Category Archives: Gardens

Apios Americana

Posted on 23 October 2011 by Graham

Just harvested the first apios americana tubers. Also known as the groundnut or potato bean this curious vegetable is a legume and shade- tolerant climber that produces strings of edible tubers up to about 2″ long: I bought my original … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Forest Gardening, Gardens | 2 Comments

Into the Wild: a Parable for our Times

Posted on 7 December 2010 by Graham

One of the most enduring quasi-religious myths in the environmental movement is that our percieved problems- the percieved crisis in the modern world- stems from a separation from nature. We were born in pre-history, an integral part of Mother Nature … Continue reading →

Posted in collapse, community, Environment, Gardens, Human Ecology, Science and Rationaltiy, survivalism | 12 Comments

Stir- Crazy: Permaculture, Biodynamics and Compost Teas

Posted on 24 July 2010 by Graham

In a recent interview, permaculture teacher Albert Bates discusses Rudolph Steiner and Biodynamics: Click here for MP3 Albert defends Steiner on the basis that Anthroposophy has created a “tribe” which he sees as a good thing. In reality, Anthroposophy is … Continue reading →

Posted in Compost, Gardens, Permaculture, Podcast, Science and Rationaltiy | 9 Comments

Biodynamics: Why Believe What Steiner said?

Posted on 21 September 2009 by Graham

It is hard to know how best to respond to Judith Hoad’s article in the current edition of the IOFGA magazine Organic Matters in which she admonishes me for being “blinkered” in rejecting biodynamics, the esoteric practice of farming proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, Permaculture, Science and Rationaltiy | 63 Comments

Forest Gardening at the ART

Posted on 29 August 2008 by Graham

I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to attend a 2-day course on Forest gardening with Martin Crawford at the Agroforestry Research Trust. The course was professionally delivered by Martin who has encyclopedic knowledge of his subject and … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Gardens, General, Permaculture | 4 Comments

A visit to the Eden Project

Posted on 15 August 2008 by Graham

The Eden Project in Cornwall was established 7 years ago and has become a world famous visitor attraction with its iconic huge bubble-wrap domes providing the closest you’ll get to an experience of the rain-forest this side of the Amazon. … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, Environment, Food, Gardens, Peak Oil, Permaculture | 1 Comment

Fruit and Nuts at Derryduff

Posted on 9 August 2008 by Graham

I am off to attend a Forest Gardening course with Martin Crawford at the Agroforestry Research Trust in Totnes, Devon, next weekend, so I thought it would be appropriate to tell you how some of my own fruit and nut … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Gardens, Permaculture, Trees | 1 Comment

Permaculture at Derryduff

Posted on 6 August 2008 by Graham

The summer break from Kinsale College has givien me some time to spend on the site at Derryduff and I have been developing the gardens and landscaping here over the last couple of months. In particular, a large extension to … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, Permaculture, water | 2 Comments

Road Trip

Posted on 18 June 2008 by Graham

A recent trip up country took me first to Westport where I called in on the Sustainability Institute, home of the Irish Sustainability Magazine. Right: Sustainability editor Andy Wilson hard at work Andy Wilson’s creation of the Sustainability Magazine has … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, General, Permaculture, Renewable Energy, Yurts | 1 Comment

Solstice at Derryduff

Posted on 23 December 2007 by Graham

Please try and limit your consumption and reduce your ecological footprint this holiday season, and otherwise have a great time; but if you are not sure what to do with yourselves these long dark evenings and want to both save … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Gardens, Permaculture | 2 Comments