Friday, April 17, 2015

doing things different...Permaculture

Hi everyone!  How are you all?  I really should be sleeping as I have not had a good nights rest in several nights due to some sick little beans but I am so excited about spring!  Flowers are blooming, compost and veggies are going in and we are officially back in the garden!!!  


I recently took a class at McDonald Farm with my gardening pal Sue about permaculture.  To say that we were inspired was an understatement.  With California's severe drought and the environment shifting, permaculture is changing the way we think about growing food and our relationship with the environment.

PERMACULTURE....Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive systems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of the landscape with people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.




Here we are standing in front of a garden that was created to handle excess runoff water from the farm.  The water used for cleaning farm equipment and washing crops would just spill out into the field causing major erosion issues.




Now the water has been routed into a little creek where it feeds a natural forest garden full of fruit trees and edible perennials.  Nothing is wasted.




Below is a diagram of a small garden formed around a fruit tree that can be used for a residential garden.  A fruit tree planted with several layers of plants that not only help pollinate the tree but create a perennial garden full of low maintenance edibles.



Currently the folks here at the farm are working on creating gardens such as these at local shelters and schools.

Benefits...

*Provides fresh local food to the community
*Demonstrates a commitment to food security and ecological restoration
*reduces or eliminates lawn maintenance costs
*Creates a community park
*Serves as an outdoor classroom or educational resource
*Connects people to food and nature
*Inspires the growth of individual edible forest gardens



It was an unbelievable day at the farm to begin to think about what is possible and what is already taking place around the world.  A movement is happening!  

Won't you join in? 

Happy gardening my friends I will be around soon to check in with you all!  


51 comments:

  1. That lecture sounds very interesting and I'm glad it inspired you. We all need inspiration :-) Happy gardening.

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  2. I remember watching an episode of 'The Edible Garden' with Alys Fowler (I loved that programme - not sure if you had too it or if it was just a UK thing) that talked about permaculture; it was fascinating. Glad you were inspired by your course and hope the beans are all well again soon. Have a great, and 'gardeny' weekend! xx

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  3. What an ingenious use of the waste water, we need to come up with more things like this for the future I think. Most inspiring, it's great to see that clever people are creating places like this. Have a lovely weekend Nicole. CJ xx

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  4. This is so fantastic ! You and I are on the same wavelength , my friend. I have been reading up and planning on doing a more edible landscape in our yard. I had some great ideas for the front but the deer are back so I have to do a rethink on some of it. It sure is crazy how things work out, I was talking to one of my knitters in a class about this and it turns out her daughter designs edible landscapes. She also does workshops for our district. Crazy! I will forward you her newsletter. What a great workshop you attended, wish I was there! There definitely is a movement growing from a grassroots level , literally!! I think it's super exciting. I found a really interesting book at the library , Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy. It's an excellent book! Hope your beans are better soon and you can get some sleep. Have a good weekend! Chris

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  5. It is brilliant that you were able to attend this course. I think permaculture is still a developing and fascinating area. I am particularly interested to learn how permaculture can be used in different parts of the world. Living lightly on this planet and creating settlements which can feed generations to come - we should all want to do this!

    I hope your beans are now fully recovered and that you get a good sleep soon.

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  6. i have a friend who works as permaculturist in KL! in Bali, especially in Ubud, I think there's more people who are concern about permaculture. a friend of mine is an enthusiast. he even got his certificate as permaculturist. i think it's great. i can't wait to see the garden!!!! have a great weekend, dear Nicole :)

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  7. Dear Nicole,

    Sorry to hear your sweet little beans have been sick - do hope they are feeling better.
    How wonderful that you and your friend took a class on permaculture and you must have found it interesting.
    Happy gardening to you and I look forward to hearing what is going on at your place.
    Hope you have a great weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  8. I've always been interested in permaculture. That farm is beautiful...as are you. You look pretty amazing for going on little sleep. I hope your beans feel better soon.

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  9. Hi Nicole, So sorry the beans have been sick. I hope you guys will have a better weekend. This is so interesting. Glad you and your friend could take the class. I know you are anxious to put what you have learned into practice. Keep us posted. xoxo

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  10. Nicole, it sounds like you had a terrific day and learned so much. So sorry about your Little Bean being ill, not fun days for the Mom is it? And just when you are nearing the exhaustion point they get better and are full of energy!
    Hugs to you and Happy Weekend,
    Meredith

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  11. I have been interested in permaculture for some time now and try to practice it in my garden. My fruit trees are underplanted with soft fruits which are underplanted with perennials - trying to make the best use of space. It is a fascinating subject and I think will gradually become a necessary one if we are to provide food for a massively increasing population and a changing climate. So glad you enjoyed your time at the farm - maybe you will be able to put what you have learned into use in your own garden. Hope the beans are feeling better now and that you are able to get a good nights sleep at last. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Elaine

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  12. I'm glad you had a good day out. You've got me enthused to start planting under my fruit trees. They need all the help they can get. I'm a great believer in permaculture, a much better way to live on our planet, keep spreading the word. Hugs to the Beans and their tired Mamma.

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  13. Very good that you are all up for sustainable gardening and I love the last photo very nice!

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  14. Wow thanks for sharing! I hadn't come across permaculture before, it certainly sounds incredibly relevant for our day and age. The garden around the tree looks so lovely x

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  15. Very interesting, that fruit tree garden looks lovely, I always try to companion plant in my vege garden, and this summer just gone I also planted Cosmos to bring more bees in.

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  16. Sounds like a great class! Now, I want to learn more about permaculture :)

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  17. Sorry to hear the beans have been ill. I could use to learn about Permaculture myself. My understanding is very basic thus far. I bet you learned a lot of very valuable lessons in your class at the farm. Hope you get some sleep! Take care Nicole you don't get sick yourself.

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  18. I think this is a great idea! Anything that involves improving the earth and not wasting our resources is a winning idea! Plus, it's a great learning tool for your little ones. :o)

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  19. Hi Nicole! Such an interesting class, and right up your alley. It's important for us to know there are accessible ways we can all contribute to preserving the environment (and feeding ourselves!). Thanks for sharing such pertinent info with us all. Hope you Sunday is lovely :)
    Blessings,
    Diana

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  20. Sounds like fun, my friend, and I agree with Diana, it's right up your alley :) I'm so sorry to hear your little ones were sick :( I hope they are feeling better and I hope you have been able to catch up on some sleep.

    The last image you shared took my breath away! It's stunning! Hugs to you!

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  21. Hi Nicole - What a great opportunity to learn about this new 'movement' - it sounds wonderful! Companion planting on the highest level! So inspiring! I hope the little ones are feeling better and you are able to catch up on that sleep. Gorgeous sky in that last photo, my friend. Hugs xo K

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  22. So encouraging to hear about your excitement on permaculture way of growing food...thank you for sharing what you have discovered and learned. This is what makes us all motivated in moving forward:) Wishing you a good week ahead and happy gardening:)

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  23. Must have been very interesting that class on permaculture on a farm. In our country there is much about to do too and there are several courses on permaculture. It´´s good for our world, let´s think, learn and talk about it, but in particular let us start and participate for the welfare of future generations.
    Hope the beans have been recovered and in the meantime you got some more sleep.
    Wish you all a very happy Sunday!

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  24. Yah for spring and lots of time outside in the garden! Can't wait to see what you get up to outside. Your permaculture class sounds fantastic. We do a similar thing with our waste water from the veggie garden, it runs down into the orchard onto our fruit trees :)

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  25. Dear Nicole, I've just come over from Janneke's post where I read your comment that the beans were ill. I do hope that they are now recovering well and that you are managing to catch up on your sleep. It is always a worry when children are poorly.
    This posting interests me so much. We try to be as green as possible in our home, storing rainwater from our roofs, creating our own electricity from solar panels and heating the house with an air-source heat pump. I think that so many problems would be solvable with different attitudes and if we could escape the powers and self-interest of big business.
    Lovely to see you and your friend all smiles! :-)-x

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  26. Wow, what a interesting and exciting workshop! Our MG group has had several presentations on permaculture but it would be so help to actually see these techniques but into practice. With a little planning, these practices can be put into your gardens and have great and long lasting effects. I hope you'll share what you put into your own garden. Thanks for this exciting post, Nicole!!

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  27. Wonderful post! I am also very interested about permaculture.

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  28. What a fascinating area to study and such an important way to garden. Where I live, this is sort of the norm for gardening because it's so dry and we need to conserve all the water we can. But I have lived in other places where it really isn't heard of yet, so it's great to spread the information. I hope your kids are feeling better now, it's never easy to take care of sick little ones. Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  29. I hope everything will be OK! Yes, I'm really interested to permaculture. Since I read an article about it on 1995. It was make me do everything naturally. Our nature is really valuable

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  30. Hope the tiny beans are now in the rudest of rude health and you are fully caught up with your sleep.
    Thankyou for an interesting post - it sounds like a very interesting day !

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  31. I love that you took this class - this is SO you! I watched Interstellar the other night, where the premise was getting off earth because of the drought and no food being able to be grown, and the dust storms, etc. Glad you are looking at ways to change this, my friend. Got your note last night about "groovin' and shakin'", after I got home from Pat Benatar's concert - so timely you are! Happy Sunday - love to your wonderful little family, too! XOXO

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  32. Sorry to hear your beans haven't been well. Hope they'll be all good again so mama bean can get some proper rest. I can imagine that being back in your garden must really energize and excite you :) Permaculture sounds like a really sound gardening and farming solution in light of eco-concerns and if people are willing to put it into practice, it could certainly be a huge benefit to many. The sky in that last photo is just magnificent. Hope you're enjoying a wonderful weekend Nicole!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  33. Very nice ! You caught my attention !

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  34. I would love to take a class on this! I think this idea is going to really start making a big impact on others as well. We are such a wasteful nation, and this water shortage is no joke!! Glad you are interested in this. And what a wonderful thing to teach your kids! Hope the beans are feeling better!

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  35. Permaculture sounds as a lot of work. I guess farmers from challenging areas use the idea of natural ecosystem in designing their work in the garden.
    Very interesting post, Nicole.
    Have a nice week!

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  36. woops! Not sure if my previous comment posted or not...sorry if it did...I just wanted to say that I love permaculture and try to do as much in my garden as I possibly can to make it more permaculturally based. So happy that you are into it too. You'll love it! xxx

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  37. Sounds like a great, inspiring class! Why just reading about YOU getting inspired just inspired me to go look up when to plant apple trees here. Looks like fall. I'm going to plan ahead this year and get it done!

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  38. Nicole good for you...I try to work with the land and use the runoff for planting natives or watering the garden. Love the ideas here....happy gardening to you!

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  39. I hadn't heard of this before, but it all makes sense, doesn't it? Hope your beans are up and jumping again and you can catch up on your sleep xx

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  40. What a neat trip! I love how all of nature feeds and nurtures itself when it's balanced.....It is necessary for us humans to get on board....

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  41. So awesome Nicole!! And happy gardening to you too!

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  42. Sounds like a very interesting class and I am so glad you got to attend. I love gardening but I never heard about permaculture. I hope your beans feel better soon and you are catching up on sleep :) Hugs, Poppy

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  43. I have some friends who are working on their permaculture land! very inspiring! and hope your kiddos are better xx

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  44. Oh my gosh.. this is exactly what I have been trying to explain to my husband, how I'd like our garden to help itself. Not a huge agricultural scale, but we could do this!! Thank you for this my dear! Hazel x

    P.S. kisses better to those beans.. there's nothing worse is there! XXX

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  45. Thanks for this. I have heard the phrase "permaculture" but have never seen it defined. Seems like a very promising concept. There is also some interesting research going on to develop perennial grain crops.

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  46. Good morning, I would have enjoyed that-I love the idea of the garden under a fruit tree-awesome
    Happy gardening to you
    Kathy

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  47. Sounds like a great class! I have never heard the phrase permaculture before. And the thought of a fruit tree; absolutely awesome!

    WritingMonique

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  48. Love your last photo! There's something special about country roads! Looks like a great day learning more about gardening! We have most of our cold weather plants in, and my sister is giving a try at growing wheat this year. Hope your children are feeling better.

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  49. I enjoyed gardening too but I only have a tiny garden. Hoping to learn some gardening tips from your garden posting.
    http://chingchailah.blogspot.com/

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  50. Dear Nicole, sounds like you had a wonderful day at the farm taking a permaculture class. I have heard of permaculture many, many years ago, but never looked deeper into it, but, as you said, with the severe drought that we are having here in California, it might very beneficial for my garden (and therefore me ;-)) to do so now. I am pretty sure though, that I am already following some of the permaculture principles in the way I am gardening, but I could certainly get more educated in that direction.
    Wishing you and your family a nice weekend!
    Christina

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