I am the main human gardener on our property, but I am far from being the only one who does things and makes choices that influence what happens in the garden. One important thing that human gardeners need to remember is that they are not gardening alone. Any human gardener is just one of aContinue reading “Garden Design Tip: Value Other ‘Gardeners’ in Your Outside Space”
Tag Archives: wildlife
Case Study: Scottish Permaculture Garden
This is a domestic garden design for a client in eastern Scotland. The key design goals with this project were to create a space for nature-connection, with plenty of space for human recreation and for food production while also providing a sanctuary for local wildlife. The client wanted to incorporate more trees and other plantsContinue reading “Case Study: Scottish Permaculture Garden”
A Few Photos From the Forest Garden
It is a beautiful and very warm day today, and I thought that I would take the opportunity to take a few photos in the forest garden. Without much comment then, here are some images of my wild little food-filled ‘paradise’: Yes, it is wild and very overgrown at this time of year. Yes, thereContinue reading “A Few Photos From the Forest Garden”
Beyond the Generic Permaculture Fruit Tree Guild
I have written before on this site and elsewhere about creating fruit tree guilds. And this topic is one of the things I am asked about most frequently. It is also, perhaps, one of the things in permaculture most frequently misunderstood. There is a lot of information out there and unfortunately, much of it canContinue reading “Beyond the Generic Permaculture Fruit Tree Guild”
Visitors on the Blossom
The apple trees are in full blossom now, finally, after a very late start this year. And the cherry blossoms are just going over. Now that fine weather has finally arrived, over the last few days, the forest garden is really buzzing with life. Over the time that we have lived here and managed ourContinue reading “Visitors on the Blossom”
Attracting Butterflies in a Garden
One of the most important things in organic gardening is, of course, making sure that we welcome in wildlife in our gardens. Butterflies are one of the many creatures that we should aim to attract. In addition to the ecological services they provide, butterflies are, of course, attractive creatures. Seeing them alighting on our flowersContinue reading “Attracting Butterflies in a Garden”
Case Study: Community Hub
This is a design for a brownfield site in an inner city area in the UK (USDA Zone 8). To the north and east are apartment buildings and there is an existing car park to the north east. To the west and south are busy roads, major conduits through a busy residential area. The areaContinue reading “Case Study: Community Hub”
Privacy in a Garden
Privacy is a topic of interest to many people when it comes to garden design. It is of course particularly important in city or town gardens. In urban gardens, it is common for the space to be overlooked from the windows of surrounding homes, and from the road, or from the gardens of neighbouring properties.Continue reading “Privacy in a Garden”
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”
Is Garden Lighting a Good Idea?
Garden lighting is very popular, especially in areas where days can be short in the shoulder seasons. The benefit, of course, is that you can extend the times during which you and your household can enjoy your garden. The right lighting can make your garden a magical place during the evening hours. But garden lightingContinue reading “Is Garden Lighting a Good Idea?”