The heatwave forecast for next week has now turned into an extreme weather warning, with 40+ degrees Celsius , already drought restrictions are in force, which means private people are not allowed to water plants or wash cars, windows etc.. So at the start of the year when I decided only to cut a minimum of grass areas and not to do a large chop and drop mid season, has worked well, long vegetation Keeps soil temperature down and shades young trees and fruit bushes. It's also provides extra wildlife habitat and allows the development of new seedlings and a bigger wildflower seed bank.(Sometimes with plants like thistle it's not so good, although they can be weeded out individually.) On the whole it has produced more biomass and an impression of volume, at the same time making a sense of compaction and closeness. Proving that ultimately doing less is more.

Last week we talked about what an herb is doing in the body. Now we need to add one more layer. Some herbs are gentle supports. They are not always used because something is wrong right now. They are used because they help the body stay nourished, steady, and resilient over time. Nettle is a good example. It is mineral-rich and often used when the body feels run down or depleted. Oatstraw is another steady herb. It supports the nervous system in a slow, nourishing way. Rosehips can bring gentle daily support through food-like nourishment. These herbs are more like compost in the garden. We do not add compost and expect the whole garden to change overnight. We use it because it helps build the ground. This week, pick one gentle herb and ask: Would this herb be useful as steady support, or am I expecting it to act like a quick fix? A strong home apothecary starts with simple herbs we can understand and use with care.

Grass has three main purposes, as a source of rich biomass(mulch or compost), an animal feed and to keep an area of land fertile untill your ready to grow something more useful. Grass is not for looking nice or occasionally sitting on. What are people's thoughts on two new taxes, Hard surface/concrete tax and lawn tax, with all proceeds going towards regenerative land use projects.

We've always had lots of animals, including horses, goats, chickens, rabbits, etc.. so we always have an abundance of fertilizer/compost at various stages of drying out. Do you raise/make your own? Or do you buy it?

I've been interested in planting some of the things that long ago people used to grow, such as: Skirret, Good King Henry, Sea kale, Turkish rocket, Sorrel, etc... Have you looked into any of these? Are you growing any of them?