Today I thought I would share with you some of my favourite plants which can produce food in shade that is more than just light, dappled shade below fruit trees. The first example is one I have in my own forest garden: mahonia. Also known as Oregon Grape, I realise that this may not beContinue reading “Producing Food in Deeper Shade”
Tag Archives: gardening
Breaking Reliance on External Inputs
A well designed garden or farm does not require external inputs once established. Many growers have become reliant on fertilisers (synthetic or bought organic options) and external materials such as composts, mulches. Most buy new plants, seeds etc. over time. But once a truly sustainable system has been established, the garden should be a closedContinue reading “Breaking Reliance on External Inputs”
Drying Herbs – Which Herbs I Dry
Some culinary herbs, I can pick from my garden all year round. But some have a much shorter season. Even those that are around all year, I sometimes like to dry – sometimes because of the different flavour they impart in cooking, and sometimes because it is just easier to use dried herbs when cookingContinue reading “Drying Herbs – Which Herbs I Dry”
Don’t Deadhead All Your Roses
Traditional gardeners will often tell you to deadhead all your roses. Many gardeners will zealously deadhead their roses throughout the growing season, no matter what type of rose they are dealing with. But deadheading too zealously can mean that you lose out on rose hips later in the year. I do deadhead some repeat-flowering shrubContinue reading “Don’t Deadhead All Your Roses”
Why I Love Mange Tout/ Snow peas/ Snap Peas
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”
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”