The term bioaccumulators refers to the usage of perennial and annual plants that are known for their capacity to “mine” minerals and/or “secrete” substances that are very important for the garden ecosystem. While in Nature there are many, many plants that can perform the functions I will mention, I have chosen a few that are …
Seedlings are young plants that are grown from seeds in nurseries and then transplanted into the ground. They require special care and attention to ensure that they develop into healthy and productive plants. Soil Preparation The first step in caring for permaculture seedlings is to prepare the soil. The soil must be loose, well-drained, and …
Keeping a journal of your permaculture garden is an invaluable tool for tracking progress, identifying problems, and planning for the future. Permaculture is thought and knowledge intensive; it takes a holistic approach to growing plants, emphasizing working with nature and creating regenerative ecosystems, while taking into account the many variables in natural systems. Each experience …
One of the key debates in permaculture gardening is whether to till or not to till the soil. Tilling involves turning over the soil and breaking it up, while no-till gardening involves leaving the soil undisturbed. Permaculture is a regenerative approach to gardening that emphasizes working with nature and creating self-sustaining ecosystems, but there isn’t …
1. Personal equipment. This chapter is really dependent on your situation: your climate, as well as your physical needs and your character. Not everything will apply to everyone, but I’ve included below a list of very useful items for gardening, as well as the preparation work. As this program spans 40 weeks, we’re aiming to …
Hot composting is an optimized method in which the life and death cycles within the compost pile succeed each other in a much shorter period of time, at an elevated temperature. It requires little equipment, but time and effort are needed for the organic matter to become available for the garden. In today’s ultramodern, …
Permaculture self-reliance refers to a way of life that connects you with nature, with family members and your neighbors, and can include all activities that bring value, either moral or physical, to the well-being of the community. It enables empowerment through increased local resource-flow by giving, trading and sharing. Self-Reliance values and cares for the …
Collecting rainwater is a very dear subject to myself, and Bill Mollison illustrated this very eloquently: “If you only do one thing… collect rainwater”. What he probably meant by this is that collecting rainwater is a simple yet impactful action that enables anyone to do many things that are within reach (such as growing food …
I’ve recently received very useful advice from someone with experience in growing foodstuff in three different climates: whatever you want to cultivate in the long run, annual crops or a food forest, always start with berries. It makes perfect sense: they are easy to plant and to look after, and yields arrive faster. Not to …
Backyard chickens refers to the practice of raising chickens in an environment designed for humans, close to our habitats, within the city boundaries or in suburban spaces. The animals need a shelter (such as a coop) providing adequate space, protection from the elements and the predators, and good ventilation. Coops can also be purchased, or …
Permaculture is a conscious design system in which interactive, stable and resilient ecosystems are assembled to provide for the needs of humans (food, energy, climate-appropriate housing etc.). These ecosystems and their constituent parts are climate and culture specific, and relate to other such elements from the bio-regions they are a part of, in a …
A chicken garden is a growing space that is dedicated to cultivating foodstuff that is useful to both humans and chicken. Permaculture focuses on the mutually beneficial functions, through the natural interactions of chicken with trees, perennial plants and vegetables, thus building a regenerative system in which all elements thrive. Why grow a chicken …
What is Urban Permaculture ? Urban permaculture means applying the values and directives to urban and suburban areas, with a simple goal in mind: providing for the needs of the people and taking care of Nature, at the same time. From an ecological point of view, urban environments stand to benefit most from permaculture …
Locating a Kitchen Garden is a very important process, it represents the starting point for this all-important Zone 1 project. Decisive factors that impact your results as a gardener are: Permaculture Design takes a methodical approach to assessing the situation, and putting priorities in order, so that your choice is informed and allows you to …
Perennial Gardening means using plants that regrow every spring, instead of having only annual plants that live for one growing season, then die off. Perennials have a shorter blooming period, in comparison with annuals; on average, gardeners tend to use a combination of both plants in the growing space. An Edible Perennial Garden includes …
Cover crops stimulate the biological activity of the soil after harvest and their return as mulch or compost material. They stimulate micro-biotic activity, the proliferation of earthworms, and stabilise the soil. They also make nutrients available in large quantities and in more available forms. Cover crops can also improve the in-depth structure of the …
Function stacking means using elements that perform multiple functions and also employing several elements for each specific function. Stacking functions designate the concept of planning elements and areas (space) to perform the most services for us with the least possible input (beyond the establishment phase). It concerns multiple usage and purpose of elements, for …
Social Permaculture is concerned with applying Permaculture ethics and directives in order to create designs integrated into natural and social contexts. Social behavior, economy, and communities are all linked to Social Permaculture, as it encompasses the ethic of ‘People Care’. It is anchored in the patterns of flowing resources, the flow of information, and …
The term ‘water harvesting’ generally refers to techniques used for the collection of water from a particular area (called the catchment) in order to provide water for human, animal, or crop use. Water harvesting is an ancient practice that has enabled communities to grow and flourish even in semiarid and arid areas where other sources …
As I was growing up, especially through my adolescent years, I became aware of my need to be in situations that were constantly evolving. I liked reading and enjoyed learning languages, but I wanted to learn about everything; I couldn’t focus exclusively on any particular subject. At the beginning of adulthood, I became involved with …
Comfrey is a popular permaculture design plant because it is a hardy pioneer plant and it has an extremely fast growth rate. It is also a hyper nutrient accumulator, meaning its roots mine the soil at depths up to 3 meters, and bring those nutrients to the surface, in the leaves. Comfrey, also known as Symphytum …
Hugelkultur is the practice of growing on a mound. The mound is made up of woody organic matter with a layer of soil. The purpose of growing on the mound is to create more favorable growing conditions for plants. This topic allows me to go deep in terms of understanding techniques, knowing that its …
Start with yourself and start where you are. Start with the base that you already have and you can build your own permaculture journey. This can be in an urban, peri-urban, or rural location. How to Start in Permaculture…is probably one of the easiest “complicated” questions that is linked to Permaculture. How so, you ask? …
Although this is a personal question, I relate to Permaculture on several levels; ecological design can be applied to all fields of Human activity, although people associate it most frequently with food production because that is where you see the most palpable results. In a holistic approach, Permaculture is linked to energy (fossil energy, electric …
