
A Forager’s Guide to Hawthorn Berries
Introduction Hawthorn berries, also known as haws, are small, bright red fruits that grow on the Crataegus tree, a member of the rose family. These hardy trees thrive in hedgerows,
No gimmicks — just down-to-earth advice for growing things, DIY projects, and living susatinably.
I am a time served Gardener who writes websites and code in my spare time. I also live in a cabin, semi off grid and as sustainably as I can.
Welcome to my Website for fellow backyard farmers.
Welcome to The Backyard Farmer — your go-to source for backyard farming in the UK. Whether you’re growing your own food, growing things ‘Just like Tomatoes’, exploring self-sufficient living, or building a more sustainable lifestyle, this blog cuts through the fluff with straight-talking advice and practical guides.
If you’re tired of throwaway culture, supermarket dependency, or just want to get stuck into something real, you’re in the right place. Backyard farming is more than a hobby — it’s a way to reclaim your independence, reduce waste, and live closer to the land.
Whether you’re sowing your first vegetable patch, knocking together raised beds, or brewing comfrey tea in a salvaged barrel, you’ll find honest reviews, hands-on tips, and real-life stories that make sustainable living achievable — even in small spaces. Join a growing community of UK backyard farmers who are building greener futures, one garden at a time.
I’m a Gardener, a Web/Games Designer, and a hands-on sustainability practitioner based on the Wirral. I spend my days outdoors gardening or growing food, and nights on my computer.
This blog shares what actually works (and what doesn’t), rooted in real UK backyard life.
Backyard farming isn’t about perfection — it’s about learning old skills, becoming more self-reliant, and reconnecting with the natural world.
Green technology plays a vital role in this shift. Solar panels, smart watering systems, and off-grid tools aren’t just nice to have — they’re essential for adapting to a more sustainable future. At The Backyard Farmer, we blend traditional know-how with the tech that helps us live smarter, lighter, and more sustainably. You can find out more on the ‘About’ page here.
Discover our most-loved interactive features, built to make your gardening journey simpler and more rewarding. From planning your allotment to knowing exactly what to plant each season, these tools are here to save you time, cut costs, and boost your harvests.
Welcome to your new favourite Gardening Tool, the Free Square Foot Allotment & Companion Planting Planner. Designed and built by me, a gardener! Plan out the perfect veg plots with this intuitive square foot planning app with built in companion planting tips!
Wondering what to sow today? This tool shows you exactly which seeds you can plant on any date of the year, tailored to UK conditions. Simply pick your day and see what’s ready to sow indoors, outdoors, or transplant.
Take the guesswork out of sowing and planting with our interactive Biodynamic Calendar app. Based on lunar cycles and regional frost dates, it shows you the best days for fruit, root, leaf, and flower crops in your area.
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Kickstart your journey to homegrown independence. From seed-saving to soil tips, our Grow Your Own section is packed with guides to help you cultivate fresh food, no matter your space or skill level.
Live lighter on the planet with practical advice on reducing waste, reusing materials, and embracing self-sufficiency. Discover small changes that lead to a more sustainable, rewarding lifestyle.
Reconnect with nature through safe, seasonal foraging. Learn how to identify wild foods, harvest responsibly, and turn hedgerow finds into delicious meals and remedies rooted in tradition.
Learn to grow fresh food in small spaces or full-sized plots. From no-dig gardening to winter sowing, discover how to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit — all tailored to UK backyards.
Build it, fix it, or make it from scratch. Whether you’re constructing a compost bin, upcycling old pallets, or setting up rainwater collection, these projects give you the tools to become more self-sufficient.
Live a greener lifestyle with simple, low-cost changes. Think repurposed materials, zero-waste habits, eco swaps, and practical shifts that actually fit real life.
Discover seasonal wild foods growing all around you. Learn to safely identify edible plants, berries, and herbs with respectful foraging practices across the UK.
Honest, no-fluff reviews of tools and products. From hori hori knives to solar gear, every item is tested in real backyard conditions.
Explore low-energy solutions that make sustainable living easier. From solar power to smart watering systems, these tools are the modern backyard farmer’s secret weapon.
Unlock a growing collection of free garden planning tools, DIY calculators, and resources designed to help you grow smarter, plan better, and live more self-sufficiently — all crafted with the hands-on gardener in mind.
Welcome to the Irby Eco Living Project — a grassroots initiative focused on sustainable living through regenerative land stewardship, biodiversity support, and off-grid infrastructure. Located in the Wirral area, this project aims to turn underused greenbelt space into a thriving, low-impact eco hub.
What if the witch hunts weren’t just driven by superstition, but by a calculated effort to suppress knowledge, power, and healing? And what if modern medicine didn’t emerge purely from progress, but partly by erasing women, folk healers, and traditional remedies from history?
Herbs & Heresy uncovers the history of herbalism and its clash with institutional power. It reveals how so-called “witches” were often herbalists, midwives, and guardians of ancestral wisdom. Blending historical records, personal insight, and a critical look at today’s healthcare system, this book tells the untold story still echoing in how we heal today.
Introduction Hawthorn berries, also known as haws, are small, bright red fruits that grow on the Crataegus tree, a member of the rose family. These hardy trees thrive in hedgerows,
🌿 Want to find free pallets fast? Try our Free Pallet Finder Tool or skip ahead to the Best Places to Find Them section below. Introduction If you’ve ever searched
Spider Farmer SF4000 Review: Is It the Right Light for Your Grow? When you’re growing indoors, your light is everything—and the Spider Farmer SF4000 LED grow light has become a
Introduction Welcome to our in-depth review of the Mars Hydro TSL 2000, a high-performance LED grow light designed for indoor gardening enthusiasts. Aiming to achieve optimal plant growth with efficiency
VIPARSPECTRA 600W LED Grow Light – Best fro Leafy greens, herbs. Roleadro Galaxyhydro Series LED Grow Light – Best for Fruiting plants, flowers. KingLED 1000W LED Grow Light – Best
Why the Worx WG163E Electric Trimmer Stands Out If you’re looking for a no-nonsense review for the Worx WG163E cordless grass trimmer, you’re in the right place. This cordless strimmer
Introduction Hawthorn berries, also known as haws, are small, bright red fruits that grow on the Crataegus tree, a member of the rose family. These hardy trees thrive in hedgerows,
🌿 Want to find free pallets fast? Try our Free Pallet Finder Tool or skip ahead to the Best Places to Find Them section below. Introduction If you’ve ever searched
Spider Farmer SF4000 Review: Is It the Right Light for Your Grow? When you’re growing indoors, your light is everything—and the Spider Farmer SF4000 LED grow light has become a
Introduction Welcome to our in-depth review of the Mars Hydro TSL 2000, a high-performance LED grow light designed for indoor gardening enthusiasts. Aiming to achieve optimal plant growth with efficiency
VIPARSPECTRA 600W LED Grow Light – Best fro Leafy greens, herbs. Roleadro Galaxyhydro Series LED Grow Light – Best for Fruiting plants, flowers. KingLED 1000W LED Grow Light – Best
Why the Worx WG163E Electric Trimmer Stands Out If you’re looking for a no-nonsense review for the Worx WG163E cordless grass trimmer, you’re in the right place. This cordless strimmer
The Backyard Farmer isn’t just a blog — it’s a mindset shift. It’s about ditching throwaway habits, reconnecting with how things grow, and finding joy in doing it yourself.
Grow your own. Make your own. Live your own way — one backyard at a time.