Category Archives: climate- & earth-friendly gardening

All Change for Some Modern Peat-free Composts This Spring

Posted on February 24, 2016 by John Walker

Two of the modern peat-free composts I’ve been sowing and growing in successfully for several years, are a-changing. It’s all down to rebranding, and to one business being taken over by another (after it went bust). It’s always tedious when businesses … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, carbon emissions, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost, peat & peat-free compost | 23 Comments

Is Gardening Really ‘Green’?

Posted on December 15, 2015 by John Walker

Exploring the reality behind gardening’s widely touted but increasingly unconvincing claim that ‘gardening is green!’ By John Walker. First published in The Garden, magazine of the Royal Horticultural Society, December 2015 Writing about gardening is a solitary game. But using the pen to place gardening … Continue reading →

Posted in climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, garden centres & gardening industry, green gardening, greenwash, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Forget Black Friday – Green is the New Black for Gardeners Who Want to Escape the Hype of Mass Consumerism and Make Every Day in Their Garden a Green, Earth-friendly One

Posted on December 14, 2014 by John Walker

Mortified by the annual spectacle of pushing and shoving that celebrates overconsumption on ‘Black Friday’, I headed home in search of a more sedate and decidedly green gardening Friday… By John Walker. Originally published on the Hartley Botanic website as ‘Green days’, 14th … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, garden centres & gardening industry, green gardening, greenwash, leaf mould, media, organic gardening, overconsumption, published articles, renewable gardening, tv gardening & celebrities | Leave a comment

Potting Up Dandelions

Posted on August 13, 2014 by John Walker

If you cultivate an enlightened attitude to wild plants instead of trying to constantly eradicate them, your garden can share in their success. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 13th August 2014. Put ‘kill dandelions’ into a search … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, container gardening, eco gardening, environment, food & kitchen gardening, glyphosate, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, published articles, renewable gardening, weeds | 1 Comment

Sustainable Sowing

Posted on March 31, 2014 by John Walker

Instead of giving any more time to the myths about sowing in peat-free composts, put them to the test. You’ll find they do the job as well as peat – without the ecological price-tag. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost, green gardening, greenwash, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Added Values

Posted on November 20, 2013 by John Walker

The way we garden reveals a lot about our outlook on the world. It comes down to whether we feel gratitude to planet Earth – or think it owes us. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 19th … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, green gardening, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Snowball Effect

Posted on October 7, 2013 by John Walker

Some of the drivers behind the peat-free roll-out are surprising and not all are admirable – but that doesn’t detract from the benefits to the gardener and the natural world. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 7th October 2013 There’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, carbon footprint, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, ethics, fossil fuels, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost, green gardening, greenwash, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Planet-friendly Pest Busting

Posted on July 15, 2013 by John Walker

Simple solutions guided and powered by nature lie at the heart of my eco-friendly approach to pest control. In this 4-page article republished courtesy of Grow It! magazine (July 2013), I explain how my lazy way of keeping plant pests in check is simple, … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, ecological footprints, ecological sustainability, environment, food & kitchen gardening, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Wildlife Gardeners’ Question Time, Busy Bees and Refreshing Teas at Snowdonia’s Ty Hyll on Saturday 15th June 2013

Posted on June 12, 2013 by John Walker

Do you want to learn more about bees? Are you looking for ideas to make your garden – whether it’s a tiny patio or a half acre – more wildlife-friendly? Would you like to find out how to make a … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening | 1 Comment

On the Slime Trail

Posted on May 15, 2013 by John Walker

With our recent wet summers, we need to adopt more of a ‘whole garden’ approach when it comes to curtailing the ravages of slugs and snails. In this 4-page article republished courtesy of Grow It! magazine (May 2013), I explain why I … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, carbon footprint, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, ecological sustainability, energy use, environment, food & kitchen gardening, gardening footprint, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, pollution, published articles, renewable gardening | 1 Comment