This archive brings together practical, experience-led articles from The Backyard Farmer, covering gardening, DIY, indoor growing, foraging, reviews, and sustainable living. Each post is written with real-world use in mind — focusing on working with nature, building practical skills, and making sustainable choices more accessible.
Introduction Banana peel fertiliser has become a go-to method for gardeners looking to reuse kitchen scraps and boost plant growth naturally. While banana peels were once tossed straight into compost bins, they’re now gaining attention as a stand-alone, DIY fertiliser. Often referred to as “banana
The term’ cash crops’ is used for plants we make money from, and you can grow several cash crops at home. What you grow will depend on what space you have available more than anything else. After all, you can’t grow a field of wheat
Introduction If you’re looking for an easy and rewarding crop to grow, kale is a brilliant choice. This nutrient-rich leafy green is cold-hardy, beginner-friendly, and thrives in UK gardens—even with minimal space or experience. Whether you’re planting directly in the ground, growing kale in containers,
Why do chickens eat their egg shells? Egg shells offer a great source of calcium and other minerals that a chicken needs to create an egg in its body. A Chicken gets this from other things such as grit in the wild or oyster shells
What can I grow in the Autumn and Winter months? As the year comes to a close and the seasons move towards winter you would be forgiven for thinking there isn’t much you can do in the garden, especially an edible one! However, there are
Introduction to Foodscaping and Edible Gardening Foodscaping and edible gardening are transforming traditional landscaping. Instead of using purely decorative plants, why not mix in fruits, vegetables, and herbs? This approach creates a landscape that’s both visually appealing and highly functional. Why is Foodscaping Gaining Popularity?
Growing tomatoes at home is simple, easy and fun! Put in the due effort and before you know it, you will be enjoying juicy tomatoes in summer. However, before you begin growing them you need to know about the two major growth habits for tomato
How to get rid of weed naturally: Understanding ‘weeds’ Annual weeds Annual weeds keep to a yearly life cycle of sprouting, then flowering followed by seeding. Whilst easier to control they can reach across your garden quickly. Perennial weeds Perennial weeds have a life cycle
How to Grow Strawberries at Home (UK Guide) There’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh, juicy strawberry you’ve grown yourself. Whether it’s for the flavour, the savings, or the simple satisfaction, learning how to grow strawberries at home is one of the most rewarding
How we plant potatoes at The Backyard Farm Here at the Backyard Farm we have a preferred method which I find the most hassle free to plant, grow and harvest. It is a ‘no dig’ method that grows the potatoes in a mulch like old
Introduction Garlic is one of the easiest and most satisfying crops you can grow in the UK. Whether you’ve got a big veg patch, a small raised bed, or just a few pots on the patio, garlic shows up strong — delivering: In this guide,
How to attract wildlife to your garden This post will explore how to attract wildlife to your garden or outside space. Our natural surroundings have been in crisis for quite some time. Due to some recent events around the world, like the Coronavirus (COVID-19), people