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. In recent years, the crucial role of pollinators in maintaining biodiversity and food security has become increasingly evident. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects and animals
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
Ever since I completed my Permaculture Design Certificate, I’ve been searching for ways to engage the public on Permaculture garden design and various environmental topics. I did some consultations, started writing articles, and gave workshops on topics ranging from seed saving and sprouting to no-trash challenges for school kids. I’ve been studying herbalism, foraging,
It’s that time again, the time when the rains come, and the plants turn brown, their flowers going to seed. It’s time to collect and save seeds. Seed saving may be the most neglected element of gardening. Every winter, most of us feast our eyes upon the pages of seed catalogs, drooling over the
The practice of Permaculture is grounded in ethics and principles, and many new permaculture students get bogged down by them, impatient to move forward and learn the actual design system. “Why all this philosophy?” they ask. “I just want to learn to design amazing gardens and grow a lot of food.” It’s easy to
