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| Articles |
| 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 …
Fungal Networks
An accessible deep dive into fungal networks and mycorrhizae, exploring how underground fungi support plant health, soil resilience, nutrient exchange, and sustainable ecosystems.
A Quiet Launch, Now Public
A quiet reflection on why our new website exists, how it supports the work we do, and why the blog remains a place for depth, care, and thoughtful observation.
Under the Bed — The First Insect Zoo
A childhood insect zoo hidden under the bed becomes a reflection on curiosity, responsibility, decay, and the early lessons that shape a gardener’s respect for living systems.
Common Questions
A considered look at hedge cutting, nesting season, and how gardeners balance law, ecology, and practical responsibility.
Zero-Input Plants
Zero-input plants offer a resilient, low-maintenance approach to gardening by thriving without fertilisers, irrigation, or constant care once established.
Rain Is Not the Problem
A reflective essay on why battery tools flatten faster in the rain, what that reveals about energy and limits, and how learning when to stop becomes part of good garden maintenance.
Quiet Gardening
Quiet gardening focuses on low-noise tools, thoughtful timing, and gentle methods to create calmer, wildlife-friendly gardens without sacrificing quality or care.
Under the Surface
A reflective account of discovering drowned worms in water tubs, exploring soil health, unintended consequences, and what careful gardening really asks of us.
Quality Soil Over Quantity
Why quality soil matters more than quantity in sustainable gardening, exploring structure, biology, organic matter, and long-term soil health.
Rain Is Not the Problem
An essay exploring why petrol tools feel safer in wet weather, how battery tools respond differently, and what rain reveals about trust, habit, and maintenance.
Shrews in the UK
A detailed, engaging guide to shrew species in the UK, exploring their behaviour, habitats, extreme lifestyles, and vital role in healthy ecosystems.
Common Questions
Why frequent lawn mowing can do more harm than good. A reflective gardener’s essay on soil, resilience, wildlife, and learning when not to cut.
Joining Habitats in Gardening
Joining habitats in gardening explores how connected gardens support wildlife, resilience, and ecological balance through thoughtful planting, soil care, and shared spaces.
Things I Didn’t Notice at First
A reflective essay on February — its emotional weight, seasonal mismatch, and what working outdoors teaches us about patience, recovery, and readiness.
Excess Nitrogen Growth
Excess nitrogen growth causes lush but weak plants, poor flowering, shallow roots, and increased pests. Learn how to identify, correct, and prevent nitrogen imbalance for healthier gardens.
Common Questions
Do gardeners work in heavy rain or extreme heat? A reflective look at how weather shapes real gardening decisions, soil care, safety, and long-term garden health.
RED Gardens
Explore Red Gardens’ regenerative approach to vegetable growing, where experimentation, soil health, and honest learning shape resilient home gardens.
Rain Is Not the Problem
An observational essay on working in the garden during rain, exploring how wet weather reveals habits, judgment, and the true nature of maintenance.
The Small Garden
A practical guide to why focusing on one border can transform a small garden, including soil preparation, editing, planting structure, and spacing for calmer long-term maintenance.
Unseen Soil Work
A practical exploration of unseen soil work, explaining how long-term soil care quietly supports healthier, more resilient gardens from the ground up.
When the Ground Fills From Both Sides
An observational gardener’s essay on water tables, clay soil, and why lawns struggle and fail in wet UK winters.
The Hedgehog
Discover the life of the hedgehog, from foraging and hibernation to its close relationship with gardens, hedgerows, and connected green spaces.
Kitchen Compost Reality in Gardening
An honest, practical look at kitchen compost in gardening, exploring what it really does, its limitations, and how to use it effectively for healthier soil and resilient gardens.
When the Ground Won’t Take Any More
Reflections from a working gardener on winter rain, waterlogged lawns, and what an exceptionally wet January revealed about soil, patience, and recovery.
Underplanting
Underplanting explained: how layering plants beneath trees and shrubs improves soil health, suppresses weeds, boosts resilience, and creates low-maintenance, natural-looking gardens.
Invasive vs Vigorous
Understanding the difference between invasive and vigorous plants helps gardeners make responsible choices, manage growth effectively, and protect biodiversity without sacrificing a healthy, productive garden.
Funnel-Webs, Bull Ants & Painful Lessons
Childhood encounters with funnel-web spiders and bull ants reveal how pain, memory, and enforced boundaries shaped a lifelong respect for insects and the ground they inhabit.
Volunteer Plants in Gardening
Volunteer plants appear naturally in gardens and can signal soil health, support wildlife, or become a nuisance. Learn how to identify, manage, and work with them.
Understanding the Grass Snake
A calm, informative guide to grass snakes in the UK, exploring their behaviour, habitats, swimming ability, and importance in healthy wetland ecosystems.
When Fear Gets the Click
A quiet reflection on how social newspapers frame AI through fear, and why work, purpose, and human contribution are far more resilient than headlines suggest.
Things I Didn’t Notice at First
Things I Didn’t Notice at First is a reflective essay series about attention, familiarity, and the quiet moments when ordinary places, work, and habits reveal themselves differently.
| © 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. |
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