Category Archives: soil management

A warm glow

Posted on January 2, 2020 by

In 2016, on the Permaculture Design Course, I was told that a wood burning stove was the most environmentally friendly way of heating a house. I therefore set about investigating and discovered: My house was too small for even the … Continue reading →

Posted in soil management | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

How long will they take to rot?

Posted on December 13, 2019 by

The big apple tree needed a good prune: Branches were growing into the shed and the fence, cluttering up the centre of the tree and pointing upwards. So, the bypass loppers came out today and off came a fair amount … Continue reading →

Posted in soil management, trees, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

A new way of turning

Posted on December 9, 2019 by

I vow every Monday to start the morning by reading a book but it rarely happens. Something always seems to get in the way. Today, was different and I luxuriated in the peacefulness of my latest tome without a shadow … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Blue glass

Posted on December 6, 2019 by

There isn’t much to report about the garden, apart from the fact that the Green Johanna seems to be working. Since Monday, the heap has gone down by about a third – I’ll have to check the dalek to compare. … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, Good for the environment, soil management | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Lower branches

Posted on November 29, 2019 by

When I picked the crab apples back in September, I noticed that those on the top of the tree were bigger and without marks. So, yet again I have a question as to why this might be. Notwithstanding, the lower … Continue reading →

Posted in soil management, trees | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Careful with those buds!

Posted on November 26, 2019 by

My obsession with the hazel trees continues…. I’ve been working from home today and, when the virus check slowed the computer down to the extent I could’ve scroll down any of the documents I was using, I decided it was … Continue reading →

Posted in soil management, trees | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

How to fill a Green Johanna

Posted on November 16, 2019 by

I had had high hopes of yesterday morning, originally intending to get quite a few jobs done in the garden. However, work has become a bit of a nightmare and I ended up pre-occupied with other matters than horticulture. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, raised bed, soil management | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

The Green Johanna is here!

Posted on November 11, 2019 by

Today has been another of those joyous occasions, mingled with a touch of sadness. Once rush hour was over, I was eager to pick up the Green Johanna hot composting bin this morning and then wasted no time in assembling … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

An ink cap

Posted on November 8, 2019 by

After last Saturday’s mushroom foray, I had been wondering whether or not I would see any fungi in the back garden this autumn. Possibly there has been plenty, but with the garden still so green and lush it is hard … Continue reading →

Posted in foraging, Gardening, soil management | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

‘Are you guys okay at the back?’

Posted on November 1, 2019 by

Today was the next workshop in the Leeds Rotters Composting Champions series of how to build your own compost bin from an old wheelie bin. This time we were at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, where there seems to have been … Continue reading →

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