Small Garden Ideas - Urban Garden Container Growing. How to grow delicious vegetables in a small space including planter types, compost and plant advice.

OCCUPYING SANDY SOIL adjacent to Botany Bay, a fruit and vegetable garden has been designed and planted to feed a household of three. “We’re not trying to grow all our own food”, says Fiona Campbell…

Introduction and article concept - Erin Marteal Words, pictures and illustrations- Cecilia Macaulay Intro: After encountering numerous objections to permaculture in the public garden sector based on a

The goji berry plant (Lycium barbarum), also known as a wolfberry (gouqizi, 枸杞) in Chinese, is a scrambling deciduous shrub with long, sparsely spiny weeping branches. It’s a Lycium (boxthorn…

There's nothing like a well-designed green space to lift your spirits and help you to feel a part of nature. This is doubly so in urban spaces. This week I've

Turn your tiny garden into a medicinal paradise! Here are some tips for small-space gardening + seven medicinal herbs for urban gardens.

Explore hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou's 6708 photos on Flickr!

These sloping garden ideas can add real interest and intrigue to your outdoor space if it's on a slope

Lorsque l’on souhaite se lancer en permaculture, le choix des plantes est bien évidement une étape cruciale. Les plantes vivaces font partie intégrante des conceptions permaculturelles, du fait qu’elles n’ont pas besoin d’être replantées chaque année, elles ont généralement besoin de moins de maintenance et sont bien plus résistantes aux aléas de la météo. Des […]

A food forest can take up half a lifestyle block or be as small as an urban backyard, but the combination of fruit trees, berries, vines and vegetables – and in some cases animals – can create a resilient, self-sufficient garden that will feed you and your family all year-round. When you arrive at the Koanga Institute, hidden in a remote valley an hour’s drive south-west of Gisborne, it’s a wild-looking place. The beds where the Institute’s precious heritage seeds are grown is easily identifiable as a ‘normal’ garden with plants in neat rows, the corn standing in groups, the

Køkkenhavens design behøver ikke være tilfældigt, bare fordi man skal høste afgrøderne. Her er en række eksempler, hvor skønheden er en vigtig faktor. ...

Floating heads of pink for a late summer show.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) Great photo from Missouri Permaculture Note how the "red" mulberry fruit really turns dark purple when ripe. Common Name: Mulberry (Black, Red, and White) Scientific Name: Morus species (M. nigra, M. rubra, M. alba) Family: Moraceae Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) The "typical" Black Mulberry fruit will mature from green to whitish-pink to red to deep purple-black. http://www.about-garden.com/images_data/7051-morus-nigra-black-mulberry-1.jpg White Mulberry (Morus alba) This is actually a variety of the White Mulberry tree - The Russian Mulberry (M. alba var tatarica) Description: Mulberry Trees are large trees that produce fruit that resemble a blackberry, but the fruit doesn't taste much like a blackberry. There are about 15 Morus species and many more hybrids, but the three most common species (the Black, Red, and White) have ripe fruits that typically develop the color of their name... the Black Mulberry has dark purple, almost back fruit; the Red Mulberry has reddish fruit that will ripen to deep purple; the White Mulberry has green, unripe fruit that will turn white when ripe. However, there are varieties of all these trees that have a range of fruit colors. It is said that the Black Mulberry has the best flavor, and the White has the worst (or least best) flavor. I would have to agree. Black Mulberry fruit is delicious, especially the improved cultivars. They are sweet and tart and taste like... well, mulberries. I was not a fan of the White Mulberry fruit that grew in my backyard when I lived in Kentucky. It was quite bland, and that is the reputation that it typically holds by most eaters. Most White Mulberries are used for the leaves, to feed silkworms, and it is not really raised for its fruit. The Mulberry Tree in Autumn, c. 1889 - Vincent Van Gogh http://www.paintinghere.com/UploadPic/Vincent%20van%20Gogh/big/Mulberry%20Tree.jpg History: Black Mulberry Trees (M. Nigra) are native to southwest Asia. It has been cultivated for thousands of years in that area. Red Mulberry Trees (M. rubra) are native to eastern North America and was used quite a bit by the native population. White Mulberry Trees (M. alba) is native to northern China and has been cultivated for thousands of years to feed silkworms. Many varieties and hybrids have been developed for improved flavor, increased production, and higher yields of fruit. Trivia: The Tale of Pyramus and Thisbe (as told by wikipedia): In the Ovidian version, Pyramus and Thisbe is the story of two lovers in the city of Babylon who occupy connected houses/walls, forbidden by their parents to be wed, because of their parents' rivalry. Through a crack in one of the walls, they whisper their love for each other. They arrange to meet near at Ninus' tomb under a white mulberry tree and state their feelings for each other. Thisbe arrives first, but upon seeing a lioness with a mouth bloody from a recent kill, she flees, leaving behind her veil. The lioness drinks from a nearby fountain, then by chance mutilates the veil Thisbe had left behind. When Pyramus arrives, he is horrified at the sight of Thisbe's veil, assuming that a fierce beast had killed her. Pyramus kills himself, falling on his sword in proper Roman fashion, and in turn splashing blood on the white mulberry leaves. Pyramus' blood stains the white mulberry fruits, turning them dark. Thisbe returns, eager to tell Pyramus what had happened to her, but she finds Pyramus' dead body under the shade of the mulberry tree. Thisbe, after a brief period of mourning, stabs herself with the same sword. In the end, the gods listen to Thisbe's lament, and forever change the colour of the mulberry fruits into the stained colour to honour the forbidden love. (according to Roman mythology, this is how the red mulberry tree was created) A plate of mulberries - fruit can range from about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to over 3 inches (8 cm) long http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Long_Mulberry.JPG USING THIS PLANT Primary Uses: Fresh eating (fruit) Leaves - cooked (used like grape leaves to wrap foods, can be used like cooked greens, just discard the water in which you cook the leaves) Baked goods (pies, tarts) Dried Murrey (a fruit puree eaten as a pudding or cooked with meat) Jams, Preserves Ice Creams Wine, Cordials Teas Secondary Uses: Food for wildlife, especially birds. Food for domestic poultry. Can be coppiced for fuel (wood), food (leaves), or crafts (twigs); 1-4 year cycle is typical Windbreak (only the Russian Mulberry, M. alba var tatarica) Food source for the cultivation of silkworms Traditional medicinal uses - reported that mulberry root may help tapeworm, and a lot of fruit or the inner bark of the tree can both be used as a laxative (this information has not been verified) Yield: 5-25 lbs per tree Harvesting: August-September. Pick as the fruits ripen - they will not all ripen at the same time. Sheets can be laid down and the tree given a good shake. The ripe fruits will drop easily. Storage: Fresh fruit only keeps for a few days. The fruits can be dried. The fruits also freeze well. Male and Female Mulberry Flowers Male flower stalks (long and thin) and female flower stalks (short and round) will often form on the same tree - making it self-fertile. However, cross-pollination from another mulberry will typically provide greater yields. http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/JPEG'S/Plant%20Web%20Images/MulberryFlowers.jpg Mulberry leaves have a lot of variability - even in the same tree. http://sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/RedMulberry/RedMulberryLeafWeb.jpg Young Red Mulberry tree bark http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moru3104.jpg Older Red Mulberry tree bark http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moru3156.jpg DESIGNING WITH THIS PLANT USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9 AHS Heat Zone: 9-4 Chill Requirement: 300-500 hours/units depending on the species and variety Plant Type: Medium Trees Leaf Type: Deciduous Forest Garden Use: Canopy Tree Cultivars/Varieties: Many varieties available. Pollination: Many are Self-Pollinating/Self-Fertile, but most will produce greater yields if allowed to cross pollinate Flowering: Late Spring (will not be effected by frost) Life Span: Years to Begin Bearing: 5-15 years (can be as little as 2 years for some varieties, but will need a few more years to get to maximum production) Years of Useful Life: M. rubra (less than 75 years), M. alba (150 years), M. nigra (300+ years!) Mulberry Tree in autumn http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/33118696.jpg PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PLANT Size: 30-60 feet (9-18 meters) tall and wide Roots: taproot or heart-shaped root pattern (a number of main roots all spreading out and down) Growth Rate: Fast Illustration of Red Mulberry - Charles Sprague Sargent http://0.tqn.com/d/forestry/1/0/v/H/mulberryid.jpg GROWING CONDITIONS FOR THIS PLANT Light: Prefers full sun Shade: Tolerates light shade (about 50%) Moisture: Medium, however some species/varieties can handle drier soils pH: most species prefer fairly neutral soil (6.1 - 7.0); M. rubra can handle more alkaline soils (to 8.5) Special Considerations for Growing: Branches can be brittle, so some protection may be needed from the wind. M. alba tolerates juglone (natural growth inhibitor produced by Black Walnut and its relatives). Consider using this tree as a buffer between your walnuts and other plantings. Propagation: Can root from softwood cuttings taken in the summer. Seeds need at 13-16 weeks stratification for germination Maintenance: Young trees are susceptible to slugs and snails. Once established, very little maintenance is needed. If pruning, do so in early summer. Trim away dead branches for aesthetic reasons or prune branches to minimize branch overcrowding. Few pests. Concerns: Fruits can be messy - avoid planting trees near driveways and sidewalks/walkways Can spread easily by seed - usually by birds Some people are allergic to the pollen - seasonal allergies Some people are sensitive to the milky sap - contact dermatitis Poisonous – In some species, the unripe fruit and leaves can cause stomach upset at best and hallucinations at worst Stuffed Mulberry Leaves - here's a recipe! (click on the link below) http://www.sarahmelamed.com/2009/04/stuffed-mulberry-leaves/ Black and White Mulberry Ricotta Tart - here's a recipe! (click on the link below) http://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html

Hellebores have become one of my favorite plants since I began growing them about 10 years ago. They bloom at a time when the garden is mostly dormant - from late fall to early spring - and bring a smile to my face every time I see them bravely holding up their blossoms against the harsh weather. Th

How to Force Bulbs for the holidays and winter

Vous refusez d’acheter une plante de peur de la laisser mourir ? Sautez le pas car plusieurs variétés sont ultra résistantes, même face à vous qui n’avez pas la main verte. La preuve via ces 6 plantes qui survivront à toutes vos maladresses, oublis et manques de motivation. Increvables on vous dit.

Gardener's Question Time expert Pippa Greenwood shares her sustainable garden ideas to reduce your horticultural footprint. Click through for 10 great

A food forest can take up half a lifestyle block or be as small as an urban backyard, but the combination of fruit trees, berries, vines and vegetables – and in some cases animals – can create a resilient, self-sufficient garden that will feed you and your family all year-round. When you arrive at the Koanga Institute, hidden in a remote valley an hour’s drive south-west of Gisborne, it’s a wild-looking place. The beds where the Institute’s precious heritage seeds are grown is easily identifiable as a ‘normal’ garden with plants in neat rows, the corn standing in groups, the

Saffron has been described as a spice that is worth more than its weight in gold. It is so expensive that you may wonder a??Can I grow saffron crocus bulbs and harvest my own saffron?a?? Read here to

August 26, 2013 Want more bees in your garden? They do need our help, you know. And we always need theirs. Plant garlic chives (Allium tuberosum), and the bees will be busy. You’ll also enjoy sprays of sparkling, white flowers … Read More

Design your herb garden by growing herbs in different permaculture zones. Herb Gardening ideas and plant lists for small or large herb gardens

CAROLE DRAKE

Source: Designrulz

Add green textures and colors to your home's decor with these creative indoor container garden ideas. Be inspired by these 28 well-crafted arrangements.

In the garden, you can grow many beautiful, tasty varieties of beets that you just can't get from the grocery store. Here's how to grow beets organically.

"The abundance of this place, the songs of its people and its birds,will be health and wisdom and indwelling light." - Wendell Berry, Kentucky farmer, philosopher and poet from Work Song, Part 2, A VisionYou may review and print the complete set of r

Karkalla is one of the great private gardens of Australia.

Take a walk through my garden and find ideas to put to work in your garden. When you see something that you want to learn more about, just click on the

If you can dream it, you can do it. Photo taken at the Urban Homestead city farm.

We visit the Cotswold for the Daylesford Farm Summer Festival 2014...

Did you know there's a plant called soapwort that actually got its name from the fact that it can be made into soap? Also known as bouncing Bet, this interesting herb is easy to grow in the garden. Le

This Sydney terrace is driven by creative ideas that will inspire sustainable architecture and functional living. Read the full article for free, or save it for later in your personal designbook.

Did you know that instead of water hungry, useless lawns that require hours of time away from your family, you can plant something useful in your back yard that is beautiful, edible and self sustaining? This may seem like quite a feat, but it’s one step beyond a simple backyard garden. Image via Wikipedia Some […]

The Magellan Street Garden in New Orleans was trying to grow. But it had a problem all too common in this water-drenched city.

Tim and I tried our first green juice the other day. While knocking out a little shopping at Ellwood Thompson's, we thought it would be fun to try a little pick-me-up from their juice bar. Juicing hasn't been something Tim and I have delved into yet, but have always been interested in when we walk by the juicing counter at Ellwoods. You can order from a long list of different juices — Tim and I both went with a vitamin rich, energy boosting green juice filled with veggie greens like kale, spinach, Swiss chard and celery, then lemon and apple to give a little sweetness and set off the bitterness in the greens. We even watched as each giant leafy green made its way through the juicer: The end result — it wasn't bad! The hardest part was realizing we were drinking the equivalent of a lot of green veggies. While not something we'd want everyday, it was fun to try and we'll most likely try again. Don't think we'll be buying a juicer for our home anytime soon though. While we were at the grocery store, we also came across these self-watering irrigation systems called Olla pots. They are clay pots you can plant underneath your garden and fill with water — then they do the rest of the work by slowly watering your plants over time. It's evidently an ancient watering system that's regaining popularity. They had a demo set up at the store with one planted in an herb garden — you just fill the top of the pot sticking out of the ground with water like so: And the pot seeps water underground overtime to feed the plants. We didn't pick one up during our visit, but love the idea and haven't been able to stop thinking about them since. I wonder if we could DIY something like this for when the summer heat hits or when we go out of town for a week at a time (like we are now). So tell us, are you a juicing fan? Do you own a juicer and have a favorite go-to recipe or is it a great way to use up fruits and veggies from the fridge? Maybe you're like us and have tried it a few times and are fine to just have one every so often from the store. What about self watering garden systems? Tried it or curious like us?

This planter is in front of a local nursery. The sweet potato vine jumps out at you! A flower bed or pot in front of a store is one of best ways to advertise. The splash of living color is refreshing and can compete with flashing neon. A traditional permaculturist might say that you can't have sustainability unless it involves food and at least a couple of acres. I say poppycock! The large clusters of flowers in bold colors jumps out at you more than smaller flowers or milder colors. Anything sustainable must be tuned to the needs of the system it is supporting. In the case of the storefront, sustainability must be focused on bringing in and satisfying the needs of the paying customer. Two pots at a local nursery. The small pot works because it accents the larger one. The leaves of the sweet potato are edible through- out the growing season! In other words, it needs to look pretty. That doesn't mean it can't have vegetables or herbs. It just means that they have to be good looking. Here are a few tips to making storefront pots sustainable for your business: Get a big enough pot. Minimum should be at least 18" wide and the same as deep. If you really want to make an impression two feet or larger is better. Rectangular planters are great for fitting into narrow areas and still giving you great displays. Pick plants that are the right size and give you lots of bright color. I love green foliage plants, but they do not attract as many customers from a distance. Don't forget texture, especially if you can't get enough color. An interesting mix of textures works well if your potential client is up close. Fertilize appropriately. Organic fertilizers may not work well because of smell, but a little slow release, pellet type fertilizer like Osmocote can work wonders and still be environmentally safe. Other brands now make similar products. Get plants that drape over the sides of the pot as well as some height in the center. Vining petunias and chartreuse sweet potato are perfect drapers. Space plants about six inches apart. This is tight, but it will make your pots look like they are bursting with color. Water, water, water! The smaller the pot, the more often you will need to water. Make sure you saturate the soil in the summer. You may even need to water twice a day. Check how much water is in the pot by sticking a probe eight inches or more into the soil. Top off the soil mix every season and completely change it every few years if you have smaller pots. Intensive gardening is rough on soil and will wear it out quickly. This pot has lots of details for close up inspection, but it is so small it will need very frequent watering in Utah's hot, dry climate. Remember, a little color will go a long way to help your business be sustainable for you and your employees!