Archives of News

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.

Don’t dig there, that’s where the cat is buried

I find it fascinating and heartening how frequently people hold garden plants dear to friends / family / dear departed pets.

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.

Seed bombs

Yes I can see leaves - and no that is NOT a weird animal poo. It is a seed bomb!

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?

Our front garden overhaul

The front garden was crying out for a handrail, to stop the postman and other folk from even possibly slipping down the front escarpment. We happily discovered like many houses, ours was built on what was only fairly recently a meadow, and with a strong slope and south facing disposition we felt inspired to embrace a proper sense of place and spirit in a meadow/seascape/alpine theme combo.
Crystal Palace Overground Festival

Gardener’s Question Time

Crystal Palace Overground Festival! A local festival for everyone! 26 – 29 JUNE 2014. Sunday 29th June is triangle day and at 3pm it’s Gardeners’ Question Time in The Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Westow Street. Should be a giggle. ‘Join a specially prepared panel of local experts – Jack from the […]

Haven 7th June

The company was great, the food was amazing and the people who came to play and peruse were delightful once again. We managed to all beat the weather in the end. Thanks Crystal Palace Food Market and all who sail in her for being such lovely hosts, and Chelsea Fringe for letting us jump aboard. […]

Haven 24th May

What a lovely swathe of people – producing, populating and perusing the Crystal Palace Transition Town Food Market, Haynes Lane, SE19 3AP every Saturday, 10-3pm. But this Saturday and the one a fortnight later it will be again our collective home for the day as ‘Haven’. Not wishing to give too much away – you should come […]

Haven upcoming

Sarah Newton, Sarah Burns and Michelle Falzon have collaborated to make a mini garden designed to prompt a thought of what is a Haven. We are kindly being hosted under the Crystal Palace Market banner as part of The Chelsea Fringe Festival for two dates only! Come and see us and explore what might be […]

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, […]