Outdoors

We grow potatoes in the permaculture chicken yard, in plots the chickens prepare for us. They weed the ground, fertilise, and clean the mulch of pests. All we have to do is push the potatoes into the mulch, cover them, and leave them to it. 2021 has been the biggest drought in decades, yet with …

No dig potato harvest from the permaculture chicken garden Read More »

Lately I’ve had several debates on the ethics of using diesel powered machinery for the establishment of permaculture earthworks. In this video I explain how the strategic use of earth moving machinery can be more ethical than using human labour for creating permanent infrastructure in permaculture systems. MarkI have 30 years of experience and i …

Should fossil fuel powered machinery be used in permaculture? Is it ethical? Read More »

How to build a natural, clay lined pond for wildlife and permaculture.In this video I build a large pond with a small digger. The pond is placed at the top of the croft, so we can siphon water to any of the swales or the vegetable garden, as needed.It’s a clay lined pond, so is …

How to build a permaculture pond without a liner Read More »

Muscovies are the best ducks for permaculture systems and gardens. Quiet pest control with real character. In this video I discuss why muscovy ducks are so popular in permaculture systems, and why they could be a valuable, useful and productive part of your permaculture garden. MarkI have 30 years of experience and i started this …

Why are muscovy the best ducks for permaculture systems and gardens? Read More »

Permaculture gardens, food forests and orchards often use nitrogen fixing trees and shrubs to supply the nitrogen needed for good production. This video shows 10 of the species we’re working with in the far north of Scotland to feed our food forests, swale systems, garden and orchard without inputs. Scotch broom, Cytisus scopariusSiberian pea tree, …

Nitrogen fixing trees for orchards, forest gardens, food forests and permaculture designs Read More »

This video shows how to grow asparagus in a polyculture. Conventional gardening books will all suggest you can only grow asparagus in a heavily weeded garden bed, but it can grow happily in a polyculture, including grasses, if it’s managed correctly. MarkI have 30 years of experience and i started this website to see if …

How to grow asparagus the permaculture way Read More »

Planting any reasonably sized permaculture system can become very expensive if you’re buying all the plants. Many of them can be grown very cheaply from seed or cuttings though, bringing the cost down. This is a quick walkthrough of some of the species we’re growing out ready for planting into the food forest systems here …

How to grow your own plants for your perennial food forest, agroforestry or silvopasture cheaply Read More »

You don’t need a padi field to see whether growing rice is right for you, you can grow a test crop in buckets. This is the method we use with new varieties, to produce a large enough batch of seed for the next year. We also use buckets to grow a few plants in the …

How to grow rice at home in the UK. The bucket method. Read More »