Elizabeth Waddington
Permaculture and Sustainability Consultancy
Permaculture design, sustainability advice and environmental consultancy for individuals, businesses and organisations.
News and Inspiration
Case Study: Scottish Forest Garden
I have been a little remiss in updating case studies to this site recently, but this is not because nothing has been going on but rather because there has been so much! Finding time to share what I have been doing has been a challenge, but I do still want to make sure that I…
Case Study: Caribbean Eco Village
Co-operation and community are key to creating a thriving and healthy future for all. Starting with a single property, with an eco-home and organic, sustainable permaculture garden, a project can grow to incorporate a number of independent homes and gardens sharing resources and working together to combine modern sustainability practices and traditional village life. The…
Case Study: SE England Wildlife Garden
This is my design for a garden of approximately 28 x 28m (784 sq m) in South Eastern England. The garden is currently mostly laid to lawn, with a marked slope upwards to the northern end. It is surrounded by a fairly low natural stone wall that has crumbled down in a couple of places,…
Case Study: Collaborative Permaculture Plan – Turkey
This is the concept plan for a project I am working on for a client in Turkey, who is planning to convert the barn on this piece of land, and create a homestead with a forest garden and vines. The primary concern was to create water systems to retain water on the property while also…
Case Study: Eastern Kansas Permaculture Plan
This case study shows my concept design for a small property on a lot of a little under 170 sq m, in eastern Kansas, at the fringes of the central forest-grasslands transition ecotone, where the eastern forests meet the great plains. The client has just moved into the property in question and wants to turn…
Case Study: Scotland Agroforestry
This is the concept plan for a new food producing garden and agroforestry area of approximately 4 acres, on a smallholding of around 7 acres in south west Scotland, where the primary goal is to provide a substantial proportion of the diet of the inhabitants while also generating income through additional yields. As well as…
Case Study: Victoria, Australia Childcare Centre Garden
The concept plan above shows the design for a site in Victoria, Australia. The site is a childcare facility, for children aged between 18 months and 6 years, and sometimes older children up to the age of 10 after school and during holidays. This design therefore takes into account their needs and requirements for their…
Case Study: Co-Housing Permaculture Design
I’ve had a very busy few weeks, but wanted to update you on another case study showing a design I completed some time ago. I have been rather slow to update of late so I have several recent designs to share, and I will be sure to do so over the next week or two.…
Case Study: Family-Fun Garden
This design shows a garden for a family in USDA Zone 7, Virginia, who want to make the most of their space to enjoy time together before the oldest children leave home, with space to incorporate the interests of family members of a range of different ages, while also growing more food and other resources…
Case Study: Water-Wise California Garden
Water-wise gardening is crucial wherever you live. But is especially important, of course, in regions where water-shortage is a particularly pressing issue. This concept design for a garden in California shows that xeriscaping – or water-wise planting – does not always have to involve vast expanses of paving and gravel and spiky cacti and succulents.…
Case Study: India Permaculture Syntropic Agroforestry
This case study is an initial concept plan for a design I am currently working on in India’s Tamil Nadu region. The goal for this design is to create a syntropic food forest or agroforestry system on this site. To facilitate creation and water management, the main portion of the planting zone will be laid…
Case Study: Maryland Permaculture
This design shows the expansion of existing vegetable growing areas and productive spaces into the existing lawn of a Maryland property. It has been developed with reference to the location and site, and the client’s requirements, using permaculture design methods. Located in the Coastal Plain region, almost entirely dependent on groundwater for its water supply,…
Case Study: Sloping Garden Design
This is a design for a sloping back garden in northern England. The site slopes steeply down from north to south, from the back of the home to the lower end. There is around 2.2m difference in elevation between the highest point outside the back door, to the lowest point close to the end of…
Case Study: Intentional Community
This concept design is for a planned intentional permaculture community set in farmland and woodland in Idaho, covering around 10 acres at the heart of a site of around 25 acres. The idea behind the design is to create a community of around 25-50 people living in a sustainable way and collaborating to grow food…
Earth Day Inspiration
What should you do to celebrate Earth Day, invest in our planet and take action? There are, of course, a great many things that you can do – and not just on Earth Day. Remember, caring for people and planet should be something we all do year-round. But Earth Day is an opportunity to hit…
Case Study: Mediterranean Permaculture Concept Plan
This site of around 2 acres is located in the Provence region of France, in the Mediterranean climate zone. It enjoys a long growing season ideally suited to the cultivation of a range of plants and crops. The primary challenges are heat and aridity in the summer months, so shade creation, and good water management…
Fruit Tree Guild Planting Dos and Don’ts
Planting fruit trees can be a wonderful idea in many gardens. But whenever you consider planting a fruit tree, there are of course a wide range of things to think about. Creating a fruit tree guild is one of those things. Of course, you need to think about the environmental conditions and where you live.…
Thinking Global, Considering Regional, Acting Local
Apologies for the hiatus – I have been a little slow to post recently on this site because I have been extremely busy. I have been working on a range of projects, writing, and have, of course, also been busy here on my own property, both with the never-ending string of spring sowing and growing…
Case Study: Mississippi Permaculture Concept Plan
This is my concept design for a site of around 3 acres in Mississippi. The design aims to maximise food production while also providing for the needs of those who live on site and providing attractive and useful family space. The design is, of course, tailored to the client, the site, and the local conditions,…
Case Study: Public Park
This case study shows my design for a new public park in England. The site is currently a large grassy area, used in part as a play area for local school children from an adjacent school to the north but otherwise little used. The goal is to turn this area into an asset for the…
Blending Human Requirements and Nature’s Needs
Designs for home gardens and community sites must take into account, of course, the needs of the natural world around us. But they should also meet human needs. Often, it can seem as though these are conflicting. Though at the root, of course, these are one and the same. At the heart of it all,…
Case Study: Healing Garden
Many of us turn to our gardens when we are in need of healing – in physical body or in mind. In this case study, we see a garden where healing is the main purpose – the primary goal was to create a wildlife friendly space where the client could move around easily, and feel…
Our Individual Choices Can Perpetuate Problems or Work Towards Good
It is easy to feel helpless in today’s world – shifted by political tides, our changing climate, and other factors which can sometimes feel beyond our control. But while, often, we may struggle to see how we can truly change things for the better, it is always so important to remember that as individuals, we…
Case Study: Terraced Forest Garden Permaculture Design
This case study shows the preliminary concept design for a challenging garden with extreme slope in south western England. Existing retaining walls on a steep slope to the north and north east of the existing home are failing, insufficient and in poor repair. There are concerns that damage could occur to the home. Existing planting…
We Stand Together
These are dark and disturbing times. I’ve thought for a while about what I wanted to say about the tragic atrocities the Russian military is currently perpetrating on the people of Ukraine. While, living elsewhere we can sleep well, without threat, in our homes and plan our spring gardens, I am sure I speak for…
Case Study: Cambodian Project
This month has been a little different to many for me because rather than working on a number of smaller designs, I have predominantly been working on the next stage of the large project in Cambodia which I shared before. Above, you can see a portion of the planting plans for the North Valley areas…
Making a Living From Land
Many homesteaders, smallholders and hobby farmers dream of making a living from the land they tend. For some, a higher level of self-sufficiency is the only goal. But others dream of turning their property into a successful business. Seeking Solutions for Land Through my consultancy and design work, I can provide help to my clients…
Case Study: Community Potager
Not many of us, I think, would be generous enough to give over our own private gardens to community growing. But that is exactly what the client for the design shown above wishes to do. While they wish to grow food for themselves, they also want to create a space to grow as much food…
Land Ownership and Land Access
As a designer, I usually work with those who have been fortunate enough to purchase land. But I also work with communities and groups who are overcoming the challenges of access to land and providing what essentially becomes common land for the benefit of all. This is something I feel very passionate about. Land ownership…
Case Study: Cape Town, South Africa Permaculture Design
This is a quick overall concept plan I have created for a small suburban property of c. 495 sq m (mostly built on) in Cape Town, South Africa. Of course, this does not include all the planting detail, but serves to show the overall intention and as a point for feedback and discussion before more…
Getting Back to the Roots
I recently wrote a brief article for Treehugger: Why We Should Think About Roots. In this piece, I look a quick look at why it is so important to delve deeper, both when thinking about gardens and garden design, and when trying to live a sustainable life in general. We can learn a lot from…
Case Study: Connecticut Permaculture Design
This is a design for the garden of a family home in Connecticut, USDA zone 6. The goal was to create a design which maximised food production while also giving visual beauty, benefit to local wildlife, zones for recreation, and plenty of space for children to play. This garden is for a family of seven,…
Updating Traditional Cottage Garden Style for Your Specific Location
Certain styles of gardens are perennially popular around the world. The English cottage garden is one typical example. But achieving a certain style does not mean copying the design exactly, down to the specific plants that you choose. So good design often means updating traditional garden styles with native plants – to make them more…
Case Study: Cambodia Permaculture Project
I’ve had a very busy week, so have not had time to write any other posts this week. But I did want to share with you an exciting and large-scale project which I have been working on, and will be working a lot more on next month. Eco- Resort, Restoration, Reclamation – A Sustainable Future…
Case Study: Senegal
This is a design for a small property in Nguerigne, Senegal. This is a property of around 2,400 sq m, currently almost entirely bare and exposed except for one baobab tree. It is level, sandy and dry. This region is close to the intersection between the Sahel, and the West Sudanian savannah – in an…
Rewilding On A Range of Scales
When we talk about rewilding, we are often talking about doing so on a landscape scale – over broad areas. Large scale conservation, ecosystem restoration and rewildling are certainly important. But it is also important to consider smaller scale rewilding schemes on individual properties, and even in individual gardens. I’ve had a very busy start…
Case Study: Child-Friendly Garden Design
This design was for a small garden in southern England, for a client who not only has her own children but also works as a childminder. The garden, therefore, needed to be rationalised and laid out better, so that it would work well for the family themselves, their chickens, their dog, and for all the…
Water Conservation in Garden Design
I have worked on a number of designs for dryland regions and arid climates. And of course, in such design work, water conservation is key. But no matter where you live, it is important to think about water conservation in garden design. It is important to consider both landscape and the build environment when considering…
Case Study: Philippines Permaculture Plan
This concept design, which I completed late last year, outlines a holistic plan for a small farm on the island of Guimaras, in the Philippines. The plan will bring together work already completed on the property, to create a naturally harmonious ecosystem which meets human needs while nurturing the environment and boosting biodiversity on the…
Creating a Sustainable, Permaculture Home
If you think about permaculture and sustainability, you may well picture a rural idyll, with a large garden or area of land where an abundance of food is grown. This is, indeed, one type of sustainable, permaculture home. But such homes come in many shapes, forms and sizes – they can be found all over…
Become a More Sustainable Gardener in 2022
As a garden designer, I have been heartened to see so many people embracing sustainable organic gardening over the past couple of years. But even those who set out with the best intentions could still do more to make sure they are doing the right thing for people and planet in their gardens. Here are…
Happy New Year!
Hello all! I hope everyone is enjoying a good start to 2022. I am now back at work and refreshed after a break. We had a sustainable Christmas at home with family and then a few days away up north staying in a remote cottage in Assynt, further up north here in Scotland, to get…
Merry Christmas!
I am going to be finishing up with some projects over the next couple of days, and will then be off work between the 24th and the 3rd as we enjoy spending time with guests, relaxing, and spending time in the garden and on our barn conversion project, with a few days away in a…
Opt Out of Christmas Excess – Take a DIY Approach
It might be tempting to over-buy at any time, but the temptation can be particularly strong for some around the holidays – especially where it comes to food. While many may buy mince pies, Christmas cakes, cookies and other treats in abundance from the supermarket shelves, those trying to live in a more sustainable way…
In For Christmas (More or Less)
Well, it has been a busy weekend, but we have now managed to set up our bedroom ready to sleep there for the first time! We’ve been working on our renovations for years – mostly doing the work ourselves – on weekends and when we can around our full time jobs. We are still far…
Case Study: Oregon Permaculture Garden Design
This overview concept design is for a garden in the Pacific Northwest, around Eugene, Oregon. The garden is towards the south of the Willamette Valley, between the Coastal Range and the West Cascades, in zone 8b. The client was looking for a design that would allow them to grow as much food as possible, with…
Embracing Optimism: Looking at the Bright Side in Life
As the holidays approach, many people may be looking forward to spending time with loved ones. But for those who cannot have the festive season they desire may be feeling a little down in the dumps. Cliches like ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ can give little cheer to those who are in a far…
Lawn Looking Bad Over Winter?
Are you used to your lawn turning into a muddy mess over the winter months? Fed up of bare patches and weeds in spring? There is a simple solution – get rid of that lawn and replace it with a more eco-friendly, vibrant and biodiverse planting scheme that looks good year round. Lawn care is…
Don’t Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today
We can all sometimes be guilty of procrastination. We can often have the very best of intentions to do something ‘tomorrow’. But that ‘tomorrow’ just may not come. In gardening, and in sustainability in general, putting things off can often mean that we fall short, in spite of our best intentions. I often hear people…
Christmas Crackers
One thing I really dislike about Christmas are the cheap Christmas crackers that people buy which are made from plastic-coated papers, nylon ribbons and other non-recyclable elements, and which come with tacky plastic gifts, paper hats and cheesy jokes inside. Many people love to have Christmas crackers on their Christmas tables, and for many, Christmas…
Bare Root Planting – Tips and Advice
Over the dormant period, many of you may well be planting bare root trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials. I myself am awaiting a delivery from the Agroforestry Research Trust with some additions for my forest garden. Purchasing bare root specimens, rather than pot grown ones can be a more affordable way to purchase new plants…
Upcycled Furniture For Our Barn Conversion
Yesterday I spent some time sanding back an old chest of drawers for our new bedroom in the barn conversion or steading conversion that we are working on. This was already second hand when a good friend passed it on to us when we were in need of something to put clothes in a number…
Case Study – Slope Retention & Landslip Repair
This is a case study which involved the repair of a roadside slope on the edge of a property in Taiwan. On the edge of an existing fruit plantation where an agroforestry approach is newly being taken, there is this slope of 15-17% (approximately 25 x 90m) leading down to a local road. In this…
Coping With Slope: Permaculture Ideas Can Help
Tomorrow, I will share a small case study which shows a solution for a steep slope in a tropical climate. More on that tomorrow. But today, I thought I would share some of the key solutions permaculture offers to deal with sloping sites. Where slopes are not so extreme, and where the conditions are suitable,…
Sustainable Christmas Tree Options
If you are thinking about getting a Christmas tree this year, you might be wondering which option would be the most sustainable choice. When it comes to Christmas trees, there are five main options: Choose a fake (synthetic) tree.Get a real, cut Christmas tree.Opt for a living Christmas tree in a pot. Make your own…
Planting For the Long Term
Often, gardeners and farmers will focus on plants which provide yields in the short term. They will grow annual fruits and vegetables, and, perhaps, plant fruit bushes and fruit trees which will yield only a year or two after planting. But great gardens and farms seek to provide for people and wildlife not just in…
Start Your Own Organic Garden: An Online Course For Beginners
Right back at the beginning of this year, I ran a course to help new gardeners get started. I designed this simple, practical course to help beginners move to the point where they are ready to start their own organic food producing garden in the spring. People who took this course last year were kind…
Where and How to Grow Herbs
From a sunny windowsill where you can grow herbs year round, to dedicated herb gardens outdoors, from annual polyculture beds in a kitchen garden, to fabulous forest garden schemes, there are plenty of options when it comes to herb cultivation. I recently shared some of my tips for starting a herb garden on Treehugger: My…
Sustainable Sunday Lunch Idea
Today, we have had a lovely visit from my mum and dad. I made some lunch for everyone and we enjoyed a good chat over a vegetable pie, and an apple and caramel cake. While for many it may be more traditional to enjoy a Sunday roast – you do not necessarily have to eat…
Case Study: Eco Build Garden
This case study demonstrates a garden plot around a planned eco build on the south coast of England. The design aims to ensure visual amenity and appeal while maximising food production and making best use of resources on this small site. The site is approximately 250 sq m in size, located between farm fields and…
Sanding Reclaimed Floorboards
Today I had a day off work and we have started lightly sanding the reclaimed floorboards that we’ve laid in the upstairs of our barn conversion. We absolutely love the variation and patina, so won’t be sanding down to a fine finish. We are just sanding to achieve a reasonably smooth finish. This character is…
Winter Planning For Spring Planting
Even if you are not growing year round, there is still plenty to be done over the winter months to prepare for spring planting. Planning and preparation are important for a successful gardening year. When many people think about garden planning, they begin and end with deciding on and ordering the plants and seeds they…
Seeing the Good in Humanity is Important
As a species, are we intrinsically good? Or are we prey to baser instincts – just a small shake all that is needed for the veneer of civilisation to slip? Of course, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle. Humanity is both good and bad, wild and sedate, selfless and selfish. It may not…
Make Giving a Habit
Today is ‘Giving Tuesday’ – a time when many charities and non-profits with have a fundraising push and a day on which many people choose to donate. I would, of course, urge anyone to give what they can to the causes they believe in. But charity should not be only about one-off donations on specific…
Rewilding on a Domestic Scale
Some more ‘traditional’ gardeners who look at parts of my garden may be horrified by the un-manicured state of things, and the wild and natural ‘disorder’. But for me, rewilding on a domestic scale, as well as on a larger scale, is hugely important. We need far fewer neat lawns, of course, and far more…
Painting Walls With Clay Paints
Today we’ve had another tiring but very satisfying day painting the walls in the upstairs of our barn conversion. We did the first coat in what will be out bedroom yesterday, and finished that off today, and we also got the first coat on walls we are painting in the bathroom, and the second bedroom…
Case Study: Arizona Permaculture
This recent case study for Arizona takes me to a climate and environment very different to my own. The major challenges tackled in this design relate of course to water, and intense summer heat. My design seeks to work with the existing, while offering solutions for all the family who live here’s requirements and desires.…
This Black Friday, Remember What Your Purchases Really Cost
Black Friday represents the very worst of consumerist culture – the societal systems which encourage people to go out and buy, buy, buy. All the advertisements and gimmicks that companies use to try to coerce people into purchasing their products, or even worse – to make people think that they actually need them, are dark…
Reduce Food Waste – Make Full Use of Leftovers
I hope that those of my friends in the US celebrating Thanksgiving (or enjoying a meal with family or friends) are enjoying the holiday. But thinking about your celebrations, I was minded to write today about the importance of making full use of leftovers in order to prevent food waste. Food waste is, as many…
Giving Thanks
I know that many in the United States will be celebrating with family and friends, and I hope that celebrations will go well. Of course, not everyone feels that this holiday is an occasion for celebration. It is important not to be blind to the historical realities behind the polite fictions that are a part…
Choosing an Attractive Tree For a Garden
All too often, those looking for garden inspiration seem to divide plants for a garden into two categories – edible and useful plants are placed in one category, and ornamental plants in another. Unfortunately, this type of segregation blinds people to the beauty of edible and useful plants, and to the culinary or other uses…
Ecosystem Restoration – Avoiding Mistakes, Doing No Harm
I recently wrote an article for Treehugger about the Lessons I’ve Learned Through Ecosystem Restoration. In this article, I try to put to rest some of the common misconceptions about ecosystem restoration, and highlight some of the common mistakes that are made. I talk about the vital importance of designing for a specific site, and…
Barn Conversion Decisions
We’ve pretty much finished laying the reclaimed flooring in the upstairs of our barn conversion. And this weekend was a time for some crucial decisions. For years now, we have slowly been slogging away – largely on things that will not actually be seen once the build is finished. So far, our decisions have largely…
Case Study: Tennessee Permaculture
This example shows some recent work for a garden in Tennessee. This is in zone 7a, with a frost free period of 190 to 200 days, mean annual air temperature of 57-61 degrees F, and 46-60 inches annual precipitation. The predominant soil of this area is a silt loam, free draining and moderately acidic. One…
Hope – The Route to a Better Future
Of course, the COP26 conference has failed to deliver the agreements we so urgently need to translate words into positive action. But for me, that does not mean that all is lost. One key thing that it is important to remember is that we should hope. Hope is often a feat of the imagination, and…
Taking a Bird’s Eye View
Whether literally enjoying a bird’s eye view with the modern technology of a drone, honing in with online mapping, or simply using the imagination, taking a bird’s eye view of a site can help us see the bigger picture. It can help us to filter out some of the detail that might confuse us when…
Site Analysis in Permaculture Design
Other garden designers are often somewhat confused by the extensive site analysis process permaculture designers go through before they even begin to formulate their designs. But as those familiar with permaculture will know – understanding of a specific site and the sectors acting on it is crucial for truly sustainable design. Though I work remotely,…
Bioregional Organisation in Sustainability
Understanding your bioregion can be important in finding a deep rooted connection to and appreciation for the place where you live. And looking at conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainability can also involve bioregional approaches and bioregional organisation. When we think about where we live in the world, we will often focus on political boundaries, which…
Never Stop Learning in Life
Whether we are talking about learning more about the natural world or sustainability, or gaining the skills we need to live better, we should never stop learning in life. All too often, we think about education as something which ends when we leave school, college or university. But the life-long pursuit of knowledge, and keeping…
Reclaimed Flooring Going Down in Our Barn Conversion
This weekend, as well as doing some garden jobs and having some rest time too, we have been continuing to put down the reclaimed flooring we purchased for the upstairs of our steading conversion or barn conversion project. We are really happy with the character and appearance of these boards, and think that they will…
Case Study: Chateau Permaculture
This is a concept design for a chateau in France, which is currently in the process of renovation. The new owners are saving the partially derelict buildings, and will be utilising the land for weddings and events, a glamping site, and a sustainable food production and restaurant business, and wanted some help to visualise the…
Collecting Up Fallen Leaves
This weekend, if it stops raining, I plan to do some raking. Collecting up fallen leaves is not always necessary. And of course it can often be beneficial to leave them where they fall, to rot down naturally and complete the natural cycle. However, I do collect up leaves from part of my garden each…
Sustainable Christmas Gifts
Though it may be too early to think about Christmas or other mid-winter festivals just yet, my mind turns in November to what I might give to friends and family. The reason that I often start to think about this in November is that I usually make gifts. Of course, planning and making gifts takes…
Good News on Beavers in Scotland
With all the depressing news at the moment, it is good when we do have something positive to cheer about, and I was delighted to hear the news that the Scottish government has granted Scotland’s first edge-of-range beaver translocation licence to Argaty in Perthshire – an environmentally sensitive farm already home to the award winning…
Who is Showing True Leadership in the Climate Crisis and Who is Not
While not surprised, I have been disappointed by the showing by many ‘world leaders’ at COP26. Voluntary agreements announced thus far may sometimes seem positive on the surface, but massive loopholes and vague language most definitely remain. The draft of the Glasgow decision text has laid out the next steps nations will take to tackle…
Gardening Helps Fight the Winter Blues
In winter, as the nights draw in, it is easy to feel despondent. You may sometimes get the feeling that things have stalled. Taking on a gardening project can help you avoid that slumped winter feeling – giving you purpose and a sense of drive over the coldest months. Even when plants in your garden…
Simplifying and Downsizing for Sustainability
Since I shared that tiny home case study yesterday, I’ve had an interesting conversation with someone about why they ‘could not possibly live in such a tiny home’. This cuts to the heart of a key issue in sustainability – how much – how many belongings – do we really need. Most of us in…
Case Study: Tiny Home Agroforestry and Rewilding
When people acquire a piece of land, often, their first thought is to erect a large home on it. But as this interesting project demonstrates, we can live much more lightly on the land. This plot in Scotland comprises almost a hectare (just under 2.5 acres) of marginal land but will accommodate a wooden cabin…
Philosophy of Sustainability
As a philosophy graduate, I have a strong interest in the philosophical questions surrounding sustainability and the climate crisis. I did not pursue a path in academia, but I am strongly of the opinion that intellectual thought should not be the preserve of ivory towers. We should ask ourselves the big important questions in our…
Remaining Vigilant for Hypocrisy at COP26
While there are undoubtedly some signs for hope coming out of the climate change conference in Glasgow this week, unfortunately, our leaders are, in some major ways, still falling far short. After speaking about the vital importance of action at the conference, Boris Johnson and other leaders have been criticised for flying back home. Time…
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