CHOOSE OUR OWN ADVENTURE!
…and help me choose mine, by participating in a QUICK POLL about what you would like to read.
Please help me to understand more about the content that you’d like to read. There’s a super-quick poll at the end of this email. I’m going to sit down at my computer at 7am on Tuesday morning and start writing about whatever topic is winning at that point.
Howdy Gardeners,
When I first started the Leaf, Root & Fruit business back in 2014, I was posting blogs and regularly active on social media. It was a lot of fun engaging with and supporting many of you in growing your own food.
Now, I want to get back to those initial and fulfilling times of regular blogging and connecting with more growers such as yourself. Behind the scenes, I am drafting a book, and still enjoying facilitating a range of workshops.
My dream job would be writing and producing all kinds of helpful advice and information using my experiences in growing food.
I’ve decided to start living that dream job... I’m choosing my own adventure!
In April this year, I wound back most services that the LRF business had offered.
The main avenues that I am currently earning a living is via:
running workshops
paid newsletter subscriptions
I’m committing to spending three to four days per week in the office, regardless of cash flow and how many paying subscribers I do or don’t have. I’m returning to writing, but writing more frequently than ever. I'm making writing my main occupation.
I Am Loving It!
I have so many ideas for blog posts that I want to write. For example, I’ve been wanting to write a Guide to Growing Blueberries for about five years, but have never managed to find the time. That time is now!
(I wrote and published the Guide to Blueberries on Wednesday).
I’m going to spend the next few months writing content for all of my readers to access.
I’m giving myself until mid-spring to make this work. That will be over five months of writing almost full time… I’ll commit to that… regardless of how many paying subscribers I have…
After that, I’ll need about 10% of our subscribers to start paying to make this dream a long-term reality. The more paid subscribers I have, the more time I can afford to dedicate to writing.
I’ve already had a good response from many of you who have committed to financially supporting my work. I’m so grateful for your generosity your kind words and feedback that you’ve shared.
I want to deliver content that you would like to read… Tell me what it is!
I have gazillions of ideas for content that I’d like to write. I’m particularly interested in writing some “in depth” guides, that will span many individual posts (similar to our citrus guides or garden ecosystem posts, but even more epic). Here’s a few of the topics I’m thinking of exploring. Please have a read and let me know what you are most interested in reading in the poll at the end:
Topic 1: Planting Guide for Central Victoria
I’ve been sending out a planting guide for Melbourne based growers for 9 years.
The climate in Central Victoria, where I now garden, is very different to Melbourne. Our growing season here is much shorter and planting times need to be very specific, compared to Melbourne. For example, in Melbourne you can plant tomato seedlings as early as the end of September or as late as December. There’s much more flexibility for Melbourne gardeners, so that they don’t really need a specific planting plan.
In Central Victoria, there’s about a 2 to 3 week window to plant tomato seedlings, otherwise they’ll likely amount to very little. After four years of growing food in Kyneton and keeping meticulous records, I’ve refined a fairly comprehensive planting plan for this region and I’d love to share it with you all. I’ve already made many of the mistakes, so let me help you to avoid them.
Topic 2: Designing and Implementing a Backyard Orchard
Literally a step by step guide to how to design your backyard orchard and then go about implementing and maintaining it. I’ll cover:
Analysing your site and your household needs
Designing the layout and infrastructure
Variety selection
Irrigation set up
Soil preparation
Tree planting
Ongoing orchard maintenance
Pruning of fruit trees
As many of you are aware, I take a different approach to many aspects of gardening and this series of posts will certainly have my own take on the subject, with plenty of science to back it up.
Topic 3: Starting a Patch from Scratch
This will be most useful for beginners, but will have plenty of tips for seasoned veggie growers too. I’ll cover:
Analysing your property to find the ideal location for the patch.
Garden bed design and material choices.
Improving soil and composting.
How to sow seeds, raise seedlings and transplant them.
Planting seasons and what to plant and when.
Crop rotation and planting succession crops.
Watering, including irrigation systems for veggie patches.
I could also add in lots of posts about growing, harvesting and using specific vegetables e.g. ‘How to Grow Brassicas’ or ‘How to Grow Carrots’.
Topic 4: Our Garden at Kyneton
I can put together a series of blogs and videos about our property here at Kyneton. What it was like when we moved in? What have we done and learned since we relocated from Melbourne? I can include all sorts of information on how we set up our orchard and kitchen garden. I can include planting plans, plant lists, plenty of photos, video walk throughs and anything else you may find useful.
Topic 5: Lots of Random, Helpful Blog Posts
Not interested in an epic series on a particular theme? That’s ok, I have plenty of ideas for content, such as:
Lists of plants such as shade tolerant edibles
Growing rare berries and fruit
‘How to grow’ guides for pretty much any fruit or vegetable you’d ever consider growing
Supplier lists
Technical stuff like setting up irrigation or planting a tree
Managing specific pests and diseases
Book reviews
Recipes
The list of potential random posts I could write goes on and on and on! Feel free to drop any requests for specific stand-alone blog posts, that you would like me to focus on, in the comments section below.
Please vote in the poll below. I’m going to sit down at my computer at 7am on Tuesday morning and start working on whatever topic is winning at that point. I’ll keep working on it four days per week until it is completed. Then I’ll get straight onto the next topic and so on.
UPDATE 7:00AM 13th June 2023
Wow… it was neck and neck most of the weekend but ‘Starting a Patch From Scratch’ has just won by a whisker!
Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll I sent out on Friday. I’m very excited by the results and am looking forward to writing the content that you have asked for.
There were some great comments added at the end of the post. You had some fantastic ideas for content and plenty of feedback about what you do (and don’t) want from your subscriptions. I now have a huge list of posts that you want to see written!
Given how close the results were, I’ll be trying to write two series and publish them as soon as possible. The Central Vic planting guide was as popular and even winning at different stages of the weekend, so it is only fair that I ‘get cracking’ on this also. My plan is to publish three blog posts per week, I’ll be putting together a schedule to make sure I stay on track. Stay tuned!
Feel free to review the comments below and continue to make further suggestions to be added to the list.
Speak up… It’s time to choose OUR own adventure!
This poll is open to everyone. Please encourage your friends and family to cast their votes as well.
I see feedback as a gift. Please share with me any feedback you may have about our recent transition to the Substack platform:
Do you like it?
What could I do better?
What needs to change?
What would you like to see more of?
Would you like to see more videos? podcasts? or just stick to written content with plenty of photos?
Please write any questions, suggestions or feedback you have in the comments section below and I’ll address them as best I can.
Thanks for your support. I’m loving this new dynamic I’ve settled into. It feels ‘just right’ and I hope you can all see the benefit in supporting my work.
Good Luck & Happy Gardening
Duncan
I would like to see a combination of writing/blogging and video content. While your writing is easy to digest and very comprehensive (which I'd like to see continue), actually seeing you undertake tasks, deal with issues and prepare for coming seasons would add richness to the lessons. Maybe you could round it off by showing how you process your produce once you have grown it.
Would enjoy a “weekly roundup” - pun intended, video of 5 to 10 mins where you walk around your garden talking about what is happening this week and what jobs you are doing to keep your garden healthy and productive. Realise that requires 2 people and a fair amount of extra work but maybe for the future. Maybe on YouTube? Could be good advertising.