Cultivating Joy All Year Round

It is amazing to me how quickly after summer holidays the Back to School feeling approaches.  It feels like only a week ago we were jumping into crystal blue seas under hot, balmy skies and suddenly we're back to foggy mornings and donning welly boots on wet dog walks.  

Aside from the start of a new school year there is another point in the Rhubarb & Hare calendar that always reminds me that another year is passing - it's the arrival of the Growing Through the Seasons calendar by Isla Middleton.  They are one of our absolute bestselling products and have been since we started stocking them five years ago.  Isla only prints a limited edition each year so once they're gone, they're gone which is probably why they start selling out fast.  I know many of you buy one each year.  I do too.  This will be my 5th year of having this calendar on our kitchen wall. I’m old school.  I like to be able to quickly check what we’re all doing.  I’ve tried to migrate to digital but I’m afraid I struggle.  I will always be a pen and paper gal over digital. 

Isla Middleton is a super talented designer who's worked for the likes of Morris & Co and White Stuff.  Her organic designs are hand drawn, cut into lino and then printed on sustainably sourced agricultural waste fibre paper in eco ink using a fresh palette of colours which she picks each year.

Each calendar month has practical growing tips to help you plan the year from seed to harvest provided by the Head Gardener at the Sharpham Trust in Devon, who manages their 19th Century Walled Vegetable Garden organically and the ornamental grounds.  There's also a handy growing chart at the back if you prefer an annual overview.

These calendars are a heavenly self purchase or they make a really thoughtful gift for the gardening enthusiast in your life too.  Whether it's for birthdays, holidays or just to say thank you for a visit.  

For more details and images of the calendar click HERE