First published by the Permaculture Association (https://www.permaculture.org.uk/articles/permaculture-sewage-treatment-first-aid-and-future-proofing-our-rivers-and-seas). Well actually, it wasn’t in the hay barn, nor with a broken roof tile. But Ophelia is guilty for something alright. The recent storms downed electricity lines around Ireland and the UK. One of the impacts was an interruption to sewage treatment systems. So what? Not as important…
Author: Feidhlim Harty
Galway conference shine light on natural and constructed wetlands
Published first in the Council Journal (https://council.ie/galway-conference-shine-light-on-natural-and-constructed-wetlands/) on 22 July 2016 By Féidhlim Harty The recent international conference on natural and constructed wetlands in NUI-Galway hosted experts from across Ireland and elsewhere in Europe; and as far afield as Australia, Asia and North and South America. The conference was the first of its kind in Ireland…
Closed loop agriculture for environmental enhancement: returning biomass nutrients from humanure and urine to agriculture
First published for Feasta on April 26th, 2016, reproduced here in full. Link to original article below. Introduction Closed loop agriculture is farming practice that recycles all nutrients and organic matter material back to the soil that it grew in. This forms part of an agricultural practice that preserves the nutrient and carbon levels within…
Harnessing waste as a resource
An in depth interview with Féidhlim Harty from FH WETLAND SYSTEMS Ltd. The Council Journal speaks to Mr. Harty regarding his new book as well as how best to use waste as a resource… First published in the Council Journal on 15th April 2015 (https://council.ie/harnessing-waste-as-a-resource/). Feidhlim, congratulations on the recent publication of your very well-received…
Sustainable Water Use
Published for Feasta on 19th Sept 2014 (https://www.feasta.org/2014/09/19/sustainable-water-use/) Like many things in modern life, the vast majority of our current water and wastewater infrastructure is completely dependant upon fossil energy to keep the toilets flushed and the taps running. Even the word “wastewater” itself assumes that we have no better use for the water that…
How to set up a Community Orchard/fForest Garden
Here is a straightforward step by step approach that can get you from lawn to forest in a jiffy: 1. First, share the idea with others in your community that are enthusiastic about it. 2. Come up with a proposal together to clarify your thoughts. Identify the areas that are suitable for planting. Consider borders…
A Year in the Wildlife Garden
Following is a selection of wildlife gardening articles that I wrote in 2007 and 2008 while living in West Cork. They were all first published in the then West Cork Advertiser magazine. For anybody wanting to add wildlife interest to their garden, they may offer useful tips and suggestions. January in the Wildlife GardenThe Hazel…