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”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Waddington
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”
Creating a Forager’s Forest Garden
When people are new to growing their own, they tend to focus on growing typical annual plants. But by choosing a range of perennial plants, you can make a low-maintenance forest garden which requires far less effort and time long-term. Harvesting in a forest garden can often be more like foraging than harvesting. Yields canContinue reading “Creating a Forager’s Forest Garden”
Managing Risk – Creating Anti-Fragile Systems
Whether we are talking about businesses, communities or individual homes – risk is a big part of life. In these difficult times, risk is ever-present. We might not all be aware of it all the time, but we are all managing risk on a daily basis. Every time we take a decision about whether weContinue reading “Managing Risk – Creating Anti-Fragile Systems”
Sustainable Projects To Take on Before Winter
In a sustainable home, it is always a good idea to be one step ahead. There are a number of things you could do before the coldest weather arrives to boost your household sustainability over the winter. One thing you could do, of course, is add extra insulation to your home. The better insulated yourContinue reading “Sustainable Projects To Take on Before Winter”
Case Study: Simple Example Garden Layout
This is one part of a series of garden layout plans I created recently. In this image, you can see a potential layout for a small 4×4 ft garden bed for USDA zones 7-8. (I also created sample layout plans for zones 5-6 and 9-10, for full sun and for more shaded spots.) The clientContinue reading “Case Study: Simple Example Garden Layout”