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”
Tag Archives: forest 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”
Some Of The Best Self Seeders in My Forest Garden
A great garden is one which can not only endure over time but which also improves and gains in biodiversity. Making the right initial choices when it comes to planting can go a long way towards ensuring that the garden evolves as you wish. And choosing the right plants can make your life easier too.Continue reading “Some Of The Best Self Seeders in My Forest Garden”
Fruit Tree Guilds
Working out guilds for fruit trees can feel like a complex business. It can be challenging to work out the best combinations of plants if you are trying to establish a new productive garden, improve an existing orchard, or boost the yield of an existing fruit tree. Working out the most beneficial combinations of plantsContinue reading “Fruit Tree Guilds”
Visitors on the Blossom
The apple trees are in full blossom now, finally, after a very late start this year. And the cherry blossoms are just going over. Now that fine weather has finally arrived, over the last few days, the forest garden is really buzzing with life. Over the time that we have lived here and managed ourContinue reading “Visitors on the Blossom”
Case Study: Artist’s Garden
This case study shows a design for a back garden in Scotland. The client is an artist of many talents, and wanted a garden that could provide for her needs while delighting all the senses. The garden is around 20m x 45m, oriented almost North-South. Of course, I also delivered more comprehensive planting plans, butContinue reading “Case Study: Artist’s Garden”
How Much Do You Need to Prune in a Garden?
Many new gardeners feel a little overwhelmed with all the garden jobs on their lists. As a new gardener, working out what you have to do, and what you do not have to do can be a challenge. Many common questions revolve around pruning. How often do you need to prune trees, shrubs etc…? PruningContinue reading “How Much Do You Need to Prune in a Garden?”
Low Maintenance Garden Design
Many people are worried about starting a food producing garden because they worry that they do not have the time. But even when you don’t have much time to tend a garden, it is still important to remember that you can still grow plenty of food. Low maintenance gardens can certainly still be both beautifulContinue reading “Low Maintenance Garden Design”
Case Study: Front Yard Farm
This group of seven front yards in Illinois will soon become a front yard farm, growing a range of produce for the seven households (of 15 people). Seven front yard ‘fields’ will be tended by the farmer, living at lot 3 on the above plan. And his garage will become a hub for the farm’sContinue reading “Case Study: Front Yard Farm”
Case Study: Community Hub
This is a design for a brownfield site in an inner city area in the UK (USDA Zone 8). To the north and east are apartment buildings and there is an existing car park to the north east. To the west and south are busy roads, major conduits through a busy residential area. The areaContinue reading “Case Study: Community Hub”
EWSP Consultancy 