The Parts of Common Vegetable Garden Crops People Don’t Know They Can Eat

Are you accidentally composting parts of common vegetable crops from your garden that you could be eating? There are many plants which offer secondary yields – and other parts of a plant beyond the main harvested parts can often also become a part of your home grown diet. Some parts of common vegetable garden cropsContinue reading “The Parts of Common Vegetable Garden Crops People Don’t Know They Can Eat”

Case Study: Formal French Potager Style Garden

I think there is an impression that in a permaculture garden, nothing can be straight or orderly. But in this design which I created for a client in Idaho who wanted a more formal and neat design, you can see that earth-friendly design and methodologies can be implemented in different styles. In the notes providedContinue reading “Case Study: Formal French Potager Style Garden”

Overcoming Obstacles in a Kitchen Garden – A Few Examples

One of the key roles of permaculture is showing how, by following certain ethics and principles, we can work towards overcoming obstacles – in food production and in other areas of our lives. Today, as many work towards creating their kitchen garden, or making a plan for the coming year, I thought it might beContinue reading “Overcoming Obstacles in a Kitchen Garden – A Few Examples”

Why Choose Heritage Seeds?

At this time of year, many gardeners are turning their attention to ordering seeds to sow in spring. So I thought this could be a good time to talk briefly about why it is a good idea to grow heritage seeds. Heritage seeds are seeds which have been bred, often over a long period ofContinue reading “Why Choose Heritage Seeds?”

Kitchen Garden Layout Ideas

At this time of year, you might be thinking about creating a new kitchen garden. You might be thinking about improving the layout of the garden you already have. There are, of course, plenty of different ideas to consider. In this article: 7 Vegetable Garden Layout Ideas to Grow More Food in Less Space IContinue reading “Kitchen Garden Layout Ideas”

Garden Jobs for December

December might not be the busiest month of the gardening year. But even in the deep mid winter, when most plants are dormant, there are still some things to do in your garden. Today, I thought I would give you a list of a few garden jobs that you might think about taking on thisContinue reading “Garden Jobs for December”

Making Mistakes When Growing Your Own

Many people are growing their own this year for the first time. So I wanted to take a moment to talk about making mistakes. Of course, making mistakes is something we all do. On the road of sustainability, it is important not to become discouraged when things go wrong. This list of the 30 mostContinue reading “Making Mistakes When Growing Your Own”

The Spring Harvest – What We’re Eating This Month

To inspire others to take their own home-growing further, every now and then, I would like to share some of what we’re eating from our own permaculture garden here in Scotland. So here are some highlights of the May harvest: Spring Harvest From the Veg Beds and Polytunnel: Lettuce (Various types) Perpetual Spinach Chard PakContinue reading “The Spring Harvest – What We’re Eating This Month”

How To Make A New Growing Area in Your Garden

I am often asked about the best ways to turn an area of lawn into a new growing area. When people make new growing areas, they often cut off the turf to get started. But I would highly recommend ditching the spade, and adopting a no dig approach. There are several different ‘no dig’ optionsContinue reading “How To Make A New Growing Area in Your Garden”

Starting a Garden Need Not Cost The Earth

If you are starting a garden, one of the most common mistakes is spending more than you need to spend to establish it. Permaculture teaches is that it does not need to cost the Earth to start a garden – either literally or metaphorically. We can keep things sustainable and eco-friendly, while also spending veryContinue reading “Starting a Garden Need Not Cost The Earth”