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2 weeks ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Jujube Ziziphus spp. Chinese date, bears a fruit that has been cherished for thousands of years but still remains somewhat of a hidden gem in the western world of fruit trees. With its sweet, apple-like flavor and impressive nutritional profile, this hardy tree is a must-have for any garden or orchard. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious foodie, let’s dive into the world of jujubes and discover why they deserve a spot in your forest garden/permaculture garden/ regenerative landscape.
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2 weeks ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Wind can be a silent saboteur in your garden, stunting plant growth, drying out soil, and even keeping beneficial pollinators at bay. Yet, with thoughtful design, a well-placed windbreak can transform your garden into a thriving, resilient space—boosting productivity while reducing maintenance. However, a poorly planned windbreak can backfire, creating issues like frost pockets, root competition, and pest infestations.
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4 weeks ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
It's always a great experience running our Regenerative Landscape Design - Online Interactive Course where we cover how to Design, Build and Manage Polycultures for Landscapes, Gardens, and Farms. It's particularly rewarding getting to know the participants and their projects from all over the world and watching their ideas and designs grow and develop throughout the course and finally be presented to the group.
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1 month ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
It's always a great experience running our Regenerative Landscape Design - Online Interactive Course where we cover how to Design, Build and Manage Polycultures for Landscapes, Gardens, and Farms. It's particularly rewarding getting to know the participants and their projects from all over the world and watching their ideas and designs grow and develop throughout the course and finally be presented to the group.
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1 month ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
It never ceases to amaze me what little indoor space you need to rear thousands of seedlings. We have used two 50 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm trays to germinate approximately 150 seedlings from 10 cultivars. When they get bigger we move them into two 1.3 x 8 m beds covered with polythene to rear them before they take their permanent positions in the gardens in early - mid April.
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1 month ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Following the start of the year on the exquisite Arabian Peninsula, it was marvelous to be back on land full of resplendent chlorophyl. Tanzania is a place of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, awesome people, incredible wildlife and unforgettable adventures. During this post I’ll share some observations from the trip and introduce some of the incredible plants and animals I met along the way, from safari up-country to the mangrove shores of Mafia Island.
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2 months ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Welcome to another post from our Polyculture Profile Series. For this post we’re going to look at a compact Polyculture for small spaces that can provide fruits, enhance biodiversity, and is relatively easy to take care of. You may wish to look over thePolyculture Profile Layoutpost before or after reading the profile, where we provide a description of the profile layout and some general notes to consider, should you wish to try to grow the polyculture yourself.
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2 months ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Malta's capital, Valletta, a city steeped in history, boasts golden limestone buildings that whisper tales of empires past. Yet, amidst this urban landscape, another kind of life thrives. Untamed flora, unassuming wildflowers and tenacious climbers, erupt from cracks and crevices, a testament to nature's enduring spirit. During this post, I'll share my observations of Valletta's street plants, exploring the wild flora that sprouts throughout the city, and take a look at a delightful rooftop garden.
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2 months ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Welcome to part 11 of a series where I'll be posting some observations and experiences about the various plant species from our forest gardens and regenerative landscapes, as well as interesting plants and polycultures from around the world. We'll explore plants for different layers of the forest garden, highlight key wildlife for regenerative landscapes, showcase successful polycultures, and offer guidance on designing, building, and managing these systems.
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2 months ago | 
thepolycultureproject.substack.com | Paul Alfrey
Welcome to a new series that will focus on regenerative polycultures for dry and hot climates, which I’ll refer to as Xeric Polyculture. The intention of this series is to provide useful and practical advice for growers in xeric regions of the world and to present a portfolio of plants and polycultures that can be used as broadly as possible within these regions.
