Permaculture

Permaculture is a system of design, used throughout our property.

The concept of permaculture was established by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the late sixties. It looks to nature and especially the forests as a model for sustainable agriculture, with elements working together in symbiotic relationships. It looks to maximize the utilization of resources including the sun, water, gravity and inter-relationships between the components of the system. These “guilds” are a cornerstone of the sustainability.

The market garden is designed along the concept of the mandala garden as established by Linda Woodrow in her book “The Permaculture Backyard”.

Elsewhere, in the nut orchard we grow leguminous plants in association with the nut trees to fix nitrogen, a herb under story to deter insect pests and attract beneficial insects such as predatory wasps. Habitat for lizards and birds as well as water and food is provided to ensure they hang around and contribute to the balance, and not be part of the problem. (Bird attack on fruit can be because the bird needs a drink.) We run ducks and geese in the orchard to maintain weed control and keep the snail population in check. They of course contribute manure to fertilize the trees and the geese are great early warning of visitors in the driveway.

On the other side of the driveway we are establishing table grapes and table olives to supplement the food boxes for our CSA (community supported agriculture)

The trees are irrigated by gray water after water is taken for flushing the toilet. This is supplemented by water from the irrigation ponds when required.

A tour of the farm shows that you need not to venture too far from the house to be at any of the places. Cow shed, market garden, grapes and olives and the nut orchard are within close range of the house.

The various elements are laid out so as to minimize any need for back tracking when going about the daily chores. This is best highlighted in the mandala market garden. If it doesn’t make it easier for you then it is a poor design.

The permaculture design course is held several times each year at Purple Pear and more information on the next course is available here.