Coastal gardens can often be challenging, with strong, salt-laden winds and perhaps very light and sandy soils. This fairly small coastal garden in Eastern Scotland is currently an under-used space, an area of grass south of a coastal cottage, with a coastal path running along low, craggy cliffs on its southern side. The Typical ChallengesContinue reading “Coastal Foraging Garden Design: Balancing Aesthetics and Edible Yields”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Waddington
Forest Garden Design Tips: Developing Sustainable Food-Producing Systems
As anyone who has looked at any of my case studies will already know, forest gardens, food forests or agroforestry schemes often play important roles in my designs. Forest gardening also lies at the heart of my own gardening at home. I have a walled orchard which I have gradually worked to evolve into aContinue reading “Forest Garden Design Tips: Developing Sustainable Food-Producing Systems”
Permaculture Design for a Wildlife-Friendly Scottish Garden
You do not have to have a massive garden to make a big difference for local wildlife. This is my design for a garden in West Lothian, in Scotland’s ‘Central Belt’. The client approached me because they wanted to turn the lawned, boggy area next to their new-build home into a wildlife haven for theirContinue reading “Permaculture Design for a Wildlife-Friendly Scottish Garden”
Sustainable Landscape Design – Sources of Inspiration
I have recently been thinking about my different sources of inspiration for the permaculture garden designs, farm or homestead plans and other community regenerative landscape plans I create, so today I thought I would share some of the things that help me to come up with my ideas, in hopes that some of these thingsContinue reading “Sustainable Landscape Design – Sources of Inspiration”
Overcoming Barriers to City Rewilding and Re-greening Initiatives
Rewilding cities and other human-centric spaces is increasingly important, as more and more people spend their lives in massive metropolises with little access to truly natural and ‘wild’ environments, and as we encroach ever more on the wildlife around us. Rewilding Cities: Identifying Sites for Permaculture Design Identifying land suitable for rewilding in cities andContinue reading “Overcoming Barriers to City Rewilding and Re-greening Initiatives”
Virginia Permaculture Design: Native Plants, Forest Garden, Mandala Garden
This is a garden design for the ridge and valley ecoregion of Virginia, incorporating plenty of native plant species and primarily aims to: This concept design, for which I have also delivered a full planting plan, incorporates a wide range of plants native to the eco-region, within a range of different ecosystem types. Alongside someContinue reading “Virginia Permaculture Design: Native Plants, Forest Garden, Mandala Garden”
Practical Tips for Small Gardens
You do not need to have a large garden to adhere to permaculture ethics and principles. Even in the smallest spaces you can obtain a yield and grow at least a little of your own food, while still having some space for recreation. Small gardens can often deliver far more than you might think. UnderstandingContinue reading “Practical Tips for Small Gardens”
Permaculture Communities – Design Tips and Ideas
I have worked on designs for a range of permaculture communities around the world, on a range of scales. Community is important, and understanding how we can scale up from the personal and individual to a broader-scale resilience though permaculture design is crucial for a sustainable future. What is a Permaculture Community? When I talkContinue reading “Permaculture Communities – Design Tips and Ideas”
Native Plant Family Garden Design in Hawthorne, California
This is the first part of my design for a family in Hawthorne, California, a part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. I am currently working on the planting plans for each of the areas shown on this plan and am close to completing the more detailed design. In this design, family-life is central. TheContinue reading “Native Plant Family Garden Design in Hawthorne, California”
Garden Design – Why Get Help to Plan Your Garden?
Permaculture design gives anyone the tools they need to create their own garden design. By following permaculture ethics, principles and design methodologies we can all move closer and closer to a truly sustainable way of life. So many may ask why they should employ the services of a permaculture designer. Why get help to designContinue reading “Garden Design – Why Get Help to Plan Your Garden?”