Permaculture Design For Rented Spaces

Even if you are renting your home, there is still plenty of potential to include permaculture design in your life. It can, of course, be frustrating when we do not have full control over what we can and cannot do where we live. But permaculture can allow us to improve our situations, and live moreContinue reading “Permaculture Design For Rented Spaces”

What is a Co-operative Paradigm?

Permaculture espouses the idea that a co-operative paradigm provides the best pathway to a stable, sustainable future in which permaculture ethics and principles are maintained. Within the framework of a co-operative paradigm, people can switch from being the cause for the world’s major problems to the basis for solving them. By finding a common seriesContinue reading “What is a Co-operative Paradigm?”

Keeping Things Going: Building Long-Term Resilience in a Garden

Many people have taken to gardening during lockdown in a big way. Seed sales etc. went through the roof and I have been approached by many people who are gardening and growing food in earnest for the first time. But now that lockdown is easing in many areas, it would be easy to let thatContinue reading “Keeping Things Going: Building Long-Term Resilience in a Garden”

Stinging Nettles: Why They’re A Boon Not a Bane

Many gardeners hate stinging nettles. They lurk between other plants, and catch the unwary with their stings. But I want to take a moment to explain why they are a boon – not a bane. And why we should all value their contributions to our gardens and our lives. The Benefits of Stinging Nettles TheContinue reading “Stinging Nettles: Why They’re A Boon Not a Bane”

Why You Should Not Be Too Tidy in Your Garden

There is a natural human instinct to want to control our environment. But in an organic garden, imposing too much control can be a negative thing. If we keep things too tidy and orderly, this can have a detrimental effect. It can reduce biodiversity and fertility over time. Don’t Remove All Brush/ Vegetative Litter ClearingContinue reading “Why You Should Not Be Too Tidy in Your Garden”

Using Unripe Windfall Apples From the Garden

Fruit trees are self-regulating. The ‘June drop’ is a tree’s natural way of ridding itself of excess fruits it cannot support. Where I live, here in Scotland, the ‘June drop’ actually usually occurs some time in July. Some new gardeners are alarmed to see unripe fruits. littering the ground below their trees. But not onlyContinue reading “Using Unripe Windfall Apples From the Garden”

July in the Forest Garden

July in the forest garden is an abundant time. Soft fruits are the stars of the show. We have plenty of red currants, blackcurrants, raspberries, as well as the last of the strawberries and gooseberries. Harvesting and preserving are the order of the day. Even in a low maintenance garden like a forest garden, thereContinue reading “July in the Forest Garden”

How Could You Contribute to a Green Recovery?

As we all seek to move forward and build back better, we all need to ask ourselves how we can contribute to a green recovery. A green recovery is a recovery that enables us to all move forward together – and to take care of our planet – as we move towards a truly sustainableContinue reading “How Could You Contribute to a Green Recovery?”

Plastic Free Bedroom

I’ve previously written about how to reduce plastic waste and go plastic free in the kitchen, and in the bathroom. Next, let’s take a quick look at how to avoid plastic and reduce waste in another room of your home: the bedroom. In permaculture, we often talk about small, slow solutions. And that is justContinue reading “Plastic Free Bedroom”

Troubleshooting a Compost System

If you have set up a composting system for the first time this year, you might be finding that things are not going according to plan. Don’t worry. No matter what problems you face, or mistakes you make, it is usually fairly easy to get back on track. Here are a few common issues andContinue reading “Troubleshooting a Compost System”