In the arena of sustainability, we often hear a lot about cows – most of it extremely negative. There is a broad tendency to vilify cattle, and imagine that they are to blame for all that is wrong with our agricultural industry. Yes, we should all think very carefully before eating meat. And understand exactlyContinue reading “Cows Are Not The Enemy”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Waddington
Common Mistakes When Placing a New Kitchen Garden
I recently wrote a piece for Treehugger, “Where Should You Place a New Kitchen Garden?” And this got me thinking about the mistakes I have seen people make. So here are some things you should not do when placing a new kitchen garden: Don’t hide away a vegetable plot at the far end of yourContinue reading “Common Mistakes When Placing a New Kitchen Garden”
Scaling Up and Scaling Down Permaculture Principles and Practice
One of the things that never fails to inspire me about permaculture is the fact that it can be scaled up to the largest of acreages, and scaled down to just a tiny patch or a few containers in someone’s backyard. The goals, ethics, ethos, principles and practices that play a big role in myContinue reading “Scaling Up and Scaling Down Permaculture Principles and Practice”
Case Study: Riparian Planting and Forest Garden
This plan is for a proposed eco-friendly architectural development in England. The proposed architectural plan seeks to minimise visual intrusion, and integrate a new home within the existing environment. This plan aims to show how landscaping on the site will further serve to integrate the natural and built environment, while also improving ecological benefit andContinue reading “Case Study: Riparian Planting and Forest Garden”
Is Garden Lighting a Good Idea?
Garden lighting is very popular, especially in areas where days can be short in the shoulder seasons. The benefit, of course, is that you can extend the times during which you and your household can enjoy your garden. The right lighting can make your garden a magical place during the evening hours. But garden lightingContinue reading “Is Garden Lighting a Good Idea?”
Learning From History To Forge a Sustainable Future
One of the important things we should do when trying to live sustainably, and work out the best path for the future, is learn from peoples and cultures who have come before. Often, humanity can be remarkably short sighted when looking forward. And we can also be very short sighted when looking back. Many civilisationsContinue reading “Learning From History To Forge a Sustainable Future”
Signs in Nature
Where we live, the spring sunshine has given way to a bit of a grey gloom for the past couple of days, and it looks like we still have a few more days of this grey and rainy weather to come. But in spite of the grey skies, spring is still all around – fromContinue reading “Signs in Nature”
When Is the Right Time to Take Calculated Risks?
At the moment, many people are re-evaluating their lives. Many people are becoming more aware of sustainability. And perhaps truly questioning their choices properly for the first time with people and planet care in mind. Even those who have long been aware of the need for greater eco-consciousness and a more sustainable way of lifeContinue reading “When Is the Right Time to Take Calculated Risks?”
Designing for Different Climates and Conditions
Sometimes even experienced permaculture designers seem to fall into ruts when it comes to their recommendations and design choices. But it is always important to make sure that we really do respect both the site and the client – and design specifically for each individual project. Recently, I have been working on several different designsContinue reading “Designing for Different Climates and Conditions”
Big Data is Not Always Bad
After writing this brief piece recently for Treehugger: Using Data and Citizen Science for Gardening Success I’ve been thinking more about ‘big data’ and both the challenges and opportunities wide scale data gathering can bring. We tend to think of ‘big data’ in negative terms – as a tool used against us rather than somethingContinue reading “Big Data is Not Always Bad”
EWSP Consultancy 