Welcome!

Header Picture courtesy of: WaterAid/Daniel O’Leary; Logo courtesy of: WaterAid

When I decided to join my local Sing for Water choir (see The Sing for Water Challenge on the sidebar) in 2008, I was also asked to raise a minimum £50 donation in addition to anything we might raise at the concert itself. I racked my brains for a different fundraising idea and came up with - opening my garden over the web!

This very different blog raised a fantastic total of £1085 (approx. 1,750 USD). Donations are closed now, but I decided to retain this tour as it gives such a good introduction to my garden for new readers of my regular blog, Veg Plotting. Before I show you around my garden, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about the charity, then if you like what you see, you might like to donate directly to WaterAid (note this link opens in a new window, so you won't lose your place here), the charity striving to provide clean water and sanitation for over 1 billion of the world's population. WaterAid were very excited about my fund raising idea and provided this 2 minute video to show why their work is so important.



I must also add that I've worked as a volunteer freshwater biologist researching into water quality on a nature reserve in Mallorca. For a number of years we had European Union funding to enable scientists from various African countries to come and help on the project. I was surprised to see their reaction to water when they came out with me to take samples. Many of them were terrified of it. Not just because of the dangers of animals such as crocodiles, but they were worried that by just touching the water they would contract a dreadful disease. It was hard work for them to overcome this fear and help me with my studies. Their reaction really drove home to me the value of the work that WaterAid is doing.

I'm suggesting a £2 (approx. $4 USD) donation for your visit. This is the usual minimum fee for gardens involved in the National Gardens Scheme in England and also reflects the equivalent amount of preparation I've made to open my garden to you over the web. My prize giveaways mentioned later - just to show what you missed - have finished, but I still have some seeds saved from mine and a couple of other bloggers gardens if you'd like some. See the sidebar on the right for more details and contact me via vegplotting at gmail dot com.

Note: The seed giveaway will be for UK and EU residents only (thanks to Sue Swift for confirming I can send seeds to EU residents) owing to the seed import restrictions applicable elsewhere. For example, I can't send seeds to the US unless you're registered with customs. I have risked it in the past and seeds have got usually got through to the recipient, but the postage costs are almost as much as my suggested minimum donation. In view of this I won't be sending seeds to the US.

Update 30/6/2009: Sing For Water continues! The first Sing For Water West took place last Saturday at Bristol Harbour, thanks to Chris and Ali, 2 of our choirmasters from last year, Chris' wife Lisa and a great team of volunteers. We were blessed with a hot sunny day and a large audience who came to hear 600 of us gathered from all over the south-west and Surrey. It was another fantastic day and you'll find links over to Veg Plotting about this year's event in the right sidebar.

Now, let's go and find the garden shall we?