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”
Tag Archives: permaculture
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”
Case Study: Looking at Greening the Desert in Somalia
The project is still to determine the exact land area that will be used for the ecosystem restoration camp. But this is a piece of land that is under consideration. This is some preliminary work I have done. The ins and outs of the design obviously require a lot more work. But I thought someContinue reading “Case Study: Looking at Greening the Desert in Somalia”
Misconceptions About Permaculture Design
Today, I thought I would take a moment to correct some misconceptions that seem to be common when it comes to permaculture design. Firstly, and most importantly – permaculture is not a ‘cult’. Some people I have encountered mistake the zeal with which people talk about permaculture for some form of indoctrination or even ‘brainwashing’.Continue reading “Misconceptions About Permaculture Design”
Case Study: Ecosystem Restoration Camp Concept
This is some recent ‘pro-bono’ concept work I have done for an ecosystem restoration camp planned in Somalia. The goal of these images is to provide a rough depiction of how the camp would be established and the area around it slowly re-vegetated and improved over time. This is conceptual work rather than work specificContinue reading “Case Study: Ecosystem Restoration Camp Concept”
Case Study: Alabama Permaculture Design
This is a quick design for a domestic backyard in Alabama. The site slopes downwards towards the east, and the client asked for a design that would allow them to make the most of the site and grow their own fruit and vegetables. The swales in this design are paired with hugelkultur techniques. And IContinue reading “Case Study: Alabama Permaculture Design”
Edible Ornamentals and Ornamental Edibles
Many gardeners compartmentalise in their heads. They put edible crops into one category, and ornamental, flowering plants in another. But there can actually be a lot of overlap between these two categories. In a permaculture garden, we integrate don’t segregate. We grow plenty of flowers as companion plants in our polyculture vegetable beds. We considerContinue reading “Edible Ornamentals and Ornamental Edibles”
Case Study: Angola Field System
This design is for a plot along the Kikuxi irrigation canal in the Luanda region of Angola. The client requested a plan that would allow the site to be used for the production of a range of organic fruits and vegetables. The site lies on 75m above sea level The prevailing climate in Luanda isContinue reading “Case Study: Angola Field System”
The Benefits of a Mixed Hedgerow
Hedgerows are a common feature of UK landscapes, but less familiar in other regions. There is a huge difference between a wild and diverse hedgerow and the mono-crop hedges that are more common in suburban and urban settings. There are a huge range of reasons why incorporating mixed hedgerows in agricultural or garden settings isContinue reading “The Benefits of a Mixed Hedgerow”
Identifying Flows and Pathways
Patterns are important in permaculture. Whether we are talking about landscapes, gardens, homes, communities or broader societal systems, it is important to look at patterns in the big picture. Of course, there is an important permaculture principle that we design from patterns to details. We take a holistic, big-picture view before we delve into theContinue reading “Identifying Flows and Pathways”
EWSP Consultancy 