Most of all, I like the quiet, rounded tugs. They remind me of women. As I watch them work I see them as kindly, no-fuss boats which patiently tend much larger, grander and more important-looking ships. They make sure these ships get to the right place as the right time, shepherding them with a pull or a push as needed. Their power is not immediately obvious but it is there - inside. I watch them a lot and never tire of seeing their unsung but absolutely essential work. The silent strong women of the sea.

FIGHT FOR THE EARTH: The earth can't speak for itself, it will just slowly die if we don't fight for it.

A Garden Is Not Passive. It has its own way of responding to your involvement and commitment to it. When you walk into a garden, you know whether it is loved or not.

I don't think of compassion as sympathy but rather as empathy. An understanding of how people are feeling, which often translates into action.

Women's networks are a necessary part of life. A mixture of empathy and brainstorming can move mountains.

Living Things. The garden can be as unlimited a resource as you want it to be. It's an escape from everything if you just want a break. It is something to do with living things, not a static piece that you put there and look at but something that changes every day. You're committed to it. If you don't look after it, it dies on you. And if you do look after it, it will give you rewards - pleasure, and a feeling of achievement. There's a sense of responsibility developed in a garden.

The dialogue between women is a rich field, but change does not come without a lot of reading, asking, listening, risk-taking and hard work.