Author Archives: John Walker

Organics on the Edge

On a visit to Hough Garden, near Alderley Edge in Cheshire, I discover a decorative organic kitchen garden infused with lessons from nature. By John Walker. Published in The Garden, September 2009. Countless cups of tea, careful observation of nature and … Continue reading

Posted in eco gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, food & kitchen gardening, garden compost & composting, good life, green gardening, nature & the natural world, no-dig gardening, open gardens, organic gardening, published articles, soil | 2 Comments

Drinking the Blues

As concern grows over the pollution of drinking water by metaldehyde slug pellets, what role are pellet-happy gardeners playing, and why aren’t our gardening media mentioning it? By John Walker. Published in Kitchen Garden, September 2009. What’s a quick way … Continue reading

Posted in allotments, eco gardening, environment, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, garden centres & gardening industry, gardening footprint, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, pollution, published articles, renewable gardening, soil, water & 'water footprints', weedkiller residues | Leave a comment

New Sárpo ‘Superspud’ Varieties Point the Way Toward Low-Carbon Gardening

Exceptional resistance to late potato blight and virus diseases, high yields, even in poor soils, weed-smothering tops (haulms), drought resistance, and a long storage period. What more could you ask of the humble spud? By John Walker. Published on Landscape … Continue reading

Posted in allotments, blight-resistant 'sárpo' potatoes, carbon footprint, ecological footprints, ecological sustainability, energy use, environment, food & kitchen gardening, fossil fuels, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, published articles | Leave a comment

Global Greenhouse

A new greenhouse can unleash your plot’s growing potential, but the altered climate it brings has plenty to teach us about caring for a far larger, shared greenhouse. By John Walker. Published in Kitchen Garden, August 2009. It’s just topped … Continue reading

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, energy use, food & kitchen gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, packaging, pesticides in the garden, published articles | Leave a comment

The Real Gardeners’ World

As the new series of Gardeners’ World takes dumbing down to new heights, the most alarming casualty of the rush for ratings is the world around us.  By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, June 2009. Tempting though … Continue reading

Posted in carbon footprint, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, energy use, environment, food miles, garden centres & gardening industry, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, overconsumption, published articles, rainwater harvesting, tv gardening & celebrities, water & 'water footprints' | 1 Comment

Worth Every Penny

For real gardening know-how, ideas and inspiration, forget magazines, books, TV programmes or pricey celebrity advice, and go visit an organic garden. And how about opening up your own? By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, May 2009. … Continue reading

Posted in climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, food & kitchen gardening, green gardening, open gardens, organic gardening, published articles, tv gardening & celebrities | Leave a comment

How Many Beans in a Butt?

What can you do to stop life-giving supplies of water in distant lands from drying up? Grow your own food, of course. By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, April 2009. Now, here’s a question: how many full … Continue reading

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, ecological footprints, ecological sustainability, energy use, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, organic gardening, published articles, rainwater harvesting, water & 'water footprints' | Leave a comment

How Many Apples?

Becoming ‘food secure’ and curtailing climate change by growing our own makes a great sound bite, but where is the evidence to back it up? By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, March 2009. An apple a day … Continue reading

Posted in allotments, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, fossil fuels, mail order, media, organic gardening, peak oil, pesticides in the garden, published articles, resilience | Leave a comment

Plastic Tears

Although plastic pollution is looking like an environmental time bomb, we can help defuse it by actually using more plastic in our gardens. By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, February 2009. Should you bump into me while … Continue reading

Posted in climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, ethics, gardening footprint, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, plastic, pollution, published articles, recycling | Leave a comment

We Shop, Planet Drops

Prudent use of natural resources is at the core of gardening organically, so why is the nation’s head gardener urging us to shop? By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, January 2009. It’s time to grab your wallets … Continue reading

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate change & global warming, ecological footprints, energy use, environment, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, fossil fuels, garden centres & gardening industry, gardening footprint, glyphosate, greenwash, media, organic gardening, overconsumption, pollution, published articles, tv gardening & celebrities | Leave a comment