Dealing with pests in your home garden can sometimes feel like you’re trying to protect your castle from an enemy you can’t even see. Things are finally growing and then WHAM, a rabbit who only comes out at night or a minute insect wipes out a good bit of your hard work in no time at all.
Pests in the city and how to deal with them
Pests are simply creatures that are going about their business, but their business happens to involve damaging a plant we have put our hearts and hard work into growing. One advantage to urban gardening is not having to worry about common garden pests like deer and rabbits, but unfortunately insects and other small creatures can make their way anywhere. Most are harmless, some are beneficial (pollination, eating other insects), but a few can cause real damage to our gardens and need attention.
How to pick the best pots for your plants
There are so many things to consider when starting container gardening or expanding your collection. Types and numbers of plants to grow, where the plants will go, the soil, the watering, the timing, daydreaming about how beautiful they’re going to look!
Why soil and not Hydroponics, and vice versa.
I have decided that is high time we tackle this topic as my next article because in fact is a pretty hot topic of conversation. Especially in Berlin, where we have incredible startups like infarm, who specialise in hydroponic production in urban areas, supplying restaurants, supermarkets and much more, and therefore cutting down on the food miles as in most places their setup is installed in-house.
Pollution and growing food in the city- what’s safe and what isn’t.
It’s a common question I get asked from time to time in relation to growing food in the city for consumption, especially in the urban permaculture garden that I was up until recently managing in the heart of Berlin, tucked away behind a very busy road, and a stone’s throw away from the highway. ‘Don’t we need to be careful of contaminants and pollution levels when growing in an urban environment?’. And the answer is yes, but only to a certain degree. So what is that degree? And what should we be mindful of?
Silent heroes: Claire Ratinon
Originally from Surrey and currently based in East London, Claire Ratinon is touching something very deep and true in regards to sustainability, responsibility, self-action and awareness. Which is represented in her lifestyle and work with food and gardening. This silent hero has been hailed as one of the top garden Instagram accounts to follow by the likes of Vogue, […]
Soil health in container gardening
One slightly warmer and sunnier day at a time spring is arriving, which means it is… drumroll please… planting season! This means it is time to get all hands working and all plants in the dirt…
Soil basics 101: A comprehensive guide for the garden nerd
For many, it is taught from a young age to stay as far away from soil as possible – getting dirty is a bad thing and therefore soil is a bad thing. But soil is an important part of our lives and history and we wouldn’t be here without it. It is the birthplace of the vast array of plants we see covering the earth, including the ones in our gardens.
A taste of edible flowers
Flowers are widely beloved for their variety of colors, shapes, smells, and effortless beauty. While we commonly enjoy them with our eyes and nose, it is not widely known that we can add in a third sense and enjoy them with our taste buds.
3 things to consider when starting your growing space
Starting out growing things of your own can be a daunting task if it’s your first time. I am a firm believer that having a green thumb is not something that you are necessarily born with, like being a talented musician. Rather it’s something that can be built up over time with experience, observation, and enthusiastic interest. And having the correct information and knowing how to plan is one of the key cornerstones to success.