Chaos Gardening has become a bit of a buzz-term, but it has a lot going for it. Not only is it a sustainable way of growing in that it uses old seed, compost and growing containers that might otherwise go to waste, but the results is a surprising patchwork of plants that provides a diverse range of food and habitat for wildlife – and potentially edibles for you and your children!
You need:
- Seeds – any seeds! Old, new, random seeds you’ve found in the corner of a drawer that you can’t identify.
- Peat-free / old compost
- Any container (the more unusual the better!) or a growing bed.
What to do
1) Select an unused patch of ground or a container in which to grow a mini-Chaos Garden (ensure it has drainage holes)
2) Gather up any and all seeds – flowers, vegetables, grasses, herbs – anything goes!
3) In a bowl, mix the seeds with compost. This will aid an even distribution.
4) Check: does the soil surface you’re going to put your seeds on need watering? In can be better to do it before sowing, as watering after can disperse the seeds you’ve carefully sprinkled.
5) Spread your seed-compost mix over your soil surface, whether in a container or a growing bed.
6) Wait to see what grows!