Tips for Choosing Fruit Trees for Your Garden

As I wait for the fruit to ripen on the plum and apple trees in my own garden, I thought this would be a good time to share a few simple tips for choosing fruit trees for your own garden. Think about which fruits you actually like to eat. (I am not a particular fanContinue reading “Tips for Choosing Fruit Trees for Your Garden”

Working Remotely on Permaculture Designs

From home, I work on permaculture designs for clients all over the world. Of course, permaculture has a strong emphasis on practicality, and there is no real substitute for actual observation and implementation on the ground. Some people are confused about exactly what a remote permaculture design can offer. But this way of working isContinue reading “Working Remotely on Permaculture Designs”

Streamlining Harvesting

This is, of course, a busy time of year for many of us when it comes to harvesting. Though it is often one of the most pleasurable jobs in the summer garden, it can be time consuming. Streamlining harvesting means spending some time thinking about efficiencies, and coming up with small solutions to make thingsContinue reading “Streamlining Harvesting”

Case Study: Wisconsin Permaculture Design

This Wisconsin property, in Juneau County, is in USDA zone 5. It has largely Boone-Tarr soils, c. 6-15 percent slopes, some with high runoff and excessive drainage. Mean annual precipitation is 28 to 33 inches. Mean annual air temperature: 46 to 52 degrees F. Frost-free period: 135 to 160 days. Most of the property isContinue reading “Case Study: Wisconsin Permaculture Design”

Wildfire Preparedness in Permaculture Design

Wildfires are, unfortunately, becoming an increasingly common danger in many parts of the world. And permaculture designs need to factor in wildlife preparedness and consider how the to mitigate wildfire risks as well as considering other factors relating to the sectors acting on the site. When looking at wildfire, one key thing to look atContinue reading “Wildfire Preparedness in Permaculture Design”

Grow More Fruit in Less Space

As you may have gathered from previous posts, I love to grow plenty of fruit in my garden. In my forest garden, I have many fruit producing plants – from trees, to shrubs – even fruiting ground cover plants. And I have plans to add even more. I recently purchased a few extra additions (includingContinue reading “Grow More Fruit in Less Space”

Scaling Up Sustainable Solutions

Many of the solutions that have the power to combat our climate crisis are commonly practiced on a small scale in gardens, in smallholdings, on homesteads and small farms. Many of these solutions, involving taking care of the soil and managing water well, for example, will likely already be well known to many with anContinue reading “Scaling Up Sustainable Solutions”

Case Study: Turkey Permaculture Plan

This plan outlines an approach for a planned goose farm in the vicinity of Digor, in Eastern Anatolia in Turkey. This area experiences winters equivalent to USDA zone 5. I have suggested an agroforestry approach, for the pasturing of meat birds for 7 months each year between climate and soil appropriate fruit trees and otherContinue reading “Case Study: Turkey Permaculture Plan”

Lammas Harvesting and Planting

On Lammas, or Lughnasadh, it seems fitting that I spent some of my day in the garden. But on this traditional holiday of the harvest, I have not just been harvesting, but also planting too. This time of year is a time of year when many new gardeners who sowed in spring will be harvesting theContinue reading “Lammas Harvesting and Planting”

Case Study: Subtropical Australia Permaculture Garden

This higher level concept plan is for a garden in greater Brisbane, Australia. The clients were keen to develop a plan that would allow them to make the most of their garden – currently mostly laid to lawn. They wanted a lush and tropical feel and a space that they could use for recreation –Continue reading “Case Study: Subtropical Australia Permaculture Garden”