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 isContinue reading “Sanding Reclaimed Floorboards”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Waddington
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 theyContinue reading “Winter Planning For Spring Planting”
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 notContinue reading “Seeing the Good in Humanity is Important”
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 specificContinue reading “Make Giving a Habit”
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 moreContinue reading “Rewilding on a Domestic Scale”
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 bedroomContinue reading “Painting Walls With Clay Paints”
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.Continue reading “Case Study: Arizona Permaculture”
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 darkContinue reading “This Black Friday, Remember What Your Purchases Really Cost”
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 manyContinue reading “Reduce Food Waste – Make Full Use of Leftovers”
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 partContinue reading “Giving Thanks”