Garden
Raised Beds
Image from Joe Gardener (https://joegardener.com/podcast/raised-bed-gardening-pt-1/) Benefits of raised garden beds A raised garden bed is simply a garden bed with some b…
Grow food · 84 Guides
Garden
Here we list all production systems relating to gardening, i.e intensive production of fruits and vegetables in a relatively small space
Start with: Raised Beds then follow the Guides in order
Garden
Seeds
Here we explain the reasons to use heirloom seeds in a homestead or village garden. Photo by Alexander Sergienko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sliced-fruits-laid-out-5499…
Garden
Wicking Beds
Wicking beds are an excellent gardening technique, especially in arid regions, where water conservation is essential. They offer several benefits and help…
Garden
Compost Worms
https://www.sustainablebrisbane.com.au/how-to-make-a-bathtub-worm-farm/ Compost worms benefits Plants need food, just like animals do. To have a productive farm, you need…
Garden
Mulch
What is mulch? Let's talk about mulching, which is a helpful gardening technique that you might find quite interesting. Imagine you have…
Garden
Start a seed nursery: from sowing to a strong transplant
A small seed nursery helps you care for young plants before they move into a garden. Start with one tray or a few clean containers and a crop you will use.
Garden
Companions
https://mygardenlife.com/resources/vegetable-companion-planting-chart Let's dive into the exciting world of companion planting on a small farm in a way that's easy to und…
Garden
Bag Gardening
Produce food in a very small space with very little water and work. This is made possible by bag gardening where you…
Garden
Hot Bed
A Hot Bed is an ancient way to grow vegetables earlier if you have cold winters. https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/how-to-make-a-hotbed-for-the-earliest-sowings/ So let's…
Garden
Saving seeds
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán: https://www.pexels.com/photo/four-brown-wooden-spoons-screenshot-971080/ Saving Seeds Choose the Right Seeds: Look for the healthiest and tas…
Garden
EM (effective micro-organisms)
Effective microorganisms in action - photo by Nadia Lawton of the permaculture research institute. This is a must use resource! See their…
Garden
Basic Components in the garden
Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/faceless-woman-working-with-soil-in-garden-4207908/ Chemicals are unwanted in an organic natural garden. We don'…
Garden
Clay Pipes & Ollah Pots
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377413000176 You can save massive amounts of water in your garden by installing clay pipes and Ollah pots. Olla irr…
Food Forest
Food Forest
A 2000 year old Food forest in the desert A food forest, or forest garden, is a type of sustainable agroforestry system…
Garden
Deep Soil
Core (Sponge) Gardening Another method that uses very little water in standard beds. Grass is used as a water sponge under the…
Garden
Compost
Plants need food, just like animals do. To have a productive farm, you need to focus on feeding the soil in which…
Garden
Companion planting
Photo by sergio souza: https://www.pexels.com/photo/colorful-garden-beds-with-plants-5047448/ Companion planting is a cool gardening technique where we grow different pla…
Garden
Critical Guide to Organic Pest Control in Southern Africa: Proven Natural Solutions for Healthier Crops
organic pest control - a ladybug eating aphids Organic pest control is a way of managing garden pests without using harmful chemicals.…
Garden
Soil
soil The Power of Organic Garden Soil Hey, fellow garden lovers! Have you ever wondered why some gardens seem to have super…
Garden
Organic Fertiliser
https://denbydalecoffee.co.uk/2022/05/26/5-ways-to-use-coffee-grounds/ Understanding Organic Fertilizers Organic fertilizers are like a gourmet meal for your plants, sour…
Garden
Worm farm, bin or bath
Photo by Sippakorn Yamkasikorn: https://www.pexels.com/photo/earthworms-on-a-persons-hand-3696170/ A worm farm is a simple way to keep compost worms and harvest their ver…
Dry Grasslands
Plant Hardiness Zone Map
https://atlasofnamibia.online/chapter-6/types-of-vegetation What's a plant hardiness zone map? A plant hardiness zone map is a geographical tool used to help gardeners, f…
Garden
Vermicompost
Vermicompost, also known as worm castings or worm compost, is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer that is produced through the process of vermicomposting.…
Garden
Biochar
biochar Biochar, a carbon-rich substance born from the depths of pyrolysis, is making waves in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. This black…
Garden
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil How to permanently improve sandy soil! Improving sandy soil permanently and organically involves increasing its water retention, nutrient content, and…
Garden
Urban Agriculture
Urban Agriculture Urban Agriculture: Thriving in Arid Environments Through Permaculture Introduction Urban agriculture is gaining popularity as cities expand and the need…
Dry Grasslands
Keep healthy soil during winter and droughts
healthy soil Maintaining a healthy soil biome during challenging conditions such as winter and drought is crucial in organic farming. Here are…
Garden
Propagation
Propagation in an Organic Homestead SettingWhy Propagate Plants on an Organic Homestead?Methods of Propagation on an Organic HomesteadOrganic Propagation Practices for Be…
Food Forest
Transform Your Backyard: Simple Greywater Food Circles.
food circle Windhoek Concept of Food CirclesImplementation in WindhoekImpact and Community Engagement of Food CirclesFood Circle Design and StructureFood Circle Operation…
Garden
How Windbreaks Can Save Water, Soil and Crops in Harsh Climates
Protect crops, reduce soil erosion, and conserve moisture using drought-tolerant windbreaks like soutbos and kei apple. Improve yields naturally in drylands!
Garden
Contour Farming
Contour Farming IntroductionHistory and DevelopmentPrinciples1. Following the Natural Contours2. Reducing Soil Erosion3. Enhancing Water Conservation4. Integrating with O…
Garden
Shieldboxes
The ShieldBox is a simple, low-cost innovation designed to protect young plants and seedlings in Namibia’s dry, harsh environments. Made from recycled…
Garden
Growing cucumbers in Namibia: beds, trellises and harvest
Cucumbers can provide a regular fresh harvest from a bed, container or reachable trellis. Choose the variety, water supply and support together, then follow the crop thro…
Garden
Growing tomatoes in Namibia: planting to harvest and storage
Grow tomatoes at a scale you can water, support and harvest consistently. This guide follows the crop from variety choice and planting through pruning, pest checks, ripen…
Garden
Crop rotation for small gardens
Plan your next planting by plant family, using a simple record of what grew in each bed.
Garden
Insect hotels and living habitat: make room for garden allies
An insect hotel can make small wildlife easier to observe, but it is only one part of a living garden.
Garden
Dassies and food gardens: protect a patch and observe
A garden beside rocky habitat may share its surroundings with dassies, also called rock hyraxes.
Garden
Core gardening: test a buried organic layer before scaling up
Core gardening usually describes a bed with an organic layer buried beneath the growing soil.
Garden
Chinese water chestnuts: a contained aquatic crop trial
Chinese water chestnut, Eleocharis dulcis, produces crisp edible corms beneath a stand of rush-like stems. It can be grown in a contained water garden, but it is a water-…
Garden
Zinnias: bring flowers into a productive garden
Zinnias bring colour and insect activity into a food garden and can supply cut flowers. They are useful plants in their own right; their job need not be justified by clai…
Garden
Productive hedges: shelter, privacy and habitat around a small plot
A hedge can define a garden, soften wind, provide habitat and sometimes produce food. On a small plot, its water demand, thorns and mature width deserve as much attention…
Garden
Wood ash in soil and compost: test the need before adding more
Wood ash contains mineral residues from burning. It can change soil chemistry, including pH, so it should be treated as an amendment with a purpose and a measured dose ra…
Garden
Growing towers: distinguish aeroponics from a vertical sales pitch
A growing tower can place several plants in a small footprint. Some towers mist suspended roots, while others circulate nutrient solution through channels or growing medi…
Garden
Garden weather records: learn what happens at your own site
A simple rainfall and weather record helps explain why a crop succeeded, struggled or needed extra water. Nearby forecasts remain useful, but your garden’s rainfall, fros…
Garden
Read a catchment map before changing how water moves
A catchment is the area from which runoff drains toward a shared outlet. Seeing your garden or farm within that larger area helps you understand incoming water, erosion a…
Garden
Shared garden land: agree access and responsibilities before planting
A shared garden needs more than a promising patch of soil. Clear land access, water arrangements and responsibilities help people invest their work without discovering la…
Garden
Cutworms: protect newly planted seedlings
A seedling severed near soil level overnight may have been damaged by a cutworm. Confirm the pattern before treating: collapsing stems, chewing animals and mechanical dam…
Garden
Wall spiders: observe these hunting neighbours
Flat, fast-moving spiders on walls can be surprising visitors. Learning to recognise common hunting spiders can reduce unnecessary spraying and make the home garden a bet…
Garden
Seed priming: test controlled soaking without the myths
Seed priming is controlled hydration intended to prepare seed for germination before sowing. It is a crop-specific technique, not a reason to soak every packet or assume…
Garden
Test saved seed before spending water on a bed
A simple germination test helps decide whether a saved seed lot is worth sowing. It can reveal a weak lot before you spend scarce water, compost and bed space on it. It d…
Garden
Organise a seed exchange that carries the growing knowledge too
A seed exchange becomes more useful when each packet carries its history. The aim is not only to move seed between people, but to preserve the information that helps the…
Garden
Newspaper seedling pots: a low-cost container trial
Newspaper pots can reduce purchases of small plastic containers and make a useful school or community activity. Their weak point is also their advantage: they break down.…
Garden
Harden seedlings for sun, wind and real garden conditions
A seedling raised in shelter can suffer when moved suddenly into strong sun, wind and a different watering pattern. Hardening off is a gradual adjustment before planting…
Garden
When seedlings collapse: recognise possible damping off
Seedlings that rot or collapse around the soil line may be affected by damping off, a group of diseases rather than one single organism. Similar symptoms can follow heat,…
Garden
Wicking-bed problems: test the growing medium before adding more
A wicking bed needs a medium that supplies roots with air as well as moisture. If plants fail in a rich mix, adding more compost, fertiliser or microbes may increase the…
Garden
Blocked drip lines: diagnose the blockage before cleaning
A dry patch beneath a dripper does not tell you whether the problem is dirt, mineral deposits, biological growth or pressure. Find the cause before choosing a cleaning me…
Garden
Measure dripper output before changing the watering time
An irrigation timer measures minutes, not the litres delivered to each plant. A simple container test can show whether a line distributes water evenly and whether the lab…
Garden
Take a useful soil sample before buying amendments
A soil report is only as useful as the sample sent to the laboratory. Combining a manure heap, a sandy path and a vegetable bed into one bag may produce an average that d…
Garden
Phosphorus: make a soil-test decision
Phosphorus is essential for plants, but that does not mean every struggling garden needs more. Soil chemistry, root health and water supply influence access to nutrients.…
Chicken
Chicken manure: record nutrients, bedding and use
Chicken manure can contribute nutrients and organic matter, but one bucket is not equivalent to another. Bedding, moisture, storage and composting all change the material…
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