By Eleanor Tillmans
A Snowy Day Activity
Alexa, what is your notification?
Winter weather alert and several inches of snow coming your way.
Not exactly what I was hoping for. March pushes the limits of my endurance, so this was less than welcome news. I spent the first weekend in April walking on grass and welcoming the geese that squawked overhead. Could this mean it is Spring? uhm, no.
I have learned that there is absolutely nothing to be done when Winter spreads her cape around the Northwoods for an encore performance. It’s a gentle reminder that I still have time to plan.
The Planning
Still in pajamas and enjoying a warm coffee. I started with the divergent task of imagining every possible use for a garden. My ADHD demands that I add a wish list in the margins of my page.
Vegetables, of course. I keep a handmade garden journal that I use as a reference. My notes remind me that the broccoli did great near the cabbage and that I should move tomatoes away from the entrance of the garden to the back. This will ensure that I walk the entire length of the garden when I want a cherry tomato treat.
I have wanted to add a dye garden near my fiber cleaning area … and by fiber cleaning area, I mean the chimenea left here by the previous owner that has a rather large hole in the bottom that I “fixed” by loading with sand and surrounded with rocks. I add a new heating system picture to my wish list and add fiber processing to the list of uses.
More uses: meditation, reading, sunning, visiting with friends….teaching. Teaching? I have been traveling to Grand Rapids to teach classes because my studio doesn’t have a classroom. Could the garden be an option? Maybe. I write it down. Now to the convergent task of narrowing my focus to just a few uses.
My Aha! Moment
I see it clear as day. I need a place to work on my clay, painting and fiber. It will be an ART GARDEN!
10 Steps to a functional design.
Elements to Include in the Art Garden
I return to the divergent mind mapping with the Clay element- Mosaic upcycle with discards or broken pottery. Include hand built sculptures. I note that I will have to protect them every winter. My kick wheel can be used to better effect if I have a way to keep tools outside. I add air-tight container for tools to my wishlist. How about an outdoor kiln? Raku? No. The thought scares me. I add a note- maybe next year and add “delegate to Jim”.
I do the same with fiber processing element. I will have a skirting section, a spinning wheel on the trellis, skein dryer, Dye/scour pot with a fire pit. I will add specific plants for dying wool. Can I grow flax or cotton? Maybe next year.
Lastly, Painting. I will need an easel. Maybe I can use coals prepared in the fire pit. I was surprised to find so little inspiration for this theme. A quick google search brings up endless images of painting parties in the garden. Those images bring me right back to teaching in the garden. I add tables and 8-10 easels to the wishlist.
“The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.” —Michael Pollan
Planning on Paper
I was fortunate to have the garden dimensions in hand. In some premonition, I thought I should measure the fencing and gates and hardscape last weekend.
I used the measure feature on my iPhone to note the corners of the garden. I measured the wall of my studio that leads to the garden arch and the length of the deck and kick wheel. I imagined that it would be useful data to have.
I use an architectural scale ruler to put measurements on paper. My scale is 3/16:1.
I have a list of zone 3 plants perennials with the corresponding bloom times. You can find a printable document here.
With all of the elements in hand, I proceed to pencil in the plants and features that I choose to add. This is not the final rendition, so it’s not precious. I make changes as necessary.
I take the finalized plans and redraw them on a fresh paper. I include my wishlist and my plant list in a separate document. I will keep these for a week and revisit them before I make any purchases.
It’s still snowing outside, and my cup of coffee is empty. I think I will start planning my mosaic project.
I will update with photos as the garden comes to life, but if you live in the Grand Rapids area and would like to see the garden in person, I invite you to Join Us during our Farm Day event.
If you are looking for ways to busy yourself until you can till your garden, try making a handmade journal, fiber flowers or mosaic art.
Websites: EleanorTillmans.com