Elizabeth Waddington
Permaculture and Sustainability Consultancy
Permaculture design, sustainability advice and environmental consultancy for individuals, businesses and organisations.
News and Inspiration
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”
Case Study: Sensory Garden For a Community Garden in Wales
This week, I want to highlight an element of a garden design that could be beneficial for those who are looking for a little calm and tranquillity in our current, often chaotic and worrying times. Above, you can see a sensory garden. This large raised bed garden was part of a community garden design inContinue reading “Case Study: Sensory Garden For a Community Garden in Wales”
Rethinking How We Grow & What We Grow
Rethinking how and what we grow is about growing our own at home or in community spaces, and choosing fresh, organic, local, seasonal wholefoods. But that is not all. It also involves thinking more deeply about our society’s food producing systems, and which foods are most sustainably grown in our bioregions, using which methods. TheContinue reading “Rethinking How We Grow & What We Grow”
The Plastic Pollution You Didn’t Know You Were Creating
Most of us are no doubt aware of the problems with plastic. Many are now trying to reduce their plastic use. Those interested in tackling plastic pollution are always trying to move away from disposable plastics wherever possible, and thinking twice before buying any new plastic items. It is a great idea to carry reusableContinue reading “The Plastic Pollution You Didn’t Know You Were Creating”
Boost Sustainability By Eating the Weeds
Whether you are currently growing your own or not, it is important to think about all the various crops you can grow where you live. But the potential of wild resources are often overlooked. It is also a good idea to think about how you can begin to make the most of nature’s bounty inContinue reading “Boost Sustainability By Eating the Weeds”
Fertilize Plants Organically For Free
In any organic garden, it is important to take steps to ensure the fertility of the soil and the health of the plants over time. You can fertilize plants organically for free by using readily available natural materials from your garden. Slow release fertilizers are added in a ‘no dig’ garden in the form ofContinue reading “Fertilize Plants Organically For Free”
Reduce Plastic Use – Make Your Own Biodegradable Plant Pots
Plastic waste is a major problem. Most of us are now aware of the massive ocean gyres… the dangers to wildlife… the huge landfill sites filled with non-compostable waste. Gardening is a great way to become more sustainable in your daily life. But gardening traditionally involves using a lot of plastic. Fortunately, there are plentyContinue reading “Reduce Plastic Use – Make Your Own Biodegradable Plant Pots”
Grow Your Own Without a Garden
I realise that I am very lucky to have a garden. While many who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle dream of a rural idyll, not everyone has some outside space to call their own. But that does not mean you can’t get growing. You can grow your own in a tiny courtyard orContinue reading “Grow Your Own Without a Garden”
Case Study: Kansas Garden
I won’t share full details of my permaculture designs on this site. But I do want to give an occasional glimpse into the varied work that I do for gardeners and growers around the world. This case study is an example of one part of a permaculture design I completed for a client in Kansas. Continue reading “Case Study: Kansas Garden”
Zero Waste – What It Really Means
The first introduction to zero waste that most people get is the idea of reducing plastic use, and reducing the amount of plastic waste that we bring into our homes. Reducing non-biodegradable waste is, of course, very important. But it is important to remember that plastic waste is not the only type of waste weContinue reading “Zero Waste – What It Really Means”
How To Make A New Growing Area in Your Garden
I am often asked about the best ways to turn an area of lawn into a new growing area. When people make new growing areas, they often cut off the turf to get started. But I would highly recommend ditching the spade, and adopting a no dig approach. There are several different ‘no dig’ optionsContinue reading “How To Make A New Growing Area in Your Garden”
Attracting Wildlife in Your Garden
Many of us are turning our attentions to our gardens right now. But many new gardeners forget that they are not gardening alone. As organic gardeners, we are aided in what we do by many creatures that share our space. Attracting wildlife, and making a wildlife friendly garden is one of the top things weContinue reading “Attracting Wildlife in Your Garden”
Tips For Self-Sufficiency in Your Garden
The more you can be self-sufficient in your gardening endeavours, the more sustainable your efforts can be. So let’s take a moment to look at some of the ways you can boost self-sufficiency in your garden: Make your own compost. Harvest rainwater and manage water effectively. Fertilise your garden organically and for free, with naturalContinue reading “Tips For Self-Sufficiency in Your Garden”
Starting a Garden Need Not Cost The Earth
If you are starting a garden, one of the most common mistakes is spending more than you need to spend to establish it. Permaculture teaches is that it does not need to cost the Earth to start a garden – either literally or metaphorically. We can keep things sustainable and eco-friendly, while also spending veryContinue reading “Starting a Garden Need Not Cost The Earth”
The Benefits of Forest Gardening
Forest gardening is one of my specialities. I have turned a mature garden on my own property into a forest garden, and design forest gardens for others around the world. Many people are starting new gardens right now. When most people get started, they tend to focus on creating a traditional vegetable patch or kitchenContinue reading “The Benefits of Forest Gardening”
Sustainability Begins At Home
One of the services I offer is help for individuals to create their personalised sustainability plans. At times when so many of us are stuck at home, it can be difficult to imagine how we can still make a change in the wider world. But sustainability begins at home. Each small, personal change we makeContinue reading “Sustainability Begins At Home”
An Introduction To Permaculture
There are literally thousands of introductions to permaculture online – I myself have written a number of them. But in this post, I want to do something a little different to the norm – I want to talk about how permaculture really makes a difference. Permaculture is Practical If you are in any way familiarContinue reading “An Introduction To Permaculture”
What Does Sustainability Mean?
Sustainability means adopting a way of life that is kind to people and planet – not just in the present day, but also thinking about the generations to come. It involves finding ways to meet our needs today without trashing our future. Sustainability is a Journey Not a Destination Sustainability is often misunderstood. Often, peopleContinue reading “What Does Sustainability Mean?”
Coronavirus Discounts
During this Coronavirus crisis, it is vital to remember that we are facing two crises, not just one. The climate crisis has not gone away. Now, it is more vitally important than ever that we keep sustainability and sustainable food production on everyone’s minds, and high on the agenda. Since the start of this crisis,Continue reading “Coronavirus Discounts”
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