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 foodContinue reading “Case Study: Community Potager”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Waddington
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 ownershipContinue reading “Land Ownership and Land Access”
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 moreContinue reading “Case Study: Cape Town, South Africa Permaculture Design”
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 fromContinue reading “Getting Back to the Roots”
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,Continue reading “Case Study: Connecticut Permaculture Design”
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 moreContinue reading “Updating Traditional Cottage Garden Style for Your Specific Location”
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 FutureContinue reading “Case Study: Cambodia Permaculture Project”
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 anContinue reading “Case Study: Senegal”
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 startContinue reading “Rewilding On A Range of Scales”
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 theContinue reading “Case Study: Child-Friendly Garden Design”