The word permaculture combines the words permanent and agriculture, suggesting a sustainable method of farming. Permaculture works with nature while incorporating organic, agro-forestry and other useful techniques. Poor soil, for example, can be given a boost in the beginning by introducing artificial fertilisers or by planting a green manure crop. Once the soil has been given a kick-start, there need be no further dependence on chemical supplies. A steady release of nutrients can then be supplied by compost. Read on for more permaculture principles.

Work with nature

The permaculture method of working with nature means seeing pest-eating insects as friends. It also means seeing butterflies and bees as fertilisers and earthworms as diggers of the soil. Wild areas also have value as they attract useful birds and animals. Stones have a role to play as they bring in lizards.

Inter-connectedness

Everything is connected to everything else. Take aphids, for example, which are generally seen as pests: aphids eat vegetables, ladybirds eat the aphids and birds eat the ladybirds. If the aphids are poisoned, the ladybirds and birds will be poisoned too. Without any predators, the aphids will become a more serious problem.

Companion planting requires planting groups of plants together that grow well together and protect each other. Tomatoes, for example, grow well with asparagus, celery, onions and cabbage but do not grow well with potatoes or apricot trees.

Everything is useful

Building up biological resources is the key to sustainability. Once such resources have been built up, systems can be designed to recycle all resources. Nothing should be thrown away. Rainwater can be collected and used to water plants. Garden and kitchen waste can be used to feed the soil. A fruit tree can provide fruit, control erosion, condition the soil and act as a windbreaker, and so on.

Right time and place

Permaculture encourages organising resources effectively and efficiently so that more resources can be created. A deep and well-mulched trench garden can provide a variety of vegetables throughout the year but it won’t help if the vegetable garden is not ideally placed or the incorrect vegetables are planted for the soil, season or climate in question.

Herbs add flavour depth to any home-cooked dish, but they are often something we leave off our shopping list. Herbs from supermarkets can be expensive, difficult to find and they often come in dried or powder form. Why not grow your own herbs at home? Fresh herbs release the best aromas and flavours and because you use such a little at a time they are extremely easy to manage. Grow your herbs easily in your kitchen, on your windowsill or outside in your very own herb garden.

Choosing your herbs

Most herbs can be confined to small containers and so are great for all sizes of gardens, balconies and kitchens. Choose herbs that you like to cook with to make sure you get the most use out of them. Rosemary is great for roasts, steaks and chicken while fresh basil is a great addition to pasta or pizza. Lavender can be added to desserts or simply used as a fragrant decoration while thyme and sage are very hardy and so are great for the cold winters as they can withstand the weather. Parsley and oregano are also great additions to any English herb garden.

Choosing the location

Select the right location for your herbs and they require little attention. Herbs grow best in a sunny location, while they can survive in partial shade their quality will be noticeable less than herbs grown in full sunlight. Herbs grow best in a neutral garden soil, it is not necessary to pump the soil with additives to get your herbs to grow. Make sure the soil or pot you place your herbs in has adequate drainage as herbs can wilt in too-moist soil.

Caring for your herbs

Herbs can grow from seeds or cuttings, seeds require more attention than cuttings which tend to grow themselves. Your herbs will need to be watered regularly but there is no need to drown the plants in water. When cultivating your herbs simply cut off the leaves you wish to use in your dish, although there are best times to cultivate your herbs these are not essential. So get started and enjoying some tasty dishes with ingredients from your very own herb garden.

Kitchen Gardeners International is a network of likeminded ‘green-fingered’ folk who wish to re-localise the global food supply. The founding director, Roger Doiron, was instrumental in the replanting of a kitchen garden at the White House. His challenge is for kitchen gardeners to unite to ‘feed more people healthier food while preserving and enhancing the health of the planet.’ He writes in The Kitchen Gardener’s solution: ‘Harness the power of people who grow their own nutritious, delicious, and sustainable food to help others do the same.’

The scale of the project

Kitchen Gardeners is a non-profit community consisting of about 20,000 people from 100 countries. The organisation helps to answer kitchen gardeners’ questions while working with partners around the world. Kitchen Gardeners also organises local and international activities. These include high-profile, high-impact projects, like the White House kitchen garden for instance.

Who are these Kitchen Gardeners?

The Kitchen Gardeners website explains who they are: ‘First and foremost, Kitchen Gardeners love food, both product and process. They do not dream of eating a good tomato, but a true tomato, picked warm and juicy from the vine at the peak of its ripeness.’

They add that the enjoyment is complete because the memory of the plant as it grew is part of the experience. In other words, they consider the care and honest toil that went into the making of the tomato as well as the end product.

Gastronomes of the highest order

Kitchen Gardeners do not consider themselves as foodies but as gastronomes of the highest order. Foodies, it would appear, are flippant and non-committal: they ‘flit from one trendy spot to another in search of instant culinary gratification.’

Kitchen Gardeners, on the other hand, ‘set out roots in a place and begin planning their pleasure months in advance.’ They’re not getting excited about a new kind of pesto that is sampled unexpectedly at a Food Fair. No, they’re getting excited about pesto when they purchase the basil seeds that will become the basil plant — that will become the pesto a few months down the line.

Their love of food is ‘a complete one that extends beyond the plate to the soil and the natural processes and cycles from which good food comes.’

Modus operandi

Kitchen Gardeners stay in tune with the weather and the seasons. They work with nature in a harmonious way, seeing themselves as stewards of the land, whether they’re attending to a window box or a full-scale farm.

That said, these gardeners admit to having a strong and independent streak: ‘Rather than worship at the altar of celebrity chefs, they look for practical ways of bringing their own day-to-day cuisine into the realm of the divine by using the best ingredients their land, climate, and skills will allow.’

Kitchen Gardeners’ philosophy is captured by Lanza del Vasto’s words, as published on their website: ‘Find the shortest, simplest way between the earth, the hands, and the mouth.’ Good practice, good food and good health – that’s also good for the planet.

All soil is composed of a mixture of silt, sand and clay. Soil will hold air, nutrients and water differently depending on how much of each of these three elements it contains. A well-drained soil will contain sand which makes the soil loose. Loose soil holds air and water well while also making it easy for roots to spread and grow. The best soils are loams which contain an equal mixture of sand, clay and silt. Read on to find out more.

Silt, sand and clay

Sand allows for a loose soil but a too-sandy soil won’t hold water or plant food. Silt is very fine sand which holds water better than rough sand but it also washes away easily, which is why dam and river banks are made up of it. Clay is a heavy soil which doesn’t allow water to pass through. It is also sticky, which makes it difficult for roots to grow.

Examining the soil

By wetting soil and rolling it into a sausage shape, you can tell how much silt, sand and clay it contains. A very sandy soil can’t be rolled. A sandy soil can be rolled but the ‘sausage’ won’t bend. The sausage will bend if the soil is made up of sandy loam.

Loam will allow the sausage to bend about halfway whereas clay loam or sandy clay will bend more than half way. Pure clay will feel smooth and sticky and will allow the sausage to bend into a ring.

Soil acidity

If you’re planning to garden, it’s important to know how acid your soil is. Rainy areas are normally more acidic than dry areas. Plants in such areas often need calcium, magnesium and potassium which are washed out of the soil, making it acidic. If the soil is too acidic, lime can be added to it.

The acidity of soil is measured in pH numbers: the soil is acid if the pH is less than 7 and alkaline if it is higher than 7. The soil is neutral at a pH of 7, which means it is not acid or alkaline.

Vegetables are like people: they have their own particular needs and they’ll respond positively if these requirements are met. Carrots, for example, prefer a soil that is loamy and moist. The soil should be fine and smooth before they are planted. Onions need well-drained soil and they don’t enjoy being planted in soil that held legumes the previous year. That’s because legumes leave traces of nitrogen which make onions more susceptible to disease. Read on for more vegetable gardening tips.

Root vegetables

Carrots are not easily killed by frost and are best grown in cool months. As mentioned, they should be planted in fine, loose and loamy soil. Water them often. Turnips also enjoy cool weather. They are fast growing vegetables and should be harvested while they are small.

Beetroot grows well in hot places and during cool months too. The seeds should be soaked in water for two hours and then dried for two hours before they are sown. Beetroot needs plenty of composting, which should be dug in a month before planting. This tip applies to all root vegetables.

Leafy vegetables

Leaf crops require lots of compost and good soil. Chinese cabbages grow fast and should be watered often. Seeds can be sown straight into the prepared soil. Cauliflowers enjoy fertile soil but don’t enjoy extreme temperatures.

More nutritious than cabbage and easier to grow than regular spinach, Swiss chard grows well in cooler months. Not only does it have few pests and diseases, but it can be picked for several months. In fact, the more the outside spinach leaves are picked, the more the leaves will grow.

Lettuce seeds should be soaked in the sun for four hours before they are sown. They can be sown straight into the soil in summer but should be sown in seedbeds and then transplanted in cooler months.

Peas and beans

Legumes leave nitrogen in the soil, particularly if their roots are left behind once the plants have been picked. Leaf vegetables can be planted after legumes as they use up a considerable amount of nitrogen.

Although runner beans may grow slowly, they produce plenty of beans, especially considering the small amount of space they need to grow. Peas can be intercropped with cabbage or spinach. Like runner beans, peas enjoy growing up poles. The bonus of poles is that they allow for easier picking.

The young tips of broad beans can be picked to encourage flowering. The tips can then be eaten raw in salads.

Other vegetables

Cherry tomatoes produce good yields and they don’t easily succumb to disease. Aubergine should be sown in seedbeds and transplanted when they are around 12 cm high. They take awhile to grow and are easily killed by frost.

Green peppers also need to be transplanted but this should be done with care as they are easily damaged. Potatoes grow easily in cool places whereas sweet potatoes prefer hot areas.

As mentioned in a previous article, the best way to ensure the health of your plants is to plant them in good soil. Good soil is rich in organic matter, soil life and nutrients. This combination allows for well-fed plants that are strong enough to stand up to pests and diseases. We also pointed out that plants should have the right amount of water and sun. Read on for more tips on how to deal with gardening problems the natural way.

Natural solutions using onion, garlic and chilli

Check your plants every day and remove any pests by hand. If you’ve been having a tough time with insects or fungal infections try adding 10 crushed cloves of garlic to one litre of boiling water with a ¼ of a cup of grated bar soap. Once cooled, spray the garlic and soap solution onto insect infested plants. Repeat the spraying a week later.

You could also use plain onion as a fungicide, insecticide and repellent. Chop an onion (leaves, skin and all) and allow the pieces to soak in a closed container with a litre of water for a week. Strain and use as a spray for problematic plants.

This strong spray can be sprayed on plants whenever the need arises: make a small amount of light lather mixture using soap and water. Cut four chillis, an onion and two cloves of garlic and cover them with some of the soapy water. Allow the mixture to stand for two days before adding a litre of water. Mix the ingredients together, strain and seal the mixture in a bottle.

Other natural solutions to gardening problems

Snails and slugs are deterred by crushed eggshells that have been placed around plants. To kill caterpillars, mix two handfuls of wood ashes and flour together with half a cup of salt. Sprinkle the powder over the plants so that they are well dusted.

Milk spray kills red spider mite, tomato worms and caterpillars. It’s also good for fungal diseases and viral infections. Dilute nine parts of water to one part milk and spray infected plants.

Healthy plants require healthy soil and if your plants are strong and healthy, they will be faced with fewer pest and disease problems. If your soil is indeed healthy and your plants are damaged or sick, the first thing to do is find out what caused the problem. From there you can investigate how to deal with the problem in a natural way. Read on for some natural gardening tips that address the soil, planting, watering and the elements.

Some basic gardening rules

Healthy soil is rich in organic matter and soil life. To grow healthy plants that are better able to resist attack, compost and mulch more. Plant according to the season and don’t overcrowd the plants. Sow thinly and then thin the seedlings out from there. If you’re growing vegetables, rotate your crops.

Plant a large variety of plants and find out what their likes and dislikes are. By providing a variety of habitats, you can encourage predators who will naturally control pests. Don’t use poisonous sprays or artificial fertilisers.

Diseased plants should not be put on the compost heap. Rather burn them and use the ashes as fertiliser.

Prevention is better than cure

If major nutrients like phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen are absent from the soil, your plants are bound to show signs of ill-health and are more likely to be attacked by diseases and pests. The same goes for trace elements and other nutrients like copper, zinc, boron, iron and magnesium. Signs of a lack of nitrogen, for example, are stunted growth and small pale green leaves on a plant.

Considering the elements

If your soil is healthy and your plants aren’t, there may be other reasons for their demise. If the leaves are browning, wilting and falling off the plant, this may be evidence of drought or the plant receiving too little water. Yellowing and wilting leaves, on the other hand may be due to too much water or over-watering.

If your plants are looking tall and spindly, this may be because they’re in too much shade. Excessive wind may lead to the shredding of delicate leaves.

Many plant lovers spend hours talking to their plants in the hope that they will grow. Although not much research has been done to prove whether this works or not, there are many scientists out there who have come up with different theories about talking to your plants. Some agree, while others don’t believe a chat with your pot plant will make a difference.

Where does the idea come from?

The idea that plants can benefit from you talking to them goes back to 1848, when Gustav Fechner, a German professor, published the book Nana (or the Soul-life of Plants). The professor believed that just like humans, plants could feel emotions and would therefore benefit from the owner giving them extra love and attention. The idea became very popular and several more books were published on the subject. In 1970, a dentist and horticulturalist even launched a CD for the cause entitled ‘Music to Grow Plants By’ for those who wished to serenade their plants. The belief was that classical or any soothing music would help them grow whereas rock or heavy metal music would have the opposite effect and cause them to wither away.

Does talking to your plants really help them grow?

Talking may help your plants grow, but not for the reasons you think they might. Whether they have emotions and will respond to you in that capacity is still debated, but scientifically speaking, talking to your plants will give them an extra dose of carbon dioxide. When you talk to them you breathe on them, thus stimulating their growth. Unfortunately, there is a catch. In order for this to be beneficial to your plants, you would have to speak to them for seven hours a day.

The best thing you can do for your beloved plants is to give them the right amount of light, food and water. If you want to talk to them, there is certainly nothing stopping you and will definitely not cause them any harm.

There’s nothing more gratifying than growing your own food. It’s good for your budget and, if you grow your food organically, good for you, too. You can grow veggies and herbs in containers no matter how little space you have. And, as long as you use good plotting soil and compost, planting in containers means you don’t have to worry about weeds or bad soil quality. There’s no need to limit yourself to planting in containers, though. Get creative with these ideas for unique kitchen gardens.

A barrel of potatoes

A very easy way to grow your own potatoes is in a barrel. A discarded wine or whisky keg will work perfectly, but you could also use an old dustbin you have decorated. Fill the container with sawdust and plant sliced potatoes – which your new crop will grow from – push them into the sawdust until they’re covered and water. In a few days you’ll see new potato plants sprouting.

Cooking pots

Potting vegetables and herbs in old cooking pots gives visual interest to your garden. Old pots and pans can be picked up at second-hand stores and flea markets. Mismatched pots with retro floral designs look really good. To prepare the pots before planting, drill a few drainage holes into them and fill with potting soil and compost. Remember to place a layer of small rocks above the drainage holes to avoid soil seeping out.

A gutter garden

If you have some old gutters on hand, don’t throw them away. They can make an excellent vertical garden. Drill holes in the bottom at regular intervals and attach them to a simple wooden frame. Then plant your seedlings as you would do in any other kind of container. Choose gutters that are PVC free as lead in PVC guttering can leach into the soil.

Many plants can be grown in containers, including herbs, baby tomatoes, strawberries, salad leaves, chives and garlic.

Bonsai making has become the latest trend in gardening and those who do not have green fingers have been rushing to buy ready-made trees for their home. Bonsai trees are beautiful, but require a lot of time and patience. Although most know what a bonsai is, few understand and know the roots of this art.

The history of bonsai trees

The beginning of the art form is cloaked in mystery, but it has been established that bonsai making started in China and later spread to Japan. There are many legends as to how the art form was started, but the most famous is the legend of the Han Dynasty emperor. It was believed that the emperor created a miniature landscape of his entire empire so that he could view it from his bedroom window. According to the legend, the landscape depicted all the hills, rivers, valleys and trees that formed part of the land.

Common myths

There has been a lot of confusion as to what bonsai making entails and this has given the pastime a bad name. Contrary to what many may believe, a bonsai tree is not a genetically dwarfed plant and is in no way kept in its miniature form out of cruelty.

A bonsai tree, if given adequate air, light, nutrients and water, would most likely outlive a full-sized tree. The techniques applied to creating bonsai trees is no different to any other horticultural endeavour.

Another myth surrounds the actual size of the tree. Many believe that bonsais are no more than a few centimeters tall when, in actual fact, a tree can grow to up to one metre depending on how it has been pruned.

What makes bonsai trees so fascinating is not only their natural beauty but also the skill and effort needed to create one.