summer, so I’ll have to think about that as well.

I will then have to learn how to plow the land using manual tools.

The rest will be a matter of habit. A garden requires daily care to grow.

Luckily, my parents already have a green thumb, so I know I’ll be able to count on them to make this project a success. My mother already collects a variety of organic plant seeds, so the initial costs will be close to zero.

For now, the garden has some fruit trees, hazels, ornamental trees, and some wildflowers attracting bees, birds, and hedgehogs. I also want to use this opportunity to learn more about permaculture principles and apply them to develop the garden’s biodiversity.

If I were to be stuck in France, I’m looking forward to working with my hands.