Mike Hope

Scott,

Wow - thanks a lot! Those are some great concrete suggestions, both for getting produce and making it look/smell/feel good. I'll try them. Just raked up two rubbish bags' worth of dry leaves for mulch. I hadn't thought of that, even though it's obvious. I don't have a car so whatever can be used on the spot is good.

blue berries, which could go here and there along the fences. This would allow access to the triangular patch for tending to annuals or whatever else you put there

What do you mean by 'allow access'?

It's actually not that small a plot - the photo's perspective may distort it a bit. The front fence is only some 4m wide, but the triangle is a good 10m deep. Enough for me, I reckon. I noticed today that on the right hand side where the fence panels are (and beans might go), the ground slopes up a foot or so. Not sure if that can be used to some advantage.

Finally, the raised beds (hidden in the pic) are four separate plank-rimmed patches. I'd keep that, or is there a case against it? Could also leave the panels in front to create a shade - but what thrives there?

Hello,

I've gotten stewardship of a small triangle of land (see attached photo) and would like to grow some edibles on it. I've heard and read a fair bit about permaculture and seen a few examples, but I have next to no hands-on experience (not with other kinds of gardening either).

I also don't have much time or money or tools ^_^ This is a low-key side-project for a few years, not longer (could pass hands though).

I'll happily learn by trial and error. Still I'm a bit at a loss as to how to start, looking at the plot, so if any of you have instant thoughts to share when you see the photo, I'd be grateful to hear them.

In addition to the info marked on the pic:
* This is the south-east of England.
* The land in front of the fence has to remain a lawn.
* The panels on the right used to extend all the way to the back of the triangle but were blown down by the wind. There was ivy on and brambles in front of them; also brambles next to the wire fence on the left. These have all been cut down: that's what's lying in the front of the photo. I've noticed songbirds being attracted to this jumble of branches, so I'm thinking it might have a place in the garden?
* There were nettles all over, too.
* As you can probably tell from the coordinates, it's quite a sunny spot.
* The soil is fairly sandy, I think?
* The neighbour is growing potatoes and leeks, and other things (not permaculturally). Apparently bell peppers grow well, too.
* The beds, hidden behind the panel in the pic, had various herbs in them, fennel for one, which was still growing last year.
* The 'pond' is less than a square metre, plastic lining, some water insect life.
* The pile at the back is mixed soil and rubbish - I'll sort through it for useful things.

So... where to take this? I could just go and buy leek and pepper seed etc, and a bag of potatoes, and plant it all next to one another.... but is there something a little smarter/more interesting to try?

Thanks!