The journey to living more sustainably — and growing my own food — inspired me to create The Backyard Farmer. I’m a UK-based professional gardener, and this blog is where I share practical tips, techniques, and real-life lessons from the garden, the kitchen, and the tools I use every day.
My aim is simple: to help others take small, meaningful steps towards a more self-sufficient and eco-friendly lifestyle. Whether it’s growing your first vegetables, making better use of limited space, or choosing sustainable tools, I believe we can make positive changes together.
Other projects I’m currently working on include:
• Irby Eco Living Project — practical experiments in sustainable living, community growing, and low-impact lifestyles
• Herbs & Heresy — an ongoing book project exploring lost herbal traditions, control, and forgotten knowledge
• Interactive Gardening Tools — planners, calculators, and DIY web tools designed to help gardeners grow with confidence
One of my greatest joys is growing my own food, both indoors and outdoors. I love experimenting with various techniques to optimize yields, from LED grow lights for indoor gardening to raised beds in my outdoor space.
But growing food is only half the story. Cooking with fresh, homegrown ingredients brings everything full circle. Whether I’m creating hearty meals or trying out new recipes, I find immense satisfaction in knowing exactly where my food comes from and how it’s grown.
Much of what I learn through this process directly informs the guides, tools, and recommendations I share on the site.
I commute to work by bicycle, often towing a trailer filled with gardening tools. This eco-friendly mode of transportation isn’t just practical—it reflects my commitment to reducing carbon emissions and living a sustainable lifestyle.
My journey as a gardener began when I set up my own business, Fred the Gardener. After years of navigating the rat race across various occupations, I found clarity and inspiration while living semi-off-grid on my parents’ property.
Embracing a simpler, more sustainable way of life changed how I work, live, and think about the future.
Now, I’m passionate about making personal and social changes that contribute to a sustainable future.
For more about how I set up my own Gardening business on a bike, check out the article – ‘How I Started a Gardening Business‘.
Curious about Worx tools? Check out my in-depth review: Are Worx Tools Any Good? where I share my experience as a gardener.
Alongside running Backyard Farmer and working professionally as a gardener, I’ve begun sharing practical growing knowledge through talks and community events across the UK.
I’ve recently delivered a talk for the Cheshire Smallholders Association, focusing on real-world growing, self-sufficiency, and practical gardening systems that actually work day-to-day. You can read a full breakdown of the session here: Cheshire Smallholders Garden Planning Talk.
This kind of work is something I’m continuing to build on — helping connect online tools and advice with real gardeners on real plots, including practical resources like the free Allotment Planner.
If you run an allotment site, smallholders group, or gardening community and would like a talk, workshop, or collaboration, feel free to get in touch — I’m always happy to support UK growing communities.
I focus on:
I partner with trusted brands to bring you high-quality products that support sustainable living, gardening, and outdoor lifestyles. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use or have thoroughly researched. If I stop using a product, I stop recommending it.
Your support helps keep The Backyard Farmer running and allows me to continue providing free, practical guides for a self-sufficient lifestyle. I aim to use companies that are working to reduce their impact on the planet via things like Carbon Neutral Shipping.
Quite simply some of the best quality gardening tools I have seen, and reasonably priced too! I use Japeto tools daily and not only are they functional, they look cool too!
I use Worx tools every day for my gardening business. Their cordless power tools are reliable, well-built, and perfect for professional and home use.
When it comes to seeds and gardening equipment, I trust Suttons. They’ve been appointed by British royalty and have been supplying high-quality seeds and plants for over 200 years.
Eco-friendly compost, coir blocks, and peat-free growing mediums made from coconut husk. A sustainable choice for healthy roots and a greener planet.
Carefully curated tools and gear I’ve personally used or rated highly for value and performance — all easy to grab from Amazon, with no fluff or gimmicks.
Trusted for over 130 years, Haws crafts high-quality, precision-engineered watering cans designed for gardeners of all levels.
For indoor gardening, I rely on Spider Farmer grow lights. Their innovative LED technology provides optimal light spectrums for a variety of plants, ensuring healthy growth and high yields.
Ownership: The Backyard Farmer is independently owned and operated by Fred Robinson, a professional gardener based in the UK.
Funding: The blog is funded through affiliate partnerships with gardening and sustainability brands, ad revenue from eco-focused advertisers, and occasional sponsorships with companies aligned with our mission of promoting sustainable living. All partnerships are disclosed transparently, and the editorial direction is never influenced by external entities.
Curious how I manage cookie consent on my sites? Check out my CookieYes review to see why I use it across all my projects.
Practical advice on growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers — from outdoor beds and allotments to indoor and small-space growing.
Guides to identifying, harvesting, and using wild edible plants responsibly and sustainably.
Honest reviews of gardening tools, growing equipment, and eco-friendly gear — based on real use, not marketing claims.
Step-by-step guides for practical, low-impact home and garden projects.
Tips on creating gardens that support pollinators, birds, and local wildlife.
Insights into renewable energy, efficiency tools, and low-impact technologies that support sustainable living.
We are committed to providing accurate and reliable information. In the rare instance of an error:
For more about our Ethics and Diversity policy, check out our dedicated page here.
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The Wirral Peninsula: The Backyard Farmer is based in this unique area, offering a blend of urban convenience and rural tranquility. Nestled between North Wales and Liverpool, the Wirral’s lush green spaces inspire much of the content on this blog.
Many of the guides and tools on this site are written specifically for UK conditions, seasons, and regulations.
The Backyard Farmer is your go-to resource for practical advice on sustainable living, gardening, and green technology. Whether you’re seeking gardening tips, how-to guides, or the latest innovations in eco-friendly living, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s grow together!