Gardening is the only unquestionably useful job.- George Bernard Shaw
If you’re into sustainable living, or getting into it, the best way to green your food is to start growing your own vegetables, herbs and fruit. You may think that’s not possible if you live in a flat in the city. Well, not only is it possible, but it’s a great stress-buster and a good way to cut food miles.
Preparing your patch
Turning lawn/grass/weeds into a vegetable garden without digging - The sheet-mulch method of getting a growing area ready is one of the true wonders of permaculture. There’s no need to spend hours weeding or lifting turf. Just do this! Click here to read more…
The term “permaculture” was coined in 1978 by Bill Mollison, an Australian ecologist, and one of his students, David Holmgren. It is a contraction of “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture” and involves the harmonious integration of landscape and people to provide food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. The conscious design and maintenance of these productive permaculture ecosystems provides the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems.
You can apply the principles of permaculture to your life no matter where you choose to hang your hat. Urban permaculture is as relevant as rural permaculture, and by changing the way we look at the mechanics of our lives we can enjoy richer, more bountiful lives while lessening our impact on the planet.
Permaculture blogs Permaculture in Brittany - Stuart and Gabrielle live on a three-acre site in Brittany, France. Read their story as it happens. Permaculture at Chickenshack - the blog of permaculture teacher, facilitator and project manager Steve Wilson Jones.
Scott Meister presents a video explaining how to make compost with the Berkley Thermophilic Compost method. This method of composting takes advantage of thermophilic bacteria that quickly breakdown waste and turn it into nutritious black gold for your garden in around 18 days. Scott runs the The Potato House Permaculture Pension near Lake Yamanaka, the largest of five lakes at the base of world famous Mt. Fuji, Japan.
While you look forward to improving your soil with some lovely compost, here are a few ideas for what to do in the garden during October:
Plant garlic
October is the very best time to get your garlic in the ground for next summer’s harvest. The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight sells a great Garlic Lovers Selection Pack of 10 bulbs for planting, including full instructions on how to grow, how to avoid rust, and how to plait your garlic after harvest.
Sow for winter & early spring crops
Now’s the time to sow your spring cabbage, spring peas and winter greens. Here are some winter green ideas:
Saisai aka Leaf Radish: Grow in a greenhouse or cold frame over the winter. Good for salads and stir-fry.
Minutina: All year round salad leaf, and you can eat the flower buds too.
Mustards: You get lots of different ones, and most are winter hardy. Nice in salads and stir-fries.
There are lots of other vegetables that can go in at this time of year too: turnips, radishes, broad beans, carrots and spring onions.
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We are committed to reducing the waste of polyethylene-based bags and upholding sustainable business standards as well as fair labor practices.
A Cooler Planet
An eco lifestyle store that carries unique items to live more sustainably from morning to night. From beautiful organic mattresses and linens for baby to adult. Fun and unique gifts. Great options to free yourself from plastic. Purest organic skincare
4U2ReUSE cool eco-friendly bag carriers
USA hand-made, eco-friendly bag carriers, made out of reused materials -broken or defective kite sails, parachutes...- and organic fabrics. You won't forget your bags ever again.
We are committed to reducing the waste of polyethylene-based bags and upholding sustainable business standards as well as fair labor practices.
Organic Revolution
We are an organic veg box delivery service based in Kington, serving Herefordshire and Powys. We try to use our own produce or source locally as far as possible.
