Traditional gardeners will often tell you to deadhead all your roses. Many gardeners will zealously deadhead their roses throughout the growing season, no matter what type of rose they are dealing with. But deadheading too zealously can mean that you lose out on rose hips later in the year. I do deadhead some repeat-flowering shrubContinue reading “Don’t Deadhead All Your Roses”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Gooseberry and Elderflower Cordial
Tonight I will be using some of the gooseberries I harvested at the weekend along with some elderflowers from my garden to make a gooseberry and elderflower cordial. This is an easy recipe and I thought I would share with you how I make this refreshing drink. I have made some juice already, with 1kgContinue reading “Gooseberry and Elderflower Cordial”
Forest Garden Update: Gooseberries, Comfrey, Nettles and More
Today I spent the afternoon in the forest garden, so I thought this could be a good time to give you an update from this area. Everything is going wild – with lots to harvest and plenty more on the way. The main jobs today were harvesting gooseberries, clearing things up a little, and harvestingContinue reading “Forest Garden Update: Gooseberries, Comfrey, Nettles and More”
Why I Love Mange Tout/ Snow peas/ Snap Peas
I don’t have a huge amount of space in my vegetable garden, so I want the plants I grow to work hard for me and provide as high a yield as possible. I grow and have grown a number of different shelling or podding peas in my garden. But today, having just harvested a bigContinue reading “Why I Love Mange Tout/ Snow peas/ Snap Peas”
How I Spend My Summer
I know that many people are keen to get away, yet many will not be enjoying their usual summer holidays away this year. So I thought that some people might appreciate learning a little more about how I typically spend my summer, for some inspiration about how to enjoy summer breaks in a more sustainableContinue reading “How I Spend My Summer”
Sustainable Picnic Ideas
Picnics are a wonderful way to enjoy time outdoors during the summer months. So whether you are planning a picnic in your own garden, or will be taking a picnic to a natural beauty spot in your area, here are some sustainable picnic ideas to consider: First of all, take a look at the foodContinue reading “Sustainable Picnic Ideas”
Sustainable Coffee?
Fairtrade? Rainforest alliance?… where should you turn when looking for a sustainable coffee for your morning cup? It can be challenging trying to navigate the minefield and find the most sustainable options for all the foods and drinks you enjoy. And when you do not live in a coffee producing area, it is worthwhile alsoContinue reading “Sustainable Coffee?”
Why Gooseberries are One of My Favourite Fruit Bushes
Ribes ulva-crispa, gooseberries, are an excellent fruit bush for my climate and location. They grow prolifically, yield well every year, and are very easy to propagate. (I have expanded my number of plants by taking hardwood cuttings, which have rooted well.) They are native to temperate areas of Europe, and have been cultivated in theContinue reading “Why Gooseberries are One of My Favourite Fruit Bushes”
Every Year is Different in a Garden
Looking back at what was going on this time last year in the garden, which I wrote about in my midsummer garden post, it was brought back to me how much difference the weather can make each year. This spring got off to a very slow start here. We had some very cold weather andContinue reading “Every Year is Different in a Garden”
Beyond the Generic Permaculture Fruit Tree Guild
I have written before on this site and elsewhere about creating fruit tree guilds. And this topic is one of the things I am asked about most frequently. It is also, perhaps, one of the things in permaculture most frequently misunderstood. There is a lot of information out there and unfortunately, much of it canContinue reading “Beyond the Generic Permaculture Fruit Tree Guild”
EWSP Consultancy 