Molly Parker

One of my biggest gardening mistakes was planting my first vegetable garden far too early because I got excited by a few warm spring days. I hadn't paid enough attention to the average last frost date, and one cold night wiped out almost everything I'd planted. It was a frustrating lesson, but it taught me to respect my local climate and be a lot more patient. What's the biggest mistake you've made in the garden that ended up teaching you the most?

One of the biggest gardening myths I believed for years was that you had to till your veg beds. It was standard advice from any gardener. Then I started watching Charles Dowding’s YouTube videos on no-dig gardening. The more I learnt about no dig/till, the more it made sense, so I decided to try it in our veg garden.

Since switching to no-till, my plants are healthier, yields have improved, soil is (surprisingly) easier to work, and I’m spending far less time preparing beds. More worms too.

It made me realize how many “rules” are just habits we never question. Now I’m curious - what gardening myth or advice turned out to be completely wrong in your garden? What did you stop doing, or what worked even though you were told it wouldn’t?

I’d love to hear your experiences.

Joseph Lofthouse wrote:I find that the ecosystem does 80% of the selection. I plant lots of stuff and the ecosystem decides if it thrives or perishes.

So true... nature gives the ultimate feedback, showing us through what thrives and what fades away that the ecosystem is often the best judge.

I've hit an interesting design snag in my food forest planning, and I'm curious how others think through these kinds of questions.

One thing I've been wrestling with is where a particular species actually "fits" within the overall design. It's easy enough to know what conditions the plant likes, but that's only part of the puzzle. I'm finding myself asking questions like:

Is this species primarily a productive crop, or is it more valuable as a support species?
Does it belong close to high-value fruit trees, or is it better on the margins?
Should I be thinking about its role over the next 5 years, or where it will fit in 20 years as the system matures?
How much should its ecological function outweigh its yield?

I keep coming back to the idea that in a food forest, every plant can fill multiple roles, but that almost makes the design decisions harder, not easier.

I'm interested in how other designers approach this. Do you start by defining the function you need in a particular space and then find a species to match? Or do you start with a species you really want to include and then build its guild and surrounding system around it?

I'd love to hear how others think through these kinds of design decisions, especially when a plant seems like it could fit in several different places.

Hi everyone,

I’m new to the forum and just wanted to say hello 👋

I’ve been working with food forests and low-input systems for a while now, but I’m always looking to expand my ideas and get inspired by what other people are doing on the ground.

So I’m curious - what’s been growing really well for you so far this year?

Any surprises, standout performers, or crops that have just absolutely thrived with minimal effort? I’m especially interested in anything that’s doing well in low-input or more resilient setups, but I’d love to hear whatever’s working in your gardens right now.

Looking forward to learning from everyone here.

I’ve got this really handy lightweight plastic shovel that’s perfect for shifting those last few scoops of compost when turning a pile. I was pretty skeptical at first, but after using it I’m a real fan. It has a large blade and is so light and easy to use, it’s made finishing the job a lot less effort.