Since I set this objective I’ve created a vegetable patch and grown vegetables on it for two seasons. The first year was very good with great onions and runner beans, plus a few others. The second year I lost interest a little and grew mainly onions and potatoes, which didnt do too well – but the weather here in the UK has not been great. 4 months ago

We spent the whole summer reclaiming a garden from the back yard. We worked a lot of hours, and preserved and ate a lot of things that we grew. It felt good, but in the end I think it might have been just as well to buy fresh vegetables at the farmer’s market. The time and money it cost didn’t really bring me a reciprocal amount of joy. Most of my yard was taken up, and I always was yelling at the dogs to be careful. And I couldn’t play as much because there was always something to be done. I think next year I am leaving this one to the professionals. 15 months ago

We moved to our property in May but decided to really just wait a year and see what is here, what the light and rain are like. We planted a potato patch which has done well. There are raised beds on the property and we planted some of those but they really haven’t done much. Got a few tomatoes and a few beans.

Next year I want to grow a lot of plants and herbs. There’s a lot of planning to be done in the interim! 20 months ago