[earthworm jane]

North London veg project is looking to use permaculture methods as much as possible (yes, i will get myself on a course). In the meantime we are constructing various raised beds, cold frames etc and would welcome any advice on setting up the hard landscaping.

Has anyone ever tried the sink hole method for heating a greenhouse? I saw it on the BBC with Dick Strawbridge it think. Does it actually work that well though?

Just seen a posting for the shed made of pallets, brilliant!

Thanks for keeping up the inspiration during the winter months.

[compostqueen]

permaculture involves animals too, to complete the cycle    There's some permaculture peeps in The Allotment DVD, a copy of which is doing the rounds on here at the moment.

I'd get to the library and read up over the dark days of winter  

[earthworm jane]

thanks Compost Queen, you are right about the wildlife, fortunately it is part of a wildlife garden so we hope to be alright there though the slugs and snails may be a problem, not many song birds in London. I want to get a small pond built as part of the winter stuff which may help.

You may be please to hear we are also working hard on becoming compost savvy ourselves, the main problem seems to be getting enough organic matter to build up a decent size heap. I am considering giving out compost caddies to neighbors to try and improve the situation.

Thanks for your reply.

[compostqueen]

I meant animals as in chickens, goats pigs. You get a chicken, you feed it scrap veggies, it manures the ground to grow the veg, you eat the chicken and so on

[Aunt Sally]

I'm sure you've read the information on the Permaculture Association site.  But I'll post it here for other's information:

http://www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?mmfile=whatispermaculture

It's not just a way to grow food but includes all aspects of how you live your life !

[richyrich7]

it's a great way to grow and live if you can do it, we used to subscribe to the permaculture mag but found it got a little political in the end, the Guerre' family where an inspiration for a lot of people

LINK

 YouTube LINK

[earthworm jane]

Yes, would love to get a couple of chickens, have been thinking how we can do it what with the urban foxes. Think that will probably be in year two. They would be so good for the garden though and would help balance out those slugs and snails.

Thank you Aunt Sally, hadn't seen that site before. Paid a visit to a forest food garden the other day. They were so generous, letting me take blackcurrant and vine cuttings, the blackcurrants are budding a week after potting up. They have a lot growing in the space but so different to the normal allotment style, no straight lines there.