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Category Archives: growing things
Northern-facing and shade-tolerant edibles
I’m currently planning planting for two shady areas: our front balcony and our front porch. Both of them are north-facing, so I’ve been researching north-facing and shade-tolerant edibles which will grow in containers. Most edible plants do prefer full sun; … Continue reading
Posted in balcony, growing things, plants
Tagged north-facing, planning, research, shade-tolerant
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Replanning the herb garden
I took advantage of a brief sunny period mid-week to go out and rearrange the herb patch. Sadly I don’t have a very good before photo, but this one from this time last year is a reasonable representation: This is … Continue reading
Posted in growing things, herbs, the garden project
Tagged cooking, growing things, herbs, planning, the garden project
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New year, new growth
I don’t really do resolutions per se (this post by Meg Barker is excellent on the matter). But if you looked out, on a bright, sunny New Year morning, at your patio (or balcony, or windowbox…) and thought about growing … Continue reading
Posted in gardening, growing things, permaculture in pots
Tagged fruit, microgreens, planning, winter
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Book!
My book, Permaculture in Pots, is now out! It looks absolutely fantastic — everyone involved has done an amazing job, and I’m thrilled that it’s made it all the way to print now. Should you want a copy, it’s available … Continue reading
Posted in growing things, permaculture in pots
Tagged book, containers, gardening, permaculture
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Tidying up the garden for the winter
At the weekend I hoicked out the tomatoes (getting a fair crop of green tomatoes in the process), courgettes, gone-to-seed lettuce, and a bundle of unexpected carrots, to clear some space before winter. I also dug over the compost and … Continue reading
Posted in gardening, growing things
Tagged broad beans, compost, gardening, growing things, lettuce, peas
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Adventures in Parenting: food from the garden
It’s taken a looong time this year (possibly because of June’s dreadful weather), but finally I am regularly harvesting food from the garden*. Carrots (my first ever really decent carrot crop!), courgettes, little cherry tomatoes, chard, and the last of … Continue reading
Posted in food, growing things
Tagged baby-led weaning, food, growing food, growing things, leon, parenting
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Fitting a water butt
If you grow plants and have access to a gutter downpipe, it’s well worth finding the space and time for a water butt. Rainwater is better for your plants than tap water*; and of course you help conserve water as … Continue reading
Posted in growing things, the garden project
Tagged diy, environmentalism, water, water saving
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Flowers: permaculture and beauty
Permaculture isn’t only about the practical; or rather, “practical” covers more than you might think. Permaculture is all about sustainability, and that includes creating environments which are sustainable for humans in respect to all their needs. A garden needn’t just … Continue reading
Posted in growing things, the garden project
Tagged beauty, flowers, gardening, growing things, peas, permaculture, the garden project
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Planting tomatoes for this year
It’s spring, so I’ve been doing a lot of planting in the garden. For once I actually have a month by month list, entered into my diary on a weekly basis, as the only way I’ll get things done on … Continue reading
Posted in growing things, the garden project
Tagged apple tree, gardening, growing things, the garden project, tomatoes
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Vegan chickweed pesto
There’s not that much growing at this time of year; but you will find fresh chickweed in UK gardens and allotments, even in the middle of the snow. It’s usually considered a weed, but in fact it’s edible, nutritious, and … Continue reading
Posted in allotment, chickweed, food, foraging, growing things, recipes, weeds
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