The Beauty of Diverse Productive Gardens: Finding Inspiration in Every Space

The morning light streams through the summer haze as I sit here, tea in hand, watching the bees buzz between the flowering herbs and vegetables. The garden is approaching its most abundant time now, with tomatoes ripening on their vines and zucchini seemingly doubling in size overnight. From a life of making productive gardens and my transition between Oak & Monkey Puzzle's sprawling 5 acres to Little Cottage on a Hill's intimate 515m², I've learnt that productive gardens come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique story to tell.

Nature has a way of teaching us that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a productive garden. Each space holds its own magic, whether it's a tiny urban courtyard or a sprawling rural property. The potential for abundance is always there, if we learn to work with what we have - especially when the earth feels warm beneath our feet and the air is thick with the scent of ripening tomatoes.

Today, I want to share a round-up of inspiring productive gardens that form part of a ridiculously large collection of images in my Pinterest library (I am a serial collector of 'precedent images'). Each demonstrates the myriad of ways productive gardens can be designed and implemented and that with abundance there can be great beauty whilst meeting the needs of each context.

The Layered Garden

There's something magical about a garden that grows up as well as out. I love how climbing beans create living walls, their flowers drawing in buzzing bees while their leaves cast dancing shadows on the plants below. At Little Cottage on a Hill, these vertical spaces have become some of our most precious growing areas. On hot summer days, the layers of green create cool, sheltered spots where tender lettuces can thrive even as the temperature soars.

The Urban Oasis

It fills me with joy to see how creative gardeners become when space is limited. Some of the most inspiring productive gardens I've seen are tucked into the smallest corners of city life. Pots overflow with herbs, vertical walls burst with strawberries, and clever trellises transform bare walls into green havens. These spaces remind me that gardening isn't about the size of your plot - it's about working with what you have and finding beauty in the possibilities.

The Traditional Kitchen Garden

Perhaps it's the rhythm of repeated plantings or the satisfaction of neat rows bursting with life, but there's something deeply grounding about a traditional kitchen garden. Right now, ours is a symphony of summer abundance - tomatoes reaching for the sky, basil perfuming the air, and zucchini flowers opening to greet the morning sun. Between these ordered rows, nature adds her own touch - self-seeded flowers pop up in unexpected places, creating moments of surprise and delight.

The Orchard Garden

Orchards are, for me, special landscape spaces. At Oak & Monkey Puzzle, the fruit trees created their own rhythm through the seasons, from spring blossoms to summer's abundance. The skills I learnt in trying out espaliering was a particular joy - watching fruit trees trained along wires transform a simple fence line into a productive, living wall. Now at Little Cottage on a Hill, we're creating our own espalier orchard along the north-facing fenceline, proving that even in a small space, we can work with nature to create beautiful, productive boundaries. On hot summer days, I'm especially grateful for the dappled shade fruit trees cast, creating perfect spots for both plants and people to gather.

Lessons from an Ever-Evolving Garden

What I've learnt through my own journey is that productive gardens are truly "open works" - they're never finished, always evolving through seasons and years. Right now, they're teaching me about resilience, about adapting to heat and how to preserve precious water while still creating abundance. This is my driest summer in years, and now, being located in Daylesford, I’m learning about what that means in this location.

Growing Through Change: Productive Gardening for Every Space

As we continue to adapt to our changing climate and smaller spaces, these diverse approaches to productive gardening become increasingly valuable. They show us that whether we have acres or square metres, there's always room to grow, to learn, and to create beauty - even in the challenges of an Australian summer.

Want to learn more about creating your own productive garden? Join me for my upcoming workshop: Workshop with Natasha Morgan. Together, we'll explore how to transform your space, whatever its size, into a thriving productive garden that reflects your unique vision of living well.

I'd love to hear about your favourite productive gardens. What style speaks to you? Share your faves in the comments below —- It’s so good to know from others what inspires them too. 

Connecting with Nature for Creative Self-Care

There’s a quiet magic in the act of connecting with nature—a soft, grounding presence that whispers us back to ourselves. For me, it’s not just a practice but a way of being—a form of creative self-care that nurtures the spirit while inspiring the work of my hands.

Walking through the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens or the winding trails of Cornish Hill in Daylesford, foraging for elderflowers kissed by the sun or windfallen apples resting gently on the earth, I find myself rooted in the present. These moments—fleeting yet profound—are my meditation, my ritual, and my joy. They are the essence of living well: simple, intentional, and deeply connected to the rhythm of the seasons.

The Art of Foraging: A Reflection of Living Well

Foraging is my quiet act of mindfulness. It’s more than the gathering of nature’s gifts—it’s a conversation with the landscape, a chance to notice its beauty and abundance. The honeyed fragrance of elderflowers, the dusky richness of elderberries, or the earthy delight of wild mushrooms after the rain—all become treasures waiting to be discovered.

There’s something deeply humbling about holding a windfallen apple, its imperfections a reminder of its story and potential. These small acts of seeking, gathering, and creating feel symbiotic—taking what is freely offered while leaving plenty for the earth to continue its cycle.

Each find carries more than its physical presence. It holds the memory of where it was discovered, the season it reflects, and the joy it sparked in that moment. Foraging invites us to slow down, to step lightly, and to embrace the quiet abundance in unexpected places.

Creating with Nature: From Forage to Preserve

The real magic begins when I bring these offerings into my kitchen. Transforming elderflowers into a delicate syrup or windfallen apples into a warm, spiced chutney becomes an extension of the creativity sparked by foraging. The act of preserving isn’t just about saving the harvest; it’s about capturing the essence of the season—the sweetness of spring, the crispness of autumn, the earthiness of winter.

Each creation feels like a bridge between the natural world and our daily lives. A jar of jam becomes more than a spread for toast—it becomes a memory of golden mornings in the garden, a reminder of the beauty we can hold onto.

To me, this is the heart of self-care: engaging with the world around us in a way that honours its gifts, creates something meaningful, and nourishes not just our bodies but our spirits.

A Life Designed in Symbiosis with the Seasons

My passion for foraging and preserving is intertwined with my work as a landscape architect and my journey of creating gardens that reflect the rhythms of nature. At Little Cottage on a Hill, I’ve distilled years of experience into designing a garden that is not only productive and beautiful but also sustainable. It’s a small space that works hard, much like the land itself, embodying the values I hold dear: creativity, community, and a mindful connection to the seasons.

From espaliered fruit trees lining the verges to wicking beds brimming with herbs and vegetables, every element of my garden mirrors the cycles of growth, harvest, and renewal. These gardens are more than spaces to inhabit; they are places of experimentation, creativity, and community—a canvas for my passions and a prototype for sustainable living.

A Shared Joy: Connecting Through Nature

Beyond the personal, these practices have taught me the value of sharing and connecting with others. Through my workshops and collaborations, I’ve seen how foraging, gardening, and creating can inspire a sense of community and collective care for the earth. Gardens and wild spaces remind us of life’s cycles and the beauty of embracing them, not just as observers but as active participants.

There’s an unparalleled joy in these rituals. Whether I’m walking through the fog-laden forest, tending to my verge garden, or crafting a batch of elderflower syrup, I’m reminded of the quiet abundance that surrounds us. These moments, fleeting yet profound, are the essence of living well as I see it—rooted in nature, mindful, and creative.

An Invitation to Begin to Connect with Nature

If this way of living calls to you, start small. Take a walk through a local park or along a favourite path. Notice the textures of bark, the play of light through leaves, the colours that speak of the season. Perhaps you’ll forage a little—always with care, always with respect.

Try crafting something simple, like a syrup or a small jar of jam. Let the act of creation connect you to the land and its gifts, grounding you in the beauty of the present moment.

Nature has a way of holding us, of inspiring and restoring us, if we let it. By engaging with its rhythms—walking, foraging, preserving, or simply pausing to breathe—we find not only self-care but a sense of belonging.

Here’s to the quiet joys, the mindful moments, and the beauty of a life rooted in nature. Let’s walk gently together, in tune with the seasons, and find our way back to the heart of living well.

"There’s no Wi-Fi in Nature, but I promise you’ll find a better connection."