Yazan: Andy Hamilton | 03 May 2013 | 3 Comments
Categories: Enivronmentally friendly, Herbs, Ishers Tips
Many thanks to our latest guest blogger Mandy Allen, aka Millymollymandy, one of the longest standing and most loyal selfsufficientish forum members. She lives the good life in over in Chateau Moorhen, France and is a prolific gardener, nature lover and blogger. Pollinating insects such as bees, hoverflies and many other flying insects are absolutely essential to the reproduction [...]
Yazan: Dave | 26 May 2012 | No Comments
Categories: About Us, Budget living, Enivronmentally friendly, Events, foraging, Reference, Uncategorized, Wild foods
Dave Hamilton is a freelance writer, forager, garden tutor and garden consultant. His main work is as a garden writer and in this capacity he has written for (amongst others) BBC Gardener’s World Magazine, The Guardian and Grow Your Own. He co-authored the Self-Sufficient-ish Bible with his brother Andy and wrote the award winning book [...]
Yazan: Dave | 08 May 2012 | 1 Comment
Categories: Enivronmentally friendly, General Gardening, No Dig, Reference, Vegetables
The following article first appeared in ‘Grow your own’ magazine back in February as part of my ‘Theory Behind…’ series. In traditional gardening and farming, land is weeded and/or cleared of crops before a soil improver such as compost and/or manure is dug or ploughed into the soil to improve the soil structure, aerate the [...]
Yazan: Andy Hamilton | 30 April 2012 | No Comments
Categories: Courses, Enivronmentally friendly, General Gardening, guest blogs, Reference, Videos
It’s that time of year. The grass is beginning to grow, and faster than you would imagine it could. Suddenly, it’s getting to the stage where it needs cutting, lest it overwhelm your food crops or smother your flower seeds or simply ruin your well-tended croquet lawn.
Yazan: Andy Hamilton | 06 March 2012 | 3 Comments
Categories: Budget living, Enivronmentally friendly, guest blogs
I hope you will all give a a warm welcome to environmental writer Ellie Garwood as she tells us about her selfsufficientish approach to spring cleaning. March is here – hurrah! We survived winter, and now as the days get longer, the sun starts getting higher in the sky, and temperatures break into double figures it really does [...]
Yazan: admin | 14 March 2010 | 10 Comments
Categories: Budget living, Enivronmentally friendly, Ishers Tips, Livestock, Reference
Whether you approach it from the point of view of conservation, entomology, crop pollination or simply a love of honey, beekeeping is an engaging pursuit and a fascinating window on the natural world. So what does it take to become a beekeeper? The essentials are simple enough: some sort of hive, a hat and a [...]
Yazan: Dave | 24 February 2010 | 7 Comments
Categories: Enivronmentally friendly, No GMO, Reference, Uncategorized
It’s that time of year again that many of us are reaching for the seed catalogues and decided what we are going to fill those frosty winter beds with come the warmth of spring. Well this year I advise you do some research before sowing your seed and make sure you know where it is [...]
Yazan: Andy Hamilton | 30 October 2009 | 1 Comment
Categories: Enivronmentally friendly, Homemade
Extract from Selfsufficientish Bible You can use a range of plants for home dying. Clothes that are dyed with natural dyes should not be machine washed as the colours can run. Before dying, treat the fabric with a mordant to fix the colour. 1. Soak the garment for at least 2 hours in a mordant [...]
Yazan: Andy Hamilton | 29 October 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Enivronmentally friendly, Homemade, Ishers Tips
The subject of face masks and making your own beauty products recently came up on our message forum. One of our members Manx minx posted a few of her recipes for making organic face masks, she gave her permission for us to put them up so here they are. Dry Skin mask | Honey Face [...]
Yazan: Andy Hamilton | 28 October 2009 | 1 Comment
Categories: Enivronmentally friendly, Uncategorized
David has already covered tips for those of you living in rented accommodation. However, I feel there is a different avenue to this subject as those in living in flats or apartments will appreciate. It is extremely hard to be self sufficient will small amounts of space or no garden. This is not to say [...]
