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 Getting rid of slugs naturally and without the use of pesticides or chemicals is not as difficult as you might think. There is more than just one way to keep slugs at bay and stop them destroying your favorite plant, be it a vegetable
Introduction Learning how to keep chickens in a suburban area is an exciting and practical step toward sustainable living. Many people think a large yard or rural setting is necessary, but that’s not the case. With the right setup, even a small backyard can become
Introduction Gardening often gets a reputation for being either expensive or time‑consuming — and, in many cases, both. Walk into a garden centre in spring and it’s easy to feel like you need specialist tools, branded feeds, and stacks of plastic trays just to get
Introduction As March arrived in 2020, the first real signs of spring began to show in the North West of the UK. Temperatures were slowly rising, days were stretching out, and nature was starting to wake up. With that shift in the air, it felt
Introduction Looking for a natural way to support your chickens’ health? Apple cider vinegar for chickens has become a popular natural supplement among backyard poultry keepers—and with good reason. This simple, affordable supplement is commonly used to: In short, it’s an easy way to support
Introduction It’s been an eventful first week here at the Backyard Farm — and thankfully, it’s all been positive. From Giblets and Apollo taking their first steps outside and seeing the sky for the very first time, to Apollo laying her first egg, life with
Introduction Radishes are one of the quickest and easiest vegetables to grow, which makes them a great choice for gardeners at any stage. They grow fast, mature in as little as four weeks, and add a crisp, peppery bite to all sorts of everyday meals.
Introduction When I started what I now think of as Phase 2 of the Backyard Farm, I made a simple decision early on: I wanted to grow food without relying on chemical shortcuts. No pesticides. No quick fixes. Instead, I wanted a healthier, more resilient
From an Early Diary Entry to a Backyard System This article started life as a simple progress update about backyard chickens and digging out a vegetable patch. At the time, I was documenting what I’d done that day in the garden, with very little thought
Choosing the Best Vegetables to Grow in the UK If you’re wondering what the best vegetables to grow in the UK are, it usually comes down to suitability rather than ambition. The British climate is generally mild but unpredictable, with cool springs, changeable summers, and
Introduction: Why Control of Our Food Matters Again For most of human history, food wasn’t something we overthought. It came from nearby land, familiar people, and processes we understood. What we ate followed the seasons, relied on practical skills, and stayed rooted in place. In