The word ‘duty’ is often viewed as having negative connotations. It is often held in opposition to the ideas of personal freedom. Sometimes, people view it as an encumbrance – something that limits our potential and makes it more challenging to do what we want to do. But ‘duty’ is a concept that deserves toContinue reading “The Role of ‘Duty’ in Sustainability”
Tag Archives: permaculture
Case Study: Colourful Polyculture Design
This simple design for a series of garden beds was created for a client in London, who wished to amend and accentuate an existing planting scheme with more edible and colourful plants. Particularly, the client wished to add colourful foliage, with plenty of different vegetation to brighten up the green and year-round interest. Often, weContinue reading “Case Study: Colourful Polyculture Design”
Propagating Plants in a Permaculture Garden
At this time of year, saving seeds is often an important job. By saving our own seeds from our gardens, we can save money and, over time, create strains of certain species better suited for growing in our own particular gardens. Thinking about how we can increase our plant stocks is essential in planning inContinue reading “Propagating Plants in a Permaculture Garden”
Managing Risk – Creating Anti-Fragile Systems
Whether we are talking about businesses, communities or individual homes – risk is a big part of life. In these difficult times, risk is ever-present. We might not all be aware of it all the time, but we are all managing risk on a daily basis. Every time we take a decision about whether weContinue reading “Managing Risk – Creating Anti-Fragile Systems”
Saving Time for Sustainability
Permaculture zoning is all about analysing our patterns of human movement, and how we use our time. When we carry out an analysis of the inputs, outputs and characteristics or each element in a garden (or in another system), we can work out where to place them to make most efficient use of our time.Continue reading “Saving Time for Sustainability”
Case Study: Small Garden With Raised Beds
The image and simple planting plan above is part of an example permaculture scheme for a small domestic garden in England. The client requested that a lawn area be kept, so that it can be used for placing a trampoline for kids to use. But wanted to improve the garden and grow as some typicalContinue reading “Case Study: Small Garden With Raised Beds”
Case Study: Kenya Restaurant Roof Area
This case study is an example of a system created for a restauranteur. As usual, I won’t provide all the information given to the client, but the above illustrates the general scheme for the design. In this instance, I was approached by a restaurant owner in Mombasa Kenya who was interested in turning a disusedContinue reading “Case Study: Kenya Restaurant Roof Area”
Utility and Beauty in a Permaculture Home
“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris. In my mind, everything in your home should be useful or beautiful – ideally both. In permaculture, we think carefully about every elementContinue reading “Utility and Beauty in a Permaculture Home”
Case Study: Fruit Tree Circles For Small Space Temperate Gardens
The image above was a simple illustration that I drew to explain the concept to a client. This fruit tree ring is a variation on the idea of a banana circle, and is a concept used most frequently to incorporate fruit trees in areas with an arid climate. It is an idea, however, that isContinue reading “Case Study: Fruit Tree Circles For Small Space Temperate Gardens”
Growing Nuts in Your Garden
Nuts can be an excellent source of plant-based nutrition, of course. When choosing trees or shrubs for your garden, it is worthwhile thinking about nuts as well as about fruits. The options available to you will of course depend on where you live. In my climate zone and on my property , there is aContinue reading “Growing Nuts in Your Garden”