Well, true to mountains weather it's raining, so my outdoor attempts have ceased for the day.  Instead I chose to look through my bookcase for gardening titles.

Finding information here is a good way to start while waiting for any study to commence.  Tomorrow (Monday) I shall send necessary paperwork away and hope they enrol me.  Studying via distance education isn't for everyone but it suits at the moment, allowing more time for other things.

Other things include voluntary work.  Sometimes for a gallery, also, to gain experience with plants and decide which area interests me the most.  There is a not-for-profit organisation up in the mountains called Wild Plant Rescue which I shall be starting at next week.  There is also a community gallery in Springwood called Braemar Gallery which I have been involved with a little over a year.  It is inspiring and insightful for both volunteers and the public.

Why all this free activity?  As a debilitating, long-term health problem abates I am anxious to re-enter the workforce.  Hopefully self-employed as a freelancer.  My skill base dwindled while sick, so by following interests and building new skills I'm planning both an income and social contribution.

Although I'm the first to vouch for sitting inside writing,  I also stand at the front of the line trumpeting alternatives.  Looking out my window, it's easy to see why people are attracted to vocations that keep you outdoors.  It has stopped raining now and the bush is lush and inviting.  There is a universe I don't know about the natural world but the more I rummage on our 5 acres, and read, the keener I am to have a go. 

I've always had indoor plants, always involved myself with green community activities; and even completed an introductory permaculture course but I have yet to establish a garden of my own and planning it although exciting is a little daunting.  In the mean time I have been fussing around with my pots, perving on people's landscapes and looking forward to the journey ahead both physical and written.

For now I say good-bye and wish you a merry time planting, poting, weeding or anything else that floats your boat.

Project: Garden

This February morning finds me in my sunny office starting a new blog for 2012.  It is a fine summers day here in the Blue Mountains, surprisingly it's not raining.  In the past few months I have had some articles published in local magazines and newsletters about art, which is a modest beginning as a Freelance Journalist.  As my interests are widely varied I think a good way to string them together is to create a blog focused on investigating and reviewing each idea as it develops.  The first, and I hope a long-standing one, is gardening.  An early article was an artist profile on Rydal (near Lithgow) sculptor Antony Symons.  I visited his sculpture garden in November last year and was impressed by the way he married the natural world with his work.  My love of art and nature has been growing ever since.

I am the first to admit I know nothing about horticulture.  I am thinking of doing a Cert II through OTEN this year to help me but basically the initial project for this blog is to become a gardener.

This morning I walked around our land and planned the location for my forthcomming attempts.  All I know so far is I want one area to be full of local natives (drought resistent and low maintenance), the second, to be an organic herb and veggie patch.  I have a raw food diet planned for later in the year and all things going well by mid-year I'll be able to start.

The next few posts are going to be about the research into making this happen, and also, some before photos.

In the mean time enjoy your own gardening and anything new you may be trying this year.