One common question people ask when looking for a more self-sufficient and sustainable way of life is how much land they need. To be honest, one might as well ask “how long is a piece of string?”. Before we can begin to answer this question, we need to ask a series of questions: Where isContinue reading “How Much Land Do You Need For a Homestead?”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Waddington
Preserving Food – Deciding What To Can
Canning your own home grown food can be a great way to enjoy the nutrients of summer over the winter months. It is of course important to make sure that you are canning safely, and adhering to guidelines to make sure that the food you preserve lasts and is safe to eat. But in thisContinue reading “Preserving Food – Deciding What To Can”
How We’ll Heat Our Eco Barn Renovation
While we’re both still working full time, my husband and I are working on the renovation of an old steading, or old stone barn. We’re doing most of the work ourselves – slowly – on weekends and the occasional evening. Today, I thought I would take a moment to explain how we’ll heat our newContinue reading “How We’ll Heat Our Eco Barn Renovation”
The Role of ‘Duty’ in Sustainability
The word ‘duty’ is often viewed as having negative connotations. It is often held in opposition to the ideas of personal freedom. Sometimes, people view it as an encumbrance – something that limits our potential and makes it more challenging to do what we want to do. But ‘duty’ is a concept that deserves toContinue reading “The Role of ‘Duty’ in Sustainability”
Pasteurising Apple Juice
One of our favourite ways to use up our bumper apple crop from the forest garden is to make apple juice. In a previous post, I already mentioned our fruit press, which is essential to us in being able to make the most of all our apples. We have a range of different apple varietiesContinue reading “Pasteurising Apple Juice”
Autumn Foraging
In addition to the main autumn crops, apples and more, it is also well worthwhile working out what your autumn surroundings can provide. Even if you don’t have a garden full of food, your local area might provide a wide range of yields. Both in my own garden, and in the surrounding area, we canContinue reading “Autumn Foraging”
Case Study: Colourful Polyculture Design
This simple design for a series of garden beds was created for a client in London, who wished to amend and accentuate an existing planting scheme with more edible and colourful plants. Particularly, the client wished to add colourful foliage, with plenty of different vegetation to brighten up the green and year-round interest. Often, weContinue reading “Case Study: Colourful Polyculture Design”
Propagating Plants in a Permaculture Garden
At this time of year, saving seeds is often an important job. By saving our own seeds from our gardens, we can save money and, over time, create strains of certain species better suited for growing in our own particular gardens. Thinking about how we can increase our plant stocks is essential in planning inContinue reading “Propagating Plants in a Permaculture Garden”
Sustainable Fashion: Repair
Of all the ‘R’s of sustainability, repair is one that is most often overlooked. The emphasis is often on reducing consumption, on reuse, and recycling. But when it comes to sustainable fashion, repair is another ‘R’ that can be very important. One of the complaints or ‘road blocks’ that comes up frequently in discussion isContinue reading “Sustainable Fashion: Repair”
Flowering Quince – An Interesting Ornamental Edible
In a shady part of the forest garden, sandwiched between apple trees and an east facing stone wall, we have some interesting and more unusual edibles. One of these is flowering quince. With its beautiful red flowers in spring, this shrub, Chaenomeles japonica, thrives in rather difficult conditions. In rather deep shade a lot ofContinue reading “Flowering Quince – An Interesting Ornamental Edible”
EWSP Consultancy 