Category Archives: environment

Drinking the Blues

Posted on September 15, 2009 by John Walker

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

Organics on the Edge

Posted on September 15, 2009 by John Walker

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

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

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Walker

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

The Real Gardeners’ World

Posted on June 15, 2009 by John Walker

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

Plastic Tears

Posted on February 15, 2009 by John Walker

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

Posted on January 15, 2009 by John Walker

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

Dead Zone

Posted on December 15, 2008 by John Walker

The environmental case for banishing bedding plants from our gardens has never been stronger. It’s high time we ditched these resource-guzzling, horticultural misfits. By John Walker. Published in Organic Garden & Home, December 2008. If you’re a lover of the … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, container gardening, ecological sustainability, energy use, environment, garden centres & gardening industry, greenwash, mail order, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, packaging, published articles, water & 'water footprints' | Leave a comment

Friends With the Earth?

Posted on November 15, 2008 by John Walker

To cut carbon emissions and help stabilise our climate, gardeners must see gardening as a force for environmental good. We should start by turning lawns into food gardens. By John Walker. Published in The Garden, November 2008. When it comes to … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, energy use, environment, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, fossil fuels, garden centres & gardening industry, gardening footprint, greenwash, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, published articles, tv gardening & celebrities | Leave a comment

Hearts and Trowels

Posted on November 15, 2008 by John Walker

Is mismatched leadership and a lack of joined-up campaigning hindering attempts to rouse the nation’s gardeners to grow ultra-local, organic and truly sustainable food? By John Walker. Published in Organic Gardening, November 2008. Despite my lousy maths, I’ve been doing … Continue reading →

Posted in climate- & earth-friendly gardening, ecological footprints, environment, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, media, open gardens, organic gardening, published articles, tv gardening & celebrities | Leave a comment

Renewable Gardening

Posted on October 15, 2008 by John Walker

Just how sustainable and climate-friendly your gardening is depends on what kind of sunlight you use to make it happen. By John Walker. Published in Organic Gardening, October 2008. What kind of sunlight are you running your garden on? It … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, ecological sustainability, energy use, environment, food & kitchen gardening, fossil fuels, garden compost & composting, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, plastic, pollution, published articles, renewable gardening, soil | Leave a comment