Six months ago I joined the board of an organization called Edible Landscapes of Yamhill County, ELOYC for short. I had met them at our library, where a permaculture designer gave a lecture on Food Forests, and when I started chatting with the neighbor to my left, I found out that ELOYC
This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. Many people feel intimidated when they first hear about Permaculture. There’s so much to learn! Pathways, water capture, biodiversity and tree guilds, even the placement of dams!
One day an emaciated but fluffy tabby cat appeared on our back porch. Being cat lovers, we immediately put up a shelter for her, named her Olive, and started feeding her, though we noticed that she didn’t put on weight quickly. She purred a lot and let us pet and even hold her, so
My mother graced us with enormous creativity and talent. She sang in and directed operas, taught young singers how to act and direct, wrote a book about how to teach opera, and decorated her home with paintings she made and mosaic tables she assembled. She loved vibrant colors everywhere, and huge vases full of
How Do Plants Support Each Other in a Permaculture Tree Guild? Identifying the layers of tree guild plants is just the first step in designing a Permaculture tree guild. The second step, identifying the role that each plant plays, is just as important. Let’s examine the various functions that each plant can fulfill.
What is a Tree Guild in a Permaculture Garden, and why have one? If you’re looking for a way to get the maximum yield out of a small permaculture garden space, a tree guild permaculture design is a great way to start. What is a Tree Guild? A tree guild is a group
If you’re looking for a way to get the maximum yield out of a small permaculture garden space, a tree guild permaculture design is a great way to start. What is a Tree Guild? A tree guild is a group of plants placed around a primary food producing species, such as an apple tree,
Foraging violets takes me straight back to my childhood, not just to real events that occurred, but also to the dreams I had as a little girl. When I was little, one of my favorite things to do in spring was to find a shady spot under a fruit tree, brush my hands over
Foraging Conifers is Permaculture if done right. When most people think of Permaculture, they think of lush polycultures, chicken yards, tree guilds, or perhaps water catchment. One thing that most people don’t associate with Permaculture is foraging, but foraging, if it’s done ethically, is definitely an element of a Permaculture system. An important goal
The time has come to talk about chickens and what they can eat. A chicken is a wonderful animal. She will eat many of your kitchen scraps and spent plants and weeds, while producing not only eggs, but also nutritious manure for the garden, feathers, and hours of silly entertainment. A chicken can also
