Pine trees drop thousands of needles each year. If you have pine trees on your property, you’ll probably find yourself looking for a way to get rid of them. Because they are so numerous—and free—you may wonder if pine needles are good for compost. Yes, pine needles are good for compost when added in small…
If you're a home gardener looking to reduce your waste output as much as possible while simultaneously creating nutrient-rich soil for your plants, composting is a great choice. Turning kitchen scraps, old newspapers, and grass clippings into garden soil is a multi-beneficial process. However, not all food scraps are safe to use in your compost…
Permaculture design can be viewed as engineering using biological elements and natural forces. It can be difficult finding a straight answer on the full scope of opportunities and if a permaculture certificate alone is enough to make a difference in the world and a living. With a Permaculture Design Certificate, you can become a permaculture…
An off-grid homestead is a dream for millions of people. Working with your hands, building your cabin in the woods, camping as you build, providing for your heat and water, no rent, no mortgage, having freedom, simplicity, independence, and the satisfaction of doing it yourself. So, what all do you need to know about starting…
Having maggots in your compost may sound like a really bad thing, especially if you’re squeamish and you don’t like bugs. If you’ve ever pulled the lid off your compost bin and found its contents wriggling, you’ve probably felt horrified – but are maggots all that bad? Maggots are not usually an issue in a…
Have you ever wondered what the best way to add cardboard to your compost bin is? Cardboard is a valuable addition that will prevent your compost from getting too wet, but you need to make sure you are adding it in a suitable way to maximize its usefulness in your compost heap. You can add…
Landowners all around the world are seeking more sustainable, cost-effective ways to manage their properties. Carbon emissions and a loss of biodiversity are common side effects of traditional land management styles. Permaculture keyline design, on the other hand, is a land management practice that helps to combat these issues. Keyline design is a land management…
Elderberries make a great addition to any garden. Not only are they beautiful with fragrant blossoms, but the berries themselves are packed full of nutrition and a delicious flavor that you can turn into tea, syrup, pie, and preservatives. In order to do this, you will need to propagate elderberry cuttings first. To propagate elderberries,…
Garden lime can be used to correct soil that is too acidic. Using lime can be an effective and affordable way to lower soil acidity, nourish healthy bacteria, and add helpful nutrients to soil. However, amending the soil can take some time, and you may run the risk of over-liming or negatively impacting some of…
Gardening has changed over the last few decades, especially with the introduction of new technologies, such as smart gardening, DIY hydroponics, aquaponics, and quick, easy grow bags. However, old-fashioned gardening is still a thing with container gardening, an old concept that’s receiving some renewed popularity. When it comes to organic gardening with containers, you…
If you are a certified organic farm, it's important to know which chemicals and substances you are allowed to use when growing your crops. If you're a small-scale home gardener who is trying to follow organic standards to raise crops you feel good about, it's also important to be aware of what you can safely…
One of the topics that come up often about getting into permaculture is the cost of getting started. Many people find it daunting because they believe that apart from permaculture taking a lot of time and patience, it also takes a lot of money. Plus, how can it be profitable when competing against modern agricultural…
Peat moss is frequently used by gardeners. However, as a permaculture gardener, it is important to delve a little deeper and look at the true cost of everything we use in our gardens. Peat moss has long been prized by gardeners. But this is a material which may not have a place in a permaculture…
Have you ever taken stock of our lives as a modern generation? Small houses, tiny gardens, subject to the whims of the homeowner's association, traffic jams, and making just enough money to get by. Despite all the platitudes and inspirational quotes which bombard us, it seems like life is about only working to live. Homesteading…
There are divided opinions on the use of Epsom salts in the garden, and some have observed that there is not much research to prove that their application is beneficial. However, many gardeners swear by this practice, and Epsom salts have been used to amend the soil for generations. Epsom salts can be sprinkled around…
Permaculture isn’t just a trend; it is a way of life for many. Sure, some people do it for social media likes and woke points. But there are those, such as the Jaguar de Madera project, that are changing their communities by lifting people out of poverty while restoring dignity. To do it properly requires…
Goats can be a blessing in small numbers but a curse when overstocked, so you need to know a few things before getting some. They are highly intelligent and entertaining animals with several permaculture uses, but if you have too many, they will raze your garden to the ground. Goats are good for a permaculture…
Soil is the foundation of permaculture gardens, so it is vital to prevent the loss of soils through erosion. Luckily, there are a variety of commonly-used permaculture practices that can effectively control soil erosion. Soil erosion in permaculture gardens can be controlled by cover-cropping, mulching, incorporating organic matter into the soil, and growing perennial plants.…
Within the last few decades or so, the earth has suffered massive environmental changes from both natural events as well as mankind's irresponsible actions that affect the animals and plant life. Both Permaculture and Organic Gardening are a response to correct some of these issues but what are the differences? Permacultures' primary focus is not…
Successful gardening is as much about chemistry as botany. Soil chemistry, for example, has an enormous influence on plant health. Have you ever wondered how soil pH affects the growth of your plants? You might also be wondering how to raise your soil pH to a better level using only organic soil amendments. If so,…
