Archives of Advice

Strulch on a triple layer bed

The Benefits of Raised Beds and Mulches

Water droplets captured on a leaf

Watering The Wildlife

It has been a strangely long dry period across the UK for the last few months, and thanks to being a potential El Nino year plus other factors large parts of the Globe have also been affected. On a domestic level, this means that animals of all species need a bit of help finding the tap, (especially in the Summer).

Something about Foxes

Foxes. we used to consider them as animals of the Countryside, but as our species has so foolishly reduced the natural habitats and general conditions that provide the foxes with their natural dwellings and diet, they have established themselves more amongst the cityscapes.

Beautiful Butterflies Grown at home

The very ethereal fairy quality and miraculous transformation that butterflies undergo does not escape the eye or heart of many children or adults. The very speed of it is also quite unbelievable when equivocated with the sheer mass of time it takes us mammalian human beings to even make up our minds about this or that; let alone gestate from an idea to a new born. Perhaps all the more reason to study the amazing life cycle of the butterfly - in the comfort of your own home.
Seaweed

Using Calcified Seaweed to improve soil

A lot of people still ask me what on Earth this product is and why on earth would anyone want to use it. It’s simple. It’s a great soil improver. Especially on clay, where not only does it help activate the healthy microbial micro fauna and flora to make the soil a more exciting place for all to exchange energy and better drainage, it also helps break up the cloggy boggyness that can be left over from a wet winter.

Seed saving for the future

They are all sorts of crazy shapes and sizes those seeds and spores. Of course some plant reproduction is possible without them – by grafting tissue onto recipient stock plants, or splitting perennials, dividing roots, taking cutting and even microscopic tissue culture, but nothing gets away from the fact that seeds and spores were where it all started.

Aquascaping

Home Fish tanks aren’t what I remember them to be – a few lonely fish swimming around the fake rock tower, with a hint of algae in the background and maybe a snail for luck.

Soil. Beautiful Soil

Ok. So I don't mind getting a bit grubby in the garden; in fact I quite like it, but what is this soil stuff we tread on/in/generally take for granted?

Bug houses

Easter holidays – one afternoon we gathered ourselves at Miche’s plot as variously sized and aged mums and kids from 4 families to have a go at making bug houses. Having made and bought various types of bug houses myself I wanted to make it as open ended and non-prescriptive as possible. We brought containers, […]

Spring into the Garden

‘‘Go and play in the garden’’ A sometimes exasperated suggestion offered by many parents in the past – I know mine did. Looking out of the windows today the weather does little to beckon many of us into the great outdoors. ‘‘Its’ too cold.. too wet.. too muddy… it’s boring’’, the reply may have come. […]