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”
Tag Archives: gardening
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”
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”
Using Trap Crops in a Garden
There are many different forms of companion planting which can be beneficial in managing pests in an organic garden. Trap crops are one type of companion plant which can be an important part of integrated pest management. Trap crops are plants which are placed alongside, around or between the plants which you wish to protect.Continue reading “Using Trap Crops in a Garden”
Every Garden Offers Opportunities
Many home buyers look for the holy grail of a sunny, south facing garden. But even when the garden is small and north facing, the space can offer plenty of exciting options. Every garden offers opportunities, no matter how problematic it may at first appear. In permaculture, we always look at the opportunities that aContinue reading “Every Garden Offers Opportunities”
Sustainable Pest Control in an Organic Garden
One of the biggest mistakes which people make when making the switch to organic gardening is thinking about pests as a problem which can be solved with a topical application. As a consultant, I fairly regularly receive questions about pests. And people often expect an answer which involves a specific formulation for plants infested withContinue reading “Sustainable Pest Control in an Organic Garden”
Wild Raspberries in my Garden
We are very lucky here because wild raspberries grow prolifically in this area, and crop up all around the edges of our property and pretty much wherever we allow them to grow. Raspberries are one of my favourite fruits, and we love both the wild and cultivated varieties. I allow the wild variety to growContinue reading “Wild Raspberries in my Garden”
Mulching Potatoes Rather Than Earthing Up With Soil
Traditionally potatoes are of course earthed up as they grow. But as I have experimented here with no dig gardening techniques, I have moved to a system where I mulch around the growing potato plants rather than mounding up the soil around them. I have tried various different organic mulch materials and while my experimentsContinue reading “Mulching Potatoes Rather Than Earthing Up With Soil”
EWSP Consultancy 