For as long as I can remember, I have dabbled with self-sufficiency and an organic way of living and growing food (inspired in part by the classic TV series ‘The Good Life’ – as so many of us of ‘a certain age’ will relate to).

A food forest had long been a dream but there always seemed to be barriers – not the right sort of property, not enough knowledge, not knowing where to start! “ I remember years ago buying a book on How to Start a Food Forest and it was just a daunting read with sketches and plans that I couldn’t even understand!”

In September 2019 my husband and I retired to a small 650 square metre property in Coromandel - the smallest property I had ever owned. Along the back fence was a hedge and four fruit trees; the rest was all in lawns. “I loved mowing lawns and always got immense pleasure standing back admiring my neat cut and manicured edges, perfectly straight mow lines - but I began to question why I spend so much time aimlessly mowing lawns when this area could be growing food!”

Lockdown came and I  discovered a page on Facebook called Food Not Lawns.

Now the real story begins. “My blinkers were off and my eyes were opened wide! Why had I not seen this years ago??”

When I'm not spending time in my garden, I love to preserve and ferment my surplus produce.  As well as doing Garden Consulations, my friend Dr Francine Hills and I have  started our own business, Pearl Movements, a gentle, accessible movement to music programme for over 55's designed to support your body in a way that feels natural and achievable.- visit it here