Elizabeth Waddington
Permaculture and Sustainability Consultancy
Permaculture design, sustainability advice and environmental consultancy for individuals, businesses and organisations.
News and Inspiration
How Trees Are Used in Garden Design
Following on from yesterday’s brief piece on how trees are useful to us, I thought I would take a little time to explore some of the ways that trees can actually be used in garden design. Trees can be used in almost any garden, no matter how large or small. Even in a tiny garden,Continue reading “How Trees Are Used in Garden Design”
Why Trees Are So Important
In my design work, and in my own life in general, trees play a very important role. Most people are of course well aware of the role trees play on our planet in regards to the carbon cycle. But have you really considered all the many ways in which trees improve our environment and makeContinue reading “Why Trees Are So Important”
Permaculture Zoning Outside and in the Home
Permaculture designs often focus on time, and how frequently the humans of the system will visit the various elements and areas of it. Zone one is used designated to the most frequently visited places. Somewhat less frequently visited areas are zone two. After which there may be further zones, radiating out the wild zones outwithContinue reading “Permaculture Zoning Outside and in the Home”
Applications for Permaculture: Sectors and Flow
In permaculture, when we talk about sectors what we are essentially considering is how energy will enter and move through the space. We should consider the sun, the wind, water, and also human energy, and the paths we take as we move around. How sun, wind and water etc. behave on the site will setContinue reading “Applications for Permaculture: Sectors and Flow”
Forest Garden Tips
If you are familiar with my work, you will no doubt have noticed that I am passionate about forest gardens. This form of food production can provide generous yields for remarkably little effort once established. And of course there are many other benefits to forest gardening too – for our households, communities and the widerContinue reading “Forest Garden Tips”
Perennial Vegetables For a Low Maintenance Garden
Many gardeners are not aware of all the perennial plants that can be grown for food in a garden. But I would highly recommend including plenty of perennial plants – especially if you want to create a low maintenance garden. Perennials are simply plants that won’t just grow over one season. They will grace yourContinue reading “Perennial Vegetables For a Low Maintenance Garden”
Case Study: California Permaculture Design
This permaculture plan is for a property located in North Ridge in the San Fernando Valley, LA. The goal was to create a sleek and modern garden which could also provide plenty of edible produce without requiring excessive amounts of gardening work. The Site The garden is broadly typical for the area and climate zone.Continue reading “Case Study: California Permaculture Design”
5 Ideas for a Child-Friendly Garden
If you have children, you may be seeking ways to entice them away from their screens and get them to spend more time outdoors. To help you raise future citizens who love, appreciate and take care of nature, here are 5 ideas for a child-friendly garden: Give Kids Their Own Growing Area – Let ThemContinue reading “5 Ideas for a Child-Friendly Garden”
Getting Started With ‘No Dig’ Gardening
No dig gardening starts with a single simple idea: we need to protect the soil in our gardens. Soil health is essential for good plant growth, and as with so many things in sustainability, what you don’t do is as important as what you do. In a no dig garden, the general rule is, asContinue reading “Getting Started With ‘No Dig’ Gardening”
Why Renovation/ Retrofitting Can Be More Sustainable Than Building New
When you think of sustainable living, it is likely that a number of different solutions spring to mind. You might think about a tiny home, that really cuts down your impact on the planet. You might think about a natural building, made of sustainable timber, straw bales, cob or adobe. Or you might think aboutContinue reading “Why Renovation/ Retrofitting Can Be More Sustainable Than Building New”
Sea Level Rise and Landscape Measures
Sea-levels are rising. Unfortunately, as more and more people move into the world’s cities, they are often becoming more vulnerable to those rising sea levels. Around two-thirds of the world’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050, and an estimated 800 million people in more than 570 coastal cities around the world areContinue reading “Sea Level Rise and Landscape Measures”
No Such Thing as ‘Too Many’ When It Comes To Garden Crops
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard gardeners complain that they have ‘too many courgettes’ to get through. Or that they have too much lettuce… But as permaculture gardeners and growers know, excess abundance should not be viewed as a negative. Successional sowing and careful planning can help to spread out harvestsContinue reading “No Such Thing as ‘Too Many’ When It Comes To Garden Crops”
Growing Year Round – Not Just in Summer
Many gardeners begin by sowing seeds in spring and tending crops to harvest towards the end of the main growing season. But to really boost productivity and self-reliance in a permaculture garden, it is useful to think about how, in a temperate climate, we can extend the growing season. When we provide plants with someContinue reading “Growing Year Round – Not Just in Summer”
Case Study: Indianapolis Permaculture Design
The plan above is for a large domestic garden in Indianapolis. According to permaculture principles, it has been designed with the site and location in mind. Site The design of course takes into account the local climate and conditions, and the soil of the area, which is typically in the inceptisols order, and the SycamoreContinue reading “Case Study: Indianapolis Permaculture Design”
Increasing Yield in Any Garden
In permaculture gardens, one of our key goals is to obtain a yield. The higher the yield, the more productive, resilient and sustainable our gardens can be. Yield is theoretically unlimited… I recently wrote a short e-book for a client on how to increase yield in a polytunnel garden: How to Increase Yield: (without gettingContinue reading “Increasing Yield in Any Garden”
Ideas For Using Raspberries From a Garden
It has been an excellent year for soft fruits here. If, like me, you love raspberries, you might be interested in some of the different ways to make use of them. Of course, you can simply enjoy some raspberries in a fruit salad, or with some yogurt for breakfast. But there are also plenty ofContinue reading “Ideas For Using Raspberries From a Garden”
Empowering Children To Make Sustainable Change
Children will not only will they grow up to inherit the world we have created – they can also play a major role in creating the world we all wish to see. All too often, children are sidelined. They are viewed as powerless dependents, who are merely there to be guarded and protected. But childrenContinue reading “Empowering Children To Make Sustainable Change”
Tips for Choosing Plants for Your Garden
Sometimes, no matter how experienced we are as gardeners, it is a good idea to get back to basics. So today, let’s take the time to think about some of the important considerations in choosing plants for your garden. Choose Plants For Your Environment First of all, of course, it is important to select theContinue reading “Tips for Choosing Plants for Your Garden”
Land Ownership – We Are Custodians
Thinking about what is possible even on rented property has led me to think about land ownership and what that really means. It is important to consider that even those of us who are lucky enough to own our own properties still have to remember that we are only ever really custodians of that land.Continue reading “Land Ownership – We Are Custodians”
Permaculture Design For Rented Spaces
Even if you are renting your home, there is still plenty of potential to include permaculture design in your life. It can, of course, be frustrating when we do not have full control over what we can and cannot do where we live. But permaculture can allow us to improve our situations, and live moreContinue reading “Permaculture Design For Rented Spaces”
Case Study: Small Space Container Garden
What is you only have a small paved area to play with? Can you still garden when you have a very limited budget and don’t even have access to an area of soil? Permaculture provides solutions even for rather unpromising sites. The image above is a case study that demonstrates how we can make theContinue reading “Case Study: Small Space Container Garden”
What is a Co-operative Paradigm?
Permaculture espouses the idea that a co-operative paradigm provides the best pathway to a stable, sustainable future in which permaculture ethics and principles are maintained. Within the framework of a co-operative paradigm, people can switch from being the cause for the world’s major problems to the basis for solving them. By finding a common seriesContinue reading “What is a Co-operative Paradigm?”
Keeping Things Going: Building Long-Term Resilience in a Garden
Many people have taken to gardening during lockdown in a big way. Seed sales etc. went through the roof and I have been approached by many people who are gardening and growing food in earnest for the first time. But now that lockdown is easing in many areas, it would be easy to let thatContinue reading “Keeping Things Going: Building Long-Term Resilience in a Garden”
Stinging Nettles: Why They’re A Boon Not a Bane
Many gardeners hate stinging nettles. They lurk between other plants, and catch the unwary with their stings. But I want to take a moment to explain why they are a boon – not a bane. And why we should all value their contributions to our gardens and our lives. The Benefits of Stinging Nettles TheContinue reading “Stinging Nettles: Why They’re A Boon Not a Bane”
Why You Should Not Be Too Tidy in Your Garden
There is a natural human instinct to want to control our environment. But in an organic garden, imposing too much control can be a negative thing. If we keep things too tidy and orderly, this can have a detrimental effect. It can reduce biodiversity and fertility over time. Don’t Remove All Brush/ Vegetative Litter ClearingContinue reading “Why You Should Not Be Too Tidy in Your Garden”
Using Unripe Windfall Apples From the Garden
Fruit trees are self-regulating. The ‘June drop’ is a tree’s natural way of ridding itself of excess fruits it cannot support. Where I live, here in Scotland, the ‘June drop’ actually usually occurs some time in July. Some new gardeners are alarmed to see unripe fruits. littering the ground below their trees. But not onlyContinue reading “Using Unripe Windfall Apples From the Garden”
July in the Forest Garden
July in the forest garden is an abundant time. Soft fruits are the stars of the show. We have plenty of red currants, blackcurrants, raspberries, as well as the last of the strawberries and gooseberries. Harvesting and preserving are the order of the day. Even in a low maintenance garden like a forest garden, thereContinue reading “July in the Forest Garden”
Case Study: Community Resilience
For today’s case study, we’re returning to the New York permaculture design that we have already explored in previous weeks. But I wanted to zone in now on the community barn and surrounding lot. This area allows us to explore what a community needs for resilience. The multi-function space that the community barn will provideContinue reading “Case Study: Community Resilience”
How Could You Contribute to a Green Recovery?
As we all seek to move forward and build back better, we all need to ask ourselves how we can contribute to a green recovery. A green recovery is a recovery that enables us to all move forward together – and to take care of our planet – as we move towards a truly sustainableContinue reading “How Could You Contribute to a Green Recovery?”
Plastic Free Bedroom
I’ve previously written about how to reduce plastic waste and go plastic free in the kitchen, and in the bathroom. Next, let’s take a quick look at how to avoid plastic and reduce waste in another room of your home: the bedroom. In permaculture, we often talk about small, slow solutions. And that is justContinue reading “Plastic Free Bedroom”
Troubleshooting a Compost System
If you have set up a composting system for the first time this year, you might be finding that things are not going according to plan. Don’t worry. No matter what problems you face, or mistakes you make, it is usually fairly easy to get back on track. Here are a few common issues andContinue reading “Troubleshooting a Compost System”
Tips to Help You Reduce Food Waste
When people start looking into how to live a zero waste lifestyle – reducing plastic waste is often the first thing they think about. But you might overlook another type of waste that can pose a huge problem for people and the planet: food waste. Food waste, if it were a country, would be theContinue reading “Tips to Help You Reduce Food Waste”
Organic Pest Control Tips
One of the things that is often forgotten, even by organic gardeners, is that we need some pests to attract the things that eat them. It is very important not to be too zealous in your attempts to rid yourself of pests – no matter how annoying they may be. Often, people imagine that organicContinue reading “Organic Pest Control Tips”
Which Growing System Might be Right for You?
Over the last few days, I’ve touched upon the idea of aquaponics. And as you will be aware if you’re read my other posts, forest gardening is another idea I am passionate about. When it comes to a successful garden, one of the most important things to remember is that what works well for othersContinue reading “Which Growing System Might be Right for You?”
Case Study: Large Aquaponics Greenhouse
In the plans shown, you can see that a path leads visitors from a welcome area with information boards, on a pathway between the trees, that leads to a central area with a coconut palm, bananas and bench seating. If visitors turn right, they can enter the cafe area, where they can eat and drinkContinue reading “Case Study: Large Aquaponics Greenhouse”
Aquaponics and Its Role in Sustainable Food Production
As a permaculture designer, I understand that when it comes to designing food producing systems, one size does not fit all. In one location, a forest garden or agroforestry system might be the best solution. But for certain sites, especially in more arid climate zones – aquaponics is another very interesting, sustainable food producing systemContinue reading “Aquaponics and Its Role in Sustainable Food Production”
Plastic Free Bathroom
Moving away from single use and disposable plastics is something we can all do. But plastic is so ever-present that it can be difficult to know where to start. I find that it can be helpful to think about reducing plastic use inside your home one room at a time. I’ve already written a shortContinue reading “Plastic Free Bathroom”
Sustainable Wardrobe Choices – The Antidote to Fast Fashion
Now that more people are getting out and about again, you might be thinking about what to wear. Perhaps you feel that your wardrobe needs an update. Now that you are heading into a workplace again, or meeting up with friends or family that you have not seen in a long time, you might beContinue reading “Sustainable Wardrobe Choices – The Antidote to Fast Fashion”
Green Getaway Ideas as Lockdown is Lifted
As lockdowns around Europe are lifted, many people’s minds are turning to travel once more. But those of us who are passionate about sustainability will not rush to book flights or jet off to holiday hot-spots. Aviation is unfortunately not an area where sustainability is top of the agenda. And as most of us areContinue reading “Green Getaway Ideas as Lockdown is Lifted”
Borage – A Nectar Factory For Your Garden
Borage (Borago officinalis) is an excellent plant choice in many organic gardens. There are plenty of reasons to grow it where you live. A relatively hassle-free annual flowering plant, borage can be a great option for many temperate climate permaculture gardens. I have borage growing in my forest garden, where it self-seeds reliably every year.Continue reading “Borage – A Nectar Factory For Your Garden”
Retrofitting Suburbia For a Sustainable Future
Suburbia, in some ways, exemplifies much that is wrong with modern society and the way many people live their lives. It was designed around the car – not around people or the environment. Suburbs can often be sterile seas of little boxes, manicured lawns, driveways, garages and roads. But here and there, oases are appearingContinue reading “Retrofitting Suburbia For a Sustainable Future”
Case Study: Permaculture Community
The above image is another portion of the permaculture design I was working on in New York State. This portion of the plan shows the scheme to create six multi-generational eco-friendly and sustainable homes. Each one has garden utility and functionality which enables a greener way of life. A community barn and farm stalls (to theContinue reading “Case Study: Permaculture Community”
Integrate Don’t Segregate
In our gardens and in our lives, integration can be integral to positive change. Lockdowns have left many of us feeling isolated and cut off from others. But in some ways, facing challenges together has brought people closer. Communities have come together – even as we have physically been kept apart. In a world ofContinue reading “Integrate Don’t Segregate”
What Are Nematodes?
Delving deeper into soil ecology can be a good move for an organic gardener. The more we know about our soil and what it contains, the better placed we will be to manage our gardens in an eco-friendly and sustainable way. One important soil dweller is one that many gardeners know nothing about. Nematodes areContinue reading “What Are Nematodes?”
Fungi and their Function in an Organic Garden
When you think about fungi, mushrooms are probably the first things that spring to mind. But fungi is far more important in your garden than you may imagine. Like bacteria and other soil life, fungi plays a vital role in the soil ecosystem. They are another hidden helper in an organic garden. Without them, weContinue reading “Fungi and their Function in an Organic Garden”
Hidden Helpers in an Organic Garden
If you are one of the many people growing their own for the first time this year, you might feel overwhelmed at times. Stick with it! Even though you will make mistakes, and even though things will go wrong, growing your own is still immensely satisfying. Even if your yields are patchy, and your plantsContinue reading “Hidden Helpers in an Organic Garden”
Demand a Green Recovery – Speak Out
Wherever you live, recovery from Coronavirus should not be all about the bottom line. Financial recovery that does not care for people and planet is no recovery at all. Right now, we countries that have passed the peak of the crisis have a unique opportunity to craft a greener, fairer society. But it won’t happenContinue reading “Demand a Green Recovery – Speak Out”
Reasons To Lose the Lawn (And What to Replace it With)
There are plenty of reasons to get rid of the lawn in your garden. When I say lawn, what I am referring to is a manicured, perfect grass mono-crop. Of course, grass cover is not always a bad thing. Grass cover can protect the soil, feed livestock, and can be very practical. It can alsoContinue reading “Reasons To Lose the Lawn (And What to Replace it With)”
Case Study: Losing the Lawn To Create a More Abundant, Productive Garden
In this case study, I want to share with you part of a design I created for one homeowner who wanted to overhaul her long, lawn-covered garden. It is designed to provide a restful and reasonably low maintenance space, which can be enjoyed by the family, and yet will allow for plenty of food production. Continue reading “Case Study: Losing the Lawn To Create a More Abundant, Productive Garden”
Why Do So Many People Have a Manicured Grass Lawn?
It is likely that most homes in your neighbourhood will have a lawn. But why? Have you ever stopped to consider why lawns are so popular? Short, maintained grass, it could be argued, feeds into our human urge to tame and control our surroundings. Short grasses make it easier to see any dangers coming. TheyContinue reading “Why Do So Many People Have a Manicured Grass Lawn?”
Green Recovery – Why Growth is Not Always Good
In the garden, and when it comes to your personal development, growth is almost always a wonderful thing. The image above shows my forest garden – growing strong. But the same thing, arguably, is not true when it comes to economics. I am by no means an economist, but I have recently been thinking aContinue reading “Green Recovery – Why Growth is Not Always Good”
Conversations About Sustainability
I am very lucky to live with people who are broadly on the same page that I am. But many people live with others who don’t think about sustainability all that often. Others may even come up against a brick wall when trying to talk about what’s best for people and our planet. So, howContinue reading “Conversations About Sustainability”
Why Every Home Should Have a Pantry
You are no doubt aware that what we choose to eat has a profound effect on how eco-friendly, ethical and sustainable our lives can be. Whether you are growing your own, buying local, seasonal, organic produce, or a combination of both, your choices are important. But it is important to remember that what happens toContinue reading “Why Every Home Should Have a Pantry”
Making Mistakes When Growing Your Own
Many people are growing their own this year for the first time. So I wanted to take a moment to talk about making mistakes. Of course, making mistakes is something we all do. On the road of sustainability, it is important not to become discouraged when things go wrong. This list of the 30 mostContinue reading “Making Mistakes When Growing Your Own”
Midsummer Garden
Yesterday was a beautiful midsummer day. After a long country walk, I spent plenty of time keeping on top of things in the garden. Midsummer is a time of abundance – plenty of things are already being harvested, and everything seems so lush and green. Leafy greens – kale, chard, spinach, lettuce, etc. have beenContinue reading “Midsummer Garden”
Case Study: Conceptual Permaculture Design
Permaculture design usually begins with observation of a particular site. Occasionally, however, it can begin with conceptual design. The image above shows a plan developed for a client who wanted a concept plan for a permaculture retreat somewhere in northern Italy. Unusually, the client has not yet found land for the project. But wanted conceptualContinue reading “Case Study: Conceptual Permaculture Design”
Sustainability is For Everyone – No One Left Behind
Sustainability and the environmental movement are spheres that are often perceived as far too white and far too middle class. As a white woman, living in a relatively enlightened and developed nation, I know I am privileged in many ways. I am acutely aware of the challenges in making sure that sustainability is not excludingContinue reading “Sustainability is For Everyone – No One Left Behind”
Steps Toward Sustainability You Might Not Have Considered
There are plenty of small steps we can all take a live a more sustainable way of life. Of course, growing and eating sustainably, and refusing, reducing, reusing, repairing and recycling are all very important. But there are also other ways to live more sustainably. And some of them are things you might not yetContinue reading “Steps Toward Sustainability You Might Not Have Considered”
Preserving Food – Sustainable Solutions
Recently, I have been spending quite a lot of time preserving some of the early summer harvests from my garden. For example, I’ve been making plenty of gooseberry jam. (My recipe is simple – 1.5kg underripe green gooseberries, 1kg sugar (for a pretty sweet jam). Reduce the sugar to taste for a tarter option. )Continue reading “Preserving Food – Sustainable Solutions”
The Importance of Seasonal Eating
Growing your own is obviously a great way to eat more sustainably. But most of us will not be able to grow all of our own food. We are really lucky here, because we are able to grow quite lot in our polytunnel and polyculture vegetable beds, and of course in our forest garden. ButContinue reading “The Importance of Seasonal Eating”
Skill Building – Top Skills For Sustainability
Re-skilling is essential if society is to transition to a sustainable future. If we look at how people lived a hundred years ago, we will see a range of stark differences. One of the things that has changed is that most people are more reliant on outside resources, and less able to do things forContinue reading “Skill Building – Top Skills For Sustainability”
Marvellous Moss
Mosses are very common in humid temperate climates. But many look past these incredibly useful and fascinating plants. Moss is considered by some to be an unwanted addition to a garden or outside space. But here, we actively embrace it. As well as seeing some on mature trees, we also see plenty on stones andContinue reading “Marvellous Moss”
Case Study: Catalonia Permaculture Design
Permaculture is not always about starting from scratch. This case study reflects this. As usual, I won’t share all the details of my work. But do just want to share this brief overview. The property is an old fruit orchard in Catalonia that had fallen into a wild and largely disused state. It is soonContinue reading “Case Study: Catalonia Permaculture Design”
Plastic Free Kitchen
Food packaging generally accounts for most of the plastic waste generated in most households, so the kitchen seems like a good place to begin. Reduce Plastic Packaging Reduce packaged food consumption by growing at least some of your own food. Buy unpackaged, local, organic produce wherever possible. Farm shops, wholesalers, local veg. box schemes. TakeContinue reading “Plastic Free Kitchen”
Appreciating Natural Beauty is Key To Sustainability
Over this difficult period, I have been spending plenty of time in my garden. And though there has been plenty of hard work – there has also been plenty of relaxation. Whether it is in your own garden, or at a local park or beauty spot, taking some to appreciate natural beauty is key. IContinue reading “Appreciating Natural Beauty is Key To Sustainability”
Renewable Energy – Using Solar Energy is Not All About PV Panels
One day, you might be thinking, you’ll have the money to invest in photo-voltaic solar panels for your home. Many people want to start generating electricity renewably at home. But of course, this can be expensive. While you save up for this sustainable solution, it is worthwhile remembering that making the most of solar energyContinue reading “Renewable Energy – Using Solar Energy is Not All About PV Panels”
Tips For Small Space Gardening
The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited (or only limited by the imagination and information of the designer). (Bill Mollison, founding father of permaculture.) This idea can be an inspiration when it comes to gardening in small spaces. When you look at things a little differently, far more may be possible than you imagined.Continue reading “Tips For Small Space Gardening”
Sustainable Watering Solutions for an Organic Garden
There are a lot of new gardeners out there, tending their new food producing gardens for the first time. So today, I’d like to take a moment to go back to basics. Providing plants with the water they need to grow is, of course crucial. But many new gardeners make a few basic mistakes whenContinue reading “Sustainable Watering Solutions for an Organic Garden”
Everything Gardens – We Humans Are Not Alone
If you spend any time in a garden, or out in the natural world, you will very quickly notice that we humans are not the only ones who alter our environments. Gardening and growing are, in essence, our own ways of shaping our surroundings to meet our needs. If we are wise about it, weContinue reading “Everything Gardens – We Humans Are Not Alone”
Case Study: Desert Ecosystem Restoration
This case study is a project I am currently working on in Somalia. This site is located just south west of Garowe, in Puntland, north-eastern Somalia. The region has a hot desert climate, with hot to very hot temperatures (average highs of 29-41 degrees) year round and an annual average precipitation of just 133mm. InContinue reading “Case Study: Desert Ecosystem Restoration”
How To Sequester More Carbon in Your Garden
Tree planting is the most common strategy used in carbon sequestration measures. But planting trees in your garden is not the only thing you can do to increase the amount of carbon captured and stored in your outside space. To play your role in tacking our climate crisis, you can also: Manage tree stands/ gardens/Continue reading “How To Sequester More Carbon in Your Garden”
Capturing Carbon By Planting Trees
An important part of tackling our climate crisis is, of course, reducing carbon emissions. But finding ways to sequester more carbon is equally important. When you think of capturing carbon, or carbon sequestration, one of the first things that springs to mind is likely to be trees. Planting trees is, of course, one important thingContinue reading “Capturing Carbon By Planting Trees”
Nitrogen Fixing Plants in My Garden
Nitrogen fixing plants play important roles in a permaculture garden. Certain plants form symbiotic relationships with beneficial bacteria in their roots. These plants help to maintain a natural balance in your garden. For a green and eco-friendly garden, synthetic nitrogen fertilisers are never the answer. Nitrogen fixing plants are an important part of organic gardeningContinue reading “Nitrogen Fixing Plants in My Garden”
Reducing Plastic Use in the Garden
First of all, let me begin by saying that I take a practical approach to reducing plastic use. I am of course fully aware of the problems with plastic. But I also know that it can be a very useful material. I do have plastic in my garden – most notably, my polytunnel. (Around fiveContinue reading “Reducing Plastic Use in the Garden”
You Have More Resources For Sustainable Living Than You Think
I am sure that some people, living in cities and coping with life in a tiny flat must look at my life and think – well, it’s easy for you. They look at the wealth of resources those with gardens have at their disposal. They imagine how easy it would be to live more sustainablyContinue reading “You Have More Resources For Sustainable Living Than You Think”
Comfrey – A Great Multipurpose Permaculture Plant
One of the most useful plants I grow is not one we eat. Rather, it is that workhorse of the permaculture garden – comfrey. If you are already into permaculture, you are no doubt already aware of the benefits of this perennial plant. But for those who are new to the concept, here is aContinue reading “Comfrey – A Great Multipurpose Permaculture Plant”
Case Study: Tropical Garden
The image above shows part of a permaculture design for a riverside plot in India, with an approximate location for a new home, with a natural swimming pool. A path leads down between fruit trees and a forest garden to a seating area and polyculture vegetable beds situated near the riverside end of the property. Continue reading “Case Study: Tropical Garden”
Eliminating Sustainability Blind Spots
As a consultant, I constantly come up against the problem of sustainability blind spots. People want to change. They want to live a more sustainable way of life. But they all have what I like to call ‘sustainability blind spots’. The truth of the matter is that, no matter how sustainable we believe ourselves toContinue reading “Eliminating Sustainability Blind Spots”
Planning and Sowing for Year Round Growing
One of the mistakes that people make when starting to grow their own is thinking too short term. Many enthusiastic new gardeners will sow plenty of seeds in spring – then lose that momentum when it comes to the summer months. But planning for year round growing means continuing to think about what we sowContinue reading “Planning and Sowing for Year Round Growing”
Sustainable Work – Make Money Sustainably From Home
Many of us are re-thinking the way we work right now. As someone who worked from home for years, I understand how challenging it can sometimes be. But I know how rewarding it can be too. Sustainable work from home can be great – in a range of different ways. I enjoy the freedom ofContinue reading “Sustainable Work – Make Money Sustainably From Home”
Grow Food More Easily – Don’t Fall For Low-Maintenance Myths
Even if you are not the most green-fingered person, you can grow your own. If you have a full time job and a busy life, you might think you don’t have time for a garden. Nothing could be further from the truth. You can create a low-maintenance forest garden that requires only minimal time commitment.Continue reading “Grow Food More Easily – Don’t Fall For Low-Maintenance Myths”
Where To Live Sustainably
We tend to talk a lot about how to live sustainably. But where we do so is also an important part of the puzzle. Where we choose to live can have a huge bearing on how sustainably we can live and how easily we can do so. You might not be able to change yourContinue reading “Where To Live Sustainably”
Keeping Chickens – Sustainable Solutions For Your Flock
One of the ways that I am boosting sustainability at home is by keeping a flock of rescue chickens. We could, of course, purchase eggs from one of our wonderful local farm shops or suppliers. (There are several great options in our area.) But we are lucky enough to have space for 15 hens orContinue reading “Keeping Chickens – Sustainable Solutions For Your Flock”
Case Study: New York State
I am currently working on a large design for a 52 acre site in New York State. The goals for this design very much adhere to each of the central ethics of permaculture. The broad goal was to maximise the capacity of the land in question to sustain wildlife and people, while minimising negative impactContinue reading “Case Study: New York State”
Catch and Store Rainwater in Your Garden
Fresh water is an important resource. And even in areas where there is quite a lot of it around, it pays to use it wisely. Learning how to catch and store rainwater in your garden is an important step in permaculture practice. How To Catch Rainwater Connect rainwater from the roof of your home. AndContinue reading “Catch and Store Rainwater in Your Garden”
To Build Sustainability, Build Personal Resilience
On the road to sustainability, it is always important to remember that change comes first from within. As we work to create more sustainable lives, we all need to begin with ourselves. Finding ways to build personal resilience is key. By personal resilience, I mean both our ability to ‘bounce back’ emotionally when things goContinue reading “To Build Sustainability, Build Personal Resilience”
Planting for Pollinators
Pollinators are so important. But many key species that we rely on to pollinate our crops are in threat. The more we can do to protect pollinators, the better. Bees, butterflies, other insects and a wide range of other wildlife is required for healthy, strong, resilient ecosystems. The best thing we can do for pollinatorsContinue reading “Planting for Pollinators”
Sustainability – In Praise of Local Pulses
This might not sound like the most interesting of topics. But pulses are a hot topic when it comes to sustainability and sustainable food. Your everyday food choices really can make a big difference. Whether or not you choose to go down the vegan or vegetarian route, eating more local pulses is a good wayContinue reading “Sustainability – In Praise of Local Pulses”
Which Composting Method Should You Choose?
If you don’t already make your own compost at home, now is a great time to start. Composting is an essential activity if you have a garden. It is crucial to ensuring productivity long term. When it comes right down to it, composting is simply nature’s recycling system. We simply take advantage of it toContinue reading “Which Composting Method Should You Choose?”
The Spring Harvest – What We’re Eating This Month
To inspire others to take their own home-growing further, every now and then, I would like to share some of what we’re eating from our own permaculture garden here in Scotland. So here are some highlights of the May harvest: Spring Harvest From the Veg Beds and Polytunnel: Lettuce (Various types) Perpetual Spinach Chard PakContinue reading “The Spring Harvest – What We’re Eating This Month”
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