Garden rooms are a ‘trendy’ feature of modern garden design. The idea basically involves compartmentalising a garden into a series of outdoors rooms. This helps blend the inside and outside of your home. It makes it easier to properly make use of the whole of the space available, and can allow you to play withContinue reading “Creating Garden Rooms in a Permaculture Design”
Tag Archives: permaculture
Can You Design Your Own Garden?
As a permaculture garden designer, I have created designs for many gardens. But I am also happy to help others to design their own gardens. I believe that when it comes down to the question of whether or not professional help is required, it is important to take a case-by-case approach. I often get theContinue reading “Can You Design Your Own Garden?”
Back To Work
Tomorrow morning I will be getting back to work after my break for the festive season. My husband and I have been working on our barn conversion for the last week, and our slow project is coming along well. But I am now ready and excited to get back to work on a number ofContinue reading “Back To Work”
10 Resolutions for a More Sustainable 2021
Happy New Year! This is a great time to retrench, and confirm your commitment to a more sustainable way of life. So to get things started on the right foot, here are ten sustainable new year’s resolutions you may wish to consider: Grow at least some of your own food at home. Make sure foodContinue reading “10 Resolutions for a More Sustainable 2021”
Cultivate Kindness – Choose ‘Pleasant’ This Christmas
These are stressful times. This means that it has never been more important to cultivate kindness in all that you do. We often talk about care for other people when talking about sustainability. But all too often, people forget that small, simple acts of kindness on a daily basis are just as important as caringContinue reading “Cultivate Kindness – Choose ‘Pleasant’ This Christmas”
How Do We Fix Fragile Systems?
A fragile system is one which will break rather than bending. One which will fail to thrive when conditions get tough. One which cannot change and adapt to changing needs, but which is brittle and will not survive whatever the future brings. Fragile systems, both in the garden and in society, can be identified andContinue reading “How Do We Fix Fragile Systems?”
Case Study: The NOWschool Permaculture Plan
This is a permaculture design for the NOWschool – a green and sustainable school planned in Utrecht, Netherlands. This is a project of sustainable businesswoman Juliette Schraauwers, who approached me to create a design for the school. This is a concept inspired by the Green School movement, which advocates an overhaul of our educational systems.Continue reading “Case Study: The NOWschool Permaculture Plan”
Reasons to Dig in a ‘No Dig’ Garden
I’ve already spoken before on this site about the concept of a ‘no dig’ garden. In a no dig garden, the key is to create and manage growing areas so that we disturb the soil ecosystem as little as possible (and take steps to improve it). This involves strategies like making lasagna gardens, hugelkultur moundsContinue reading “Reasons to Dig in a ‘No Dig’ Garden”
Rethinking Thistles
Many gardeners view thistles as problem weeds. But thistles (of several different varieties) can be extremely useful garden plants. There are lots of thistles where we live, but rather than trying to eradicate them entirely from cultivated areas, I consider them as a benefit and welcome them in my garden (at least to a degree).Continue reading “Rethinking Thistles”
Case Study: Small-Space Haven
This permaculture plan aims to bring a sense of space, nature and freedom to the small space around the home (which is currently being constructed). It aims to combine organic, natural materials with diverse living plants to create a tranquil haven and make the small space seem larger and more filled with possibility. First ofContinue reading “Case Study: Small-Space Haven”