A seed is planted ...

I'm Rachel, aka the Bog Imp!

So why the bog imp? I frequently return home from my allotment, my gardening round or stand at my own back door after attending to my garden, covered in mud (almost from head to toe) with debris sticking out of my hair (that looks like a good imitation of a birds nest) and dirt beneath the nails that are not broken. So Chris nicknamed me Bog Imp and it stuck.

I'm not just an avid gardener. Gardening is my therapy, my sanity, my zen. Fresh air, birds singing, busy bugs and Mother Nature's wonder to attend to. What more could a soul need? 

But I am a frustrated gardener. Currently I'm a part-time gardener who dreams of being a full-time gardener. 

I have a wonderful variety of gardens with equally varying needs to attend to for my customers. I have my allotment, a sanctity where I can disappear to or a hive of activity when the whole tribe lend a hand. And I have my own garden which has to accept attention as and when I can give it. But unfortunately I am also a Librarian who has to work 3 days a week in an office looking out, wishing I was in a garden. Ditching the 9-5 would be my heaven, working all the hours I could spare in the fresh air would be bliss. It wouldn't be like working, even though it would be hard physical work. It would be living!

Slowly, sometimes frustratingly slowly, I am creeping towards my dream.

Three years ago I attended the RHS Level 2 Horticulture course at Merrist Wood. I am now working towards completing all of the exams, child illness has prevented attendance at two sets of February exams so, lesson learnt, I will mostly be taking the exams in June. Before completing this course I had two regular customers which has now grown to 8 regular customers and as well as two gardens of friends that I'm helping to redesign. This is squeezed into my two days of freedom a week or free weekends.

Next steps:

complete a course in garden design, 

to continue to build up my customer base, and

to take the bold step and Quit the Library!

So, whilst I move towards my dream, at the times of greatest need due to poor weather, Winter or just being stuck in an office, I have decided that a blog can become my escape route. If only briefly whilst I type my imagination can transcend into paradise. If I can't be gardening then the second best thing is to be thinking, talking and writing about plants, gardens and allotments. 

If you want to find out about my journey so far check me out on Facebook. 

And here's to the future ....