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 designs 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 things may also inspire you to dream and plan when it comesContinue 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”

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?”

Budget-Friendly Garden Ideas: Improve Your Garden for Free

All too often, people make the mistake of thinking that they cannot afford to improve their gardens. They do not realise that there is actually a lot that they can do for free. With some thought, determination and hard work, there are plenty of budget-friendly garden ideas to implement that allow anyone to improve theirContinue reading “Budget-Friendly Garden Ideas: Improve Your Garden for Free”

Rewilding or Ungardening in Permaculture Design

When any permaculture designer is working on a project, they will typically be working within the relatively solid framework of the permaculture ethics and permaculture design principles. But permaculture as a design framework it not rigid. It leaves the space that is needed for nature, for people, and for changes over time as a systemContinue reading “Rewilding or Ungardening in Permaculture Design”