The Great Greenhouse Debate: Is a Glass or Polycarbonate Greenhouse Better?
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The Great Greenhouse Debate: Is a Glass or Polycarbonate Greenhouse Better?

Ah, the joys of gardening! I remember the day I decided to take my green thumb to the next level by investing in a greenhouse.  The idea of growing my own fruits, veggies, and flowers all year round, while being eco-friendly and self-sufficient, was nothing short of a dream, but then, I stumbled upon a…

Unlocking Composting Success: Air Holes in Bins – Need or Not?
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Unlocking Composting Success: Air Holes in Bins – Need or Not?

If you’re like us and enjoy gardening or reducing your food waste, composting might be on your mind. When I first started composting, we were overwhelmed with different opinions and advice about whether or not air holes were necessary for my composting bin. It took us a while to sort through the information and determine…

Garden Harmony: Perfect Plant Partnerships Through Companion Planting
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Garden Harmony: Perfect Plant Partnerships Through Companion Planting

Hey there, Good Lifers! Have you ever wondered how you can take your garden or allotment to the next level while staying true to your eco-friendly and self-sufficient values? Well, companion planting might just be the secret ingredient you’re missing.  In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of companion planting, its definition, and…

Green Thumb Magic: 9 Essential Gardening Tools Every Gardener Needs for a Sustainable Garden
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Green Thumb Magic: 9 Essential Gardening Tools Every Gardener Needs for a Sustainable Garden

Ah, the joys of gardening! There’s nothing quite like getting your hands dirty and watching your plants grow from tiny seeds to flourishing, vibrant greenery.  When I first started my own garden, I was amazed by the simple yet profound satisfaction that comes from nurturing a small patch of earth.  Let’s face it, though, even…

From Egg Layers to Meat Birds: The Top Chicken Breeds for Small-Scale Farming
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From Egg Layers to Meat Birds: The Top Chicken Breeds for Small-Scale Farming

Raising chickens on a homestead can be a rewarding experience for many reasons. They provide fresh eggs and meat, pest control, and help with garden fertilisation.  As a budding smallholder and homesteader myself, I can attest to the joy that comes with watching these feathered friends roam freely around. I was lucky enough to be…

The Art of The Composting Process: Turn Your Waste into Fertile Soil
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The Art of The Composting Process: Turn Your Waste into Fertile Soil

I’ve always been interested in the idea of composting because I care a lot about being environmentally friendly, and I like to garden.  I can remember the sense of achievement after observing my first compost pile transform from food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-dense, black soil. I thought I was doing my part to…

Surviving the Cold: A Guide to Preparing Strawberry Plants for Winter
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Surviving the Cold: A Guide to Preparing Strawberry Plants for Winter

Winter can be a difficult season for gardeners, especially those who have delicate plants like strawberries. Proper strawberry plant preparation can make the difference between a successful harvest and a tragic loss. This article aims to provide gardeners with a detailed approach on preparing their strawberry plants for winter. Winter can provide a lot of…

How To Fill Raised Beds: The Easy Way To Grow Nutritious Vegetables (with Soil Calculator)
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How To Fill Raised Beds: The Easy Way To Grow Nutritious Vegetables (with Soil Calculator)

A raised garden bed is a perfect way to grow your vegetables, herbs, and flowers, but before planting, you need to fill your raised bed with the right type of soil. This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about how to fill raised beds, including why you should use raised beds,…

Shade-Loving Vegetables: How to Grow a Thriving Vegetable Garden in the Shade
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Shade-Loving Vegetables: How to Grow a Thriving Vegetable Garden in the Shade

A shade garden is a garden that is designed to accommodate plants that grow well in low-light conditions. This type of garden is often found in areas that receive little direct sunlight, such as under the canopy of trees or on the north side of a building.  Several reasons someone might choose to grow shade-loving…

Mastering the Art of Self-Sufficiency in the UK
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Mastering the Art of Self-Sufficiency in the UK

For anyone who grew up watching the BBC’s The Good Life, the very idea of “being self-sufficient” seems like a romantic dream that is perfectly possible in a back garden or backyard. “Self-sufficiency in suburbia!” as Tom Good called it, but is it really possible? Can we actually become fully “self-sufficient” in the UK? This…