Jenny Ruddle (me)

Its always easier writing about someone else, or anything other than yourself.  But here is my attempt to describe me.  I am currently a mother of two and after 6 years of not much sleep, I am now on my way to achieving a normal sleeping pattern.  I was a self employed gardener (before mother hood), for just over a decade.  I love the outdoors, I love plants and flowers and I love to grow seedlings, it is such a joy to watch things sprout and grow.  I fell into gardening, after I studied art at university.  I didn't feel like I was making the art that I could make and felt like I was wasting golden oppituinity and so put my art studies on hold, until later in life.  I had just met Ben and was at a loss of what to do and so found a job at a local garden centre.  It was here, that I taught myself about all the plants, as I watered and weeded them and dealt with customers, constantly increasing my knowledge and understanding.  Working in a garden centre is pretty good in the spring and summer but very slow in the winter.  So I decided to become a gardener and work in peoples gardens.  

I have done many other jobs too, like working in my parents pub, as a waitress, barmaid and general kitchen hand.  I have cleaned for a friend of mine, for well over a decade, she owns 5 gold star holiday lets in Suffolk (I used to do the gardens there too) I have been a wedding photographer, a child minder and I also rent out our family home, as a holiday let, in the spring and summer, this produces a whole new set of adventures.  I do other seasonal work that fits into my life.  In the winter for nearly 20 years I have made all natural Christmas door wreaths, I started making them and selling at fairs but now I have a good returning client base and only make to order.  I have also started to willow weave, obelisks for plants to climb in the summer.  I make Christmas cards of my surrounding town and countryside using my photography and sell them at fairs.  

I used to have a horse when I was younger and have worked on a few farms whilst travelling. I have experience with many animals.  I can also cook, I like to cook from scratch and like to use fresh ingredients. I love being outdoors, I enjoy hiking and canoeing and biking.  I love to be on the water or in it but also like to keep myself safe, I have a strong sense of self preservation!  I love being surrounded by birds and bees and anything good for your soul.  I love to help people, meet people and am easy going.  I like to organise and am an optimistic person.