Agroforestry
A fruit-tree guild that fits the water budget
A fruit-tree guild is a planned group of plants around a central tree. The aim is to combine useful functions, such as food, ground cover and habitat. In an arid garden,…
Living Earth topic
gardening
Growing vegetables and herbs at home, at school and in the village.
Garden
A dryland greenhouse: plan heat escape before building
A greenhouse can protect plants from cold and wind, but it can also become too hot within a short time. In a dryland garden, first decide which months and crops need encl…
Garden
Small planting basins and swales: choose the right job
A planting basin concentrates water near a plant. A swale is a longer earthwork whose alignment and overflow affect a wider area. Both can influence runoff, but they are…
Garden
Zaï pits: begin with a small runoff-catching trial
Zaï pits concentrate runoff and organic material around planting positions. They developed in Sahelian farming systems as a response to difficult soils and unreliable rai…
Garden
Waffle beds: test a sunken planting pattern for one season
Waffle gardens use small sunken planting areas separated by low earth ridges. The pattern is associated with Pueblo dryland gardening, including Zuni traditions. It offer…
Garden
Olla pots: measure the wetting pattern before planting around them
An olla releases water through porous clay into nearby soil. Its useful reach depends on the pot and the surrounding soil, so a fixed number of plants per pot is rarely a…
Garden
A removable bed cover that protects crops and stays usable
A small covered bed can protect young vegetables while keeping daily work manageable. The frame, edges and access matter as much as the material. Decide whether the main…
Garden
Frost covers: a simple evening and morning routine
A frost cover works best as part of a routine: watch the forecast, cover vulnerable plants before the coldest period, secure the edges and check conditions again in the m…
Garden
Trench-planting a leggy tomato seedling
Tomatoes can form roots along buried stems. This can make shallow trench planting useful for a tall, leggy transplant, provided the plant is healthy and the soil is suita…
Infrastructure
A cucumber trellis for a small growing space
A trellis can move a cucumber crop upward, make fruit easier to find and reduce contact with soil. It also catches wind and needs regular training. Design something you c…
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