This is the preliminary permaculture concept plan for a farmstead in Illinois. the design aims to synthesise the ideas of the client with the demands of the site and to allow them to make the most of the property – recently purchased – that has been somewhat neglected in recent years. The client, a hobby farmerContinue reading “Case Study: Illinois Permaculture Design”
Tag Archives: gardening
Case Study: Scottish Permaculture Garden
This is a domestic garden design for a client in eastern Scotland. The key design goals with this project were to create a space for nature-connection, with plenty of space for human recreation and for food production while also providing a sanctuary for local wildlife. The client wanted to incorporate more trees and other plantsContinue reading “Case Study: Scottish Permaculture Garden”
Earth Day Inspiration
What should you do to celebrate Earth Day, invest in our planet and take action? There are, of course, a great many things that you can do – and not just on Earth Day. Remember, caring for people and planet should be something we all do year-round. But Earth Day is an opportunity to hitContinue reading “Earth Day Inspiration”
Getting Back to the Roots
I recently wrote a brief article for Treehugger: Why We Should Think About Roots. In this piece, I look a quick look at why it is so important to delve deeper, both when thinking about gardens and garden design, and when trying to live a sustainable life in general. We can learn a lot fromContinue reading “Getting Back to the Roots”
Updating Traditional Cottage Garden Style for Your Specific Location
Certain styles of gardens are perennially popular around the world. The English cottage garden is one typical example. But achieving a certain style does not mean copying the design exactly, down to the specific plants that you choose. So good design often means updating traditional garden styles with native plants – to make them moreContinue reading “Updating Traditional Cottage Garden Style for Your Specific Location”
Rewilding On A Range of Scales
When we talk about rewilding, we are often talking about doing so on a landscape scale – over broad areas. Large scale conservation, ecosystem restoration and rewildling are certainly important. But it is also important to consider smaller scale rewilding schemes on individual properties, and even in individual gardens. I’ve had a very busy startContinue reading “Rewilding On A Range of Scales”
Become a More Sustainable Gardener in 2022
As a garden designer, I have been heartened to see so many people embracing sustainable organic gardening over the past couple of years. But even those who set out with the best intentions could still do more to make sure they are doing the right thing for people and planet in their gardens. Here areContinue reading “Become a More Sustainable Gardener in 2022”
Happy New Year!
Hello all! I hope everyone is enjoying a good start to 2022. I am now back at work and refreshed after a break. We had a sustainable Christmas at home with family and then a few days away up north staying in a remote cottage in Assynt, further up north here in Scotland, to getContinue reading “Happy New Year!”
Bare Root Planting – Tips and Advice
Over the dormant period, many of you may well be planting bare root trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials. I myself am awaiting a delivery from the Agroforestry Research Trust with some additions for my forest garden. Purchasing bare root specimens, rather than pot grown ones can be a more affordable way to purchase new plantsContinue reading “Bare Root Planting – Tips and Advice”
Start Your Own Organic Garden: An Online Course For Beginners
Right back at the beginning of this year, I ran a course to help new gardeners get started. I designed this simple, practical course to help beginners move to the point where they are ready to start their own organic food producing garden in the spring. People who took this course last year were kindContinue reading “Start Your Own Organic Garden: An Online Course For Beginners”
EWSP Consultancy 