Our gardens are becoming a bit more overgrown and messy. It may not be so much a trend as a necessity, muses Åsa Bard Talborn, project manager for the Garden Fair being held in Stockholm this weekend.
"People who are planting a garden or planning their plant purchases are increasingly thinking about creating environments to help pollinators and preserve biodiversity. It's something that's talked about a lot and highlighted in different ways," she says.
Recycling in the garden
Another trend where more and more people are starting to think about sustainability is compost and fertilizer.
You think about recycling in your garden. Instead of cutting things down in the spring and driving them to the recycling center, and then going to buy soil, you can use it to make your own soil and compost it.
It is also clear that growing is no longer just something you do if you have a garden or allotment. Pallet collars and potato sacks have become common on balconies and patios.
Growing in a small area, and even on a balcony, is becoming much more common, and people are starting to look at how to grow on the surface, for example at different levels, so that you can make the most of it.
More edible plants
The trend has also gone from the balcony being a space to decorate to also growing things that you can eat. Edibles are becoming more and more popular, also a reaction to events in the world, says Åsa Bard Talborn.
Contingency farming is, for better or worse, a hot topic at the moment. There are several books on the subject that tell you how to think, such as how to farm to get the most income and what is most suitable to grow.
Growing your own seeds is also an increasing trend.
It also has to do with preparedness and self-sufficiency. If we have to import, or depend on someone else to supply us with seeds, then it will be a bit difficult if we end up in a real crisis.
