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| Content Articles |
| This space isn’t a traditional blog. It’s a working record of our gardening — and the thinking behind it. Because we rarely display our clients’ gardens, much of what we do is reflected here in writing instead. Most posts are grounded in real, day-to-day garden work, with the occasional reflection on place, land, and the nature of the work itself. It isn’t written for a wide readership. But for those who take a moment to look, it offers a clear sense of how we approach what we do. About our writing & imagery Many of our articles are written by us, drawing on real experience, reflection, and practical work in gardens and places we know. Some pieces are developed with the assistance of AI as a drafting and research tool. Featured images may include our own photography, original AI-generated imagery, or—where noted—images kindly shared by other creators and credited accordingly (for example, via Pixabay). All content is shaped, edited, and published by Earthly Comforts, and the views expressed are our own. |
Earthly Comforts Latest Posts …
Working With Worms
A reflective essay on tools in worm farming, exploring additives, tests, gadgets, and why understanding systems matters more than optimisation.
The Garden Butler Essays
Not every gardener is right for every client, and not every client is right for every gardener. Rory reflects on trust, service and why the best gardening relationships are built on shared expectations rather than simply shared tasks.
European Insects
A reflective exploration of Europe’s beetles and ground insects, examining soil health, decomposition, nutrient cycling and the hidden workforce that keeps landscapes functioning.
The Long Way Into the Dark
A reflective essay on leaving horror behind, exploring completion, attention, and how a lifelong relationship with dark writing came to a quiet close.
Things I Didn’t Notice at First
An observational essay on what changes when you stop rushing — exploring transitions, attention, and why the spaces between tasks matter as much as the tasks themselves.
European Insects
A reflective exploration of Europe’s butterflies and moths, examining migration, seasonal timing, traditional landscapes and what these remarkable insects reveal about environmental change.
Working With Worms
A reflective look at how worm farming fits into the wider garden, exploring castings, compost, soil context, and why results vary so widely.
European Insects
A reflective exploration of Europe’s ants, bees and wasps, examining how these remarkable insects build resilient systems within landscapes shaped by people over thousands of years.
Essential Tools for a Productive Veg Plot
A reflective guide to the essential tools for a productive UK veg plot—focused on rhythm, soil care and long-term efficiency.
Working With Worms
A reflective essay on the longevity of worm farms, exploring ageing systems, renewal, collapse, and what long-term success really looks like.
The Garden Butler Essays
What is the difference between gardening and truly looking after a garden? Rory reflects on how observation, stewardship and quiet responsibility gradually reshaped the philosophy of Earthly Comforts.
Crops to Grow in a Window Box
A reflective guide to crops suited to UK window boxes—herbs, salads and fruit that thrive in shallow containers and small spaces.
The Long Way Into the Dark
A reflective essay on reading horror, the occult, and theology between adolescence and adulthood, exploring curiosity, misunderstanding, and how dark writing became a way of orientation.
Sweet Peas
A reflective UK guide to growing sweet peas—sowing, planting, feeding and cutting for long-lasting, fragrant summer blooms.
Easy Vegetables for Beginner Growers
A reflective guide to easy vegetables for beginner growers—practical, resilient crops that build confidence and rhythm in UK gardens.
Wildlife Gardening, Without the Chaos
A reflective epilogue bringing together the themes of wildlife gardening with care, balance, and restraint, showing how calm, consistent stewardship supports life without chaos.
Working With Worms
A reflective essay on absence in worm farming, exploring holidays, neglect, trust, and why many worm farms improve when left alone.
If Water Became Difficult to Find
What if water became difficult to find? A thoughtful exploration of how gardeners might adapt to an uncertain future, where every drop matters and resilience quietly replaces abundance.
Growing Squash
Learn how to grow squash in containers successfully with the right varieties, large pots, rich compost, steady watering, and proper care for healthy plants and reliable harvests in small gardens.
Things I Didn’t Notice at First
An observational essay on the spaces we keep tidy for others — exploring appearance, privacy, care, and the quiet tension between presentation and real use.
Growing Courgettes
A practical guide to growing courgettes in containers in the UK, covering compost, watering, feeding, container size and harvesting for reliable summer crops in small gardens and patios.
If Tools Became Harder to Replace
There is an old spade leaning against the wall in our workshop that probably should have retired years ago. The handle has been replaced once, the blade has been sharpened so many times that it bears only a passing resemblance to the tool that originally left the factory, and if you look closely, there is…
Working With Worms
A reflective exploration of temperature in worm farming, examining how heat and cold shape worm behaviour, system stability, and seasonal rhythm.
Growing Beans
A reflective UK guide to growing all types of beans—broad beans, runner beans, French beans and drying varieties—with practical seasonal advice.
The Garden Butler Essays
Why do we call ourselves Garden Butlers? Rory reflects on a career in hospitality, working as a butler and how those experiences quietly shaped the philosophy behind Earthly Comforts. The first essay in The Garden Butler Essays.
Growing Beetroot
A reflective UK guide to growing beetroot—covering soil preparation, sowing, watering and harvesting for steady, reliable crops.
The Long Way Into the Dark
A reflective essay on living with an extensive horror book collection, exploring shelves, space, weight, and how rooms shape attention and memory.
Growing Cucumber
A reflective UK guide to growing cucumbers—covering greenhouse and outdoor types, watering, feeding, support and harvesting for consistent summer crops.
If Plants Stopped Being Passive
What if plants stopped quietly accepting our plans and began subtly making their own? A light-hearted yet thought-provoking exploration of gardening, control, and the day plants finally decided to join the conversation.
Wildlife Gardening, Without the Chaos
A calm exploration of what rewilding truly means in a town garden, focusing on balance, care, and realistic ecological thinking.
Fox-Proofing Hedgehog Feeding Stations
Fox-proofing hedgehog feeding stations requires thoughtful design rather than deterrents. Explore practical ways to protect hedgehog food and shelter while encouraging wildlife-friendly coexistence.
| © 2022 – 2026 Rory Matier – Earthly Comforts – All rights reserved |
| About our writing & imagery Many of our articles are written by us, drawing on real experience, reflection, and practical work in gardens and places we know. Some pieces are developed with the assistance of AI as a drafting and research tool. Featured images may include our own photography, original AI-generated imagery, or—where noted—images kindly shared by other creators and credited accordingly (for example, via Pixabay). All content is shaped, edited, and published by Earthly Comforts, and the views expressed are our own. |
| 25 Harnet Street Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9ES 07505 744533/07486 073991 rorymatierearthlycomforts@gmail.com |
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