The Importance of Soil – Whether You Garden or Not

Whether you are a gardener or not, soil is essential for you. Globally, we treat soil like dirt. But soil is vital to our lives, and in dismissing it, we fail to recognise the important role it plays in safeguarding our future. We abuse and neglect it at our peril. Most people are fully awareContinue reading “The Importance of Soil – Whether You Garden or Not”

Case Study: Ecuador Permaculture Plan

This plan is for a (largely) self-sufficient farm in the Carchi Province in the north of Ecuador. The site is around 13.3 acres (53879.50 m2), and is situated in the Mira Canton at an elevation of between 2200 and 2215m. The site is currently used to grow corn, and large greenhouses are used to growContinue reading “Case Study: Ecuador Permaculture Plan”

Sustainable Tourism Requires Sustainable Communities

Though we are still in lockdown at the moment, people are looking ahead. Those involved in the tourism industry, and those with an interest in eco travel are considering the future. Not just ‘return to normal’ – but how we can implement a green recovery. There is a growing awareness that tourism and travel inContinue reading “Sustainable Tourism Requires Sustainable Communities”

Choosing a New Home – A Permaculture Approach

If you are looking for a new home, sustainability might not be the first thing on your mind. But it can be helpful to approach the problem from a permaculture perspective. The right home can have all the ingredients you need for a more sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly way of life. But choosing the wrongContinue reading “Choosing a New Home – A Permaculture Approach”

Analysing Risk In Sustainability

Analysing what could go wrong is a major part of planning for a sustainable future. When it comes to our climate crisis, much of the planning we must do revolves around understanding future risks and making plans to avoid them where possible, and mitigate their effects where we cannot.  There are many shocks that canContinue reading “Analysing Risk In Sustainability”

Growing Cities – Bridging the Gulf Between Urban and Rural

Around the world, cities are growing. This puts immense pressure on resources and requires a re-think of cityscapes to accommodate, provide for the food, energy and water needs of urban inhabitants. But the pressures inherent to growing cities does not only put strain on the cities themselves, but also poses a potential threat in risingContinue reading “Growing Cities – Bridging the Gulf Between Urban and Rural”

Travel the World Without Leaving Home

Whole worlds are accessible without even stepping out of your front door. While obviously our physical movement is curtailed right now, that does not mean we are limited in where we can travel in our minds, and in today’s hyperconnected world, there are new ways of finding inspiration right there our living rooms. Thinking aboutContinue reading “Travel the World Without Leaving Home”

Sustainable Valentine’s Day Ideas

Valentine’s Day should not be about store-bought cards, chocolates shipped halfway across the world, and hot-house flowers. It should be about simply spending some quality time with the one you love. Sustainable Valentine’s Day date ideas are often those which allow you to reject things in favour of experiences. Whether you are enjoying the firstContinue reading “Sustainable Valentine’s Day Ideas”

Case Study: Woodland Craft Community

In this permaculture design, you can see the overall plan for a planned community in the UK. The goal is for a group of three households to come together to create a community based around woodland restoration, wood craft and the use and sale of non-timber forest products. Part of the site is already denselyContinue reading “Case Study: Woodland Craft Community”

How To Make Bench Bed Edging For a Raised Bed

Making a bench bed edging for a raised bed can be one way to make the most of your space for food production and relaxation. So here are some potential ideas to help you create this type of raised bed edging: Create A Bench Seat From Reclaimed Timber One simple way to make bench seatingContinue reading “How To Make Bench Bed Edging For a Raised Bed”