Creating Productive Gardens: Natasha Morgan’s Approach to Blending Beauty, Function, and Sustainability
In my years as a landscape architect, both large and small-scale projects have taught me that a garden can be so much more than just a space of beauty. It can serve a multitude of purposes, nourishing the body, connecting us with nature, and offering moments of mindfulness. My approach to creating productive gardens reflects this philosophy: a seamless blend of beauty, function, and sustainability that invites participation in the natural rhythms of life.
Little Cottage On A Hill, Daylesford
A Deep Connection with Nature
For me, a productive garden is more than just a source of sustenance; it is an active partnership with the landscape. It embodies a respect for the cycles of nature, encouraging us to grow what is suited to the soil, climate, and season. I believe that by working with nature, rather than imposing upon it, we can create gardens that are both abundant and sustainable.
Little Cottage On A Hill, Daylesford (As featured in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine - May 2024 issue)
Beauty and Function in Harmony
At the core of my garden design philosophy is the belief that beauty and function should never be mutually exclusive. Every element in the garden has a role to play. Whether it’s an espaliered fruit tree that defines the boundary while producing seasonal fruit, or a wicking bed that conserves water while adding sculptural interest to the landscape, I aim to create spaces where every element serves multiple purposes. It’s this careful balance of form and function that makes a garden truly inspiring.
The Wicking Bed Garden at Little Cottage on a Hill, Daylesford, uses repurposed and timber-clad IBCs (industrial-grade containers engineered for the mass handling, transport, and storage of liquids) and reinforcing mesh to create beautiful and water-wise wicking beds that not only nourish my productive crops but also save my back!
Sustainability as a Guiding Principle
Sustainability is integral to my approach. From Oak & Monkey Puzzle’s expensive five acres to the compact Little Cottage on a Hill, I’ve always prioritised environmentally conscious practices. This means using water wisely through techniques like wicking beds, encouraging biodiversity by planting for pollinators, and reusing materials wherever possible. These practices are not only good for the environment but also make the garden more resilient and self-sustaining.
Small Spaces, Big Impact
My latest project, Little Cottage on a Hill, is a testament to how even the smallest spaces can be highly productive and deeply rewarding. With only 515 square metres, I’ve reimagined the concept of a productive garden, demonstrating that with thoughtful design, small spaces can produce an abundance of food while remaining beautiful and inviting. From the verge gardens that provide seasonal vegetables, medicinal plants and herbs to the espaliered fruit trees that define the space, every square metre has been carefully considered to maximise both productivity and aesthetics.
Little Cottage on a Hill’s west-facing verge garden includes flowers and medicinal plants, maximising our wide verges on deep volcanic soils.
A Space to Live Well
A productive garden isn’t just about growing food—it’s about cultivating a space that allows for living well. It’s a space to slow down, observe the seasons, and find joy in the simple act of planting, harvesting, and preserving. For me, this mindfulness is just as important as the garden’s physical yield. It’s about creating a space that nourishes the body and the soul, offering a deeper connection to nature and to ourselves.
Little Cottage on a Hill’s north-facing verge garden includes flowers, herbs and vegetables maximising every horizontal and vertical surface.
Gardens are living, evolving spaces. They are places of beauty, function, and sustainability, where each season brings new challenges and rewards. My approach is always to create spaces that are not only visually pleasing but also deeply functional and environmentally mindful. Whether working on large-scale projects or intimate urban spaces, my goal remains the same: to inspire others to live well through the creation of beautiful, sustainable, and productive gardens.
