Category Archives: blog

The Eco Warrior Within

Posted on March 22, 2013 by John Walker

“You may consider yourself just a smallholder, but are you really a ‘quiet but potent eco-warrior’? It’s possible. John Walker, author of How to Create an Eco Garden: The Practical Guide to Greener, Planet-friendly Gardening, sees smallholders as occupying a … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, blog, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, good life, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening | Leave a comment

Weedkiller’s Winning Ways: My Article on Clopyralid Compost Pollution Bags Garden Media Guild Environmental Award 2012

Posted on December 5, 2012 by John Walker

Last week I was chuffed and humbled to win – for the third time – the British Garden Media Guild’s Environmental Award for my article ‘Gardening’s own goal’, which was published by Hartley Botanic in August 2012. This is a real … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, greenwash, peat & peat-free compost, pesticides in the garden, politics, pollution, weedkiller residues | Leave a comment

WIN a Signed Copy of How to Create an Eco Garden: The Practical Guide to Greener, Planet-friendly Gardening

Posted on November 12, 2012 by John Walker

 * Shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild Practical Book of the Year * This competition is now closed. My new book on greener, more planet-friendly gardening has received favourable reviews both online and in the gardening press. In November 2012 … Continue reading →

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Grow Organic With Manchester’s Bud Garden Centre

Posted on November 7, 2012 by John Walker

One of the most engaging ‘twitterships’ that I’ve struck up in the flourishing world of gardening social media is my occasional exchanges with Brenda Smith, co-founder of Bud Garden Centre, in Burnage, Manchester (@BudGardenCentre). We share plenty in common, both … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost | Leave a comment

Find Out About Garden Food Growing With Frodsham Transition Initiative on Saturday 8th September 2012

Posted on August 29, 2012 by John Walker

On Saturday 8th September 2012, I’ll be offering advice and ideas on how to grow more food in your garden as part of Frodsham Transition Initiative’s free ‘drop-in’ event which is being held at Frodsham Community Centre, from 1-5pm. This … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, blog, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, ecological sustainability, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, transition | Leave a comment

Friday 3rd August 2012: All Welcome at Sarvari Research Trust Open Day – Breeders of The Blight-Resistant Sárpo Potatoes

Posted on July 21, 2012 by John Walker

*September 2012: support the blight-resistant Sárpo ‘wonderspuds’* This year is proving to be ideal for the spread of ‘late blight’ (Phytophthora infestans) on both potatoes and tomatoes. Come and hear how the Sarvari Research Trust is collaborating with Bangor University … Continue reading →

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It’s Time To Have Your Peat-Free Say On ‘Towards Sustainable Growing Media’

Posted on July 19, 2012 by John Walker

The chair of the government’s Sustainable Growing Media Task Force (SGMTF), Dr Alan Knight, has now published his chair’s report and draft ‘road map’, Towards Sustainable Growing Media. You might well be wondering why we actually need a map, when a … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, renewable gardening | 2 Comments

Join me for a live online eco gardening Q&A session on The Guardian’s gardening blog, Thursday 31 May at 1pm

Posted on May 30, 2012 by John Walker

I’ll be live online for an hour or so from 1300 BST/0800 EDT on Thursday 31 May 2012, to try and answer questions, large and small, about any aspect of greener, more ecologically sound and planet-friendly gardening. This is your … Continue reading →

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Gardeners Remain Sidelined by The Government’s Sustainable Growing Media Task Force on Ending Peat Use. Don’t We Count?

Posted on April 13, 2012 by John Walker

With efforts to end peat use apparently being stymied by vested interests, and amid distracting talk of whether all peat is ‘bad’, isn’t it time the government’s Task Force on peat got down to the job of actually talking to … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, peat & peat-free compost | 1 Comment

Open Thread: Buying Peat-free Compost – How Easy Are You Finding It?

Posted on March 23, 2012 by John Walker

With fine weather forecast for many areas, this weekend will see many of us out stocking up on earth-friendly peat-free seed, potting and ‘multipurpose’ compost. I want to take a virtual straw poll of how the UK’s garden suppliers are … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, peat & peat-free compost | 15 Comments