Explore how you can apply ideas from the world of permaculture in even the smallest garden.
Permaculture
is a holistic approach to managing land. Since its inception in the 1970s,
permaculture has borrowed growing techniques from the past and developed other techniques.
There are lots of different practices that are frequently used to create a
permaculture system. Many of those practices can easily be applied in small
gardens.
As urban architecture
around the world shifts towards taller buildings and smaller blocks of land, there
is an increasing desire to create a permaculture garden in small spaces.
Fortunately, the theory and practice of permaculture lend themselves well to
such propositions.
Even the
smallest of spaces, like a balcony or paved courtyard, can become host to a
permaculture system with some careful thought. Once established, it will be
largely self-sustaining and productive, requiring minimal labour to keep it
going.
Permaculture
works with the forces of nature to create an outdoor environment that is:
- Productive – people
can extract useable things such as food.
- Regenerative – it develops a balanced ecology which persists with
minimal interference.
- Sensibly organised – site components are arranged for convenience
and functionality.
When the
design of any outside space satisfies these three criteria, it may be
developing the characteristics of a permaculture system.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 APPLYING PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLES IN SMALL SPACES
Introduction
Ethical underpinning
Permaculture principles
Zones and sectors
Central place theory
Multi owner developments and urban permaculture
CHAPTER 2 ECOLOGY AND SYSTEMS
Ecology in the garden
Designing with systems
Start with the soil microbiome
Microclimates & ecosystems
Creating microclimates
CHAPTER 3 DESIGNING THE SMALL PERMACULTURE GARDEN
Design considerations
Topography, structures, sun and wind
Formulating ideas
Circular designs
Mandala gardens
Keyhole design
Herb spiral
Use of scale
CHAPTER 4 PLANTS FOR SMALL SPACES
Deciding what to grow
Prioritise your criteria
Fruits and berries
Vegetables
Herbs
Other plants
Polycultures
Interplanting
Guilds
Companion planting
CHAPTER 5 SUSTAINABILITY
What is meant by sustainability?
Minimising or eliminating inputs
Composting
Worm farming
Sheet mulching
Mulching
Repurposing
Water recycling
CHAPTER 6 OTHER WAYS TO GET MORE FROM LIMITED SPACE
Value-adding
Protective structures
Windbreaks
Container growing
Aquaponics
Stacking or layering
Stacking containers
Vertical gardens
Living roofs
Raised beds
Mushroom cultivation
Domesticated animals
Snail farming
Micro-greens
CHAPTER 7 NATURAL CONTROL MEASURES
Strategies to reduce pest and disease problems
Using plants
Protecting plants
Pruning
Natural weed control
CHAPTER 8 THE PERMACULTURE COMMUNITY
Introduction
Connecting with others
Consider trading with neighbours
Consider community gardens
Consider public land
Consider neighbour’s land
Getting local businesses onboard
Sharing seeds
Thinking long-term
Spreading the word
Is Permaculture for You?
Permaculture appeals to people who are looking for an ethical, productive and sustainable way of developing and managing their garden.
Permaculture is a way of developing and managing a landscape that is sustainable, productive, and requires minimal inputs and maximum productivity (eg. harvested edibles)
Design considerations
Like any garden or outdoor space, when designing the small permaculture site, it is important to plan. Plans help to clarify how to proceed and can also help to avoid making costly mistakes. Planning involves bringing together different types of information such as design concepts, site information, elements to include, and how to arrange these elements into systems. If the design is for someone else, then the client’s brief becomes part of the information to consider. What are their preferences? What is most important to them? Consider how the design might affect the client’s family, neighbours, and the wider community – especially if the garden is part of a community garden or multi owner development.
Start with a base map. This is a drawing that shows the outline of the building(s) and the property’s boundaries, plus any permanent features that will not be altered. It is a good idea to use an accurate scale drawing. If site plans are available for a house and garden, these can be used. For an apartment or unit, you may have access to the floor plan showing any outdoor spaces like balconies or roof gardens. If no plans are available, you should measure the site and create your own drawings. It’s useful to do this even for a very small space like a balcony or allotment.
The next thing to do is to observe the site. Ideally, this is done over a period to see any natural changes to the site through the seasons. These changes might include rainfall patterns, soil drainage, temperatures, or the angle and passage of the sun through the sky. In a very small space such as a balcony your observations will be limited. You might notice things like which direction the most noise comes from, or the impact of shade from neighbouring properties.
In a small garden space, the types of vegetation present can indicate whether the soil is damp or dry, and whether it is uniform throughout the space. Erosion, rills, or changes in soil levels can tell you how water passes through the site. The tops of bushes or trees in the space or in neighbouring properties may be shaped by the direction of the prevailing wind. There may be rocks or other materials on site which could be incorporated into the design.
The next step is to assess the site and conduct a site analysis. In permaculture, this involves a zone and sector analysis. Plants and other elements that require the most attention should be positioned closest to Zone 0, the home. For example, propagated seedlings would be located here because they need regular watering. Sectors determine how plants interact with natural outside energies like sun, rain, and wind. You should have gathered this information during your site observations.
In a small city garden, you might also consider how direct or indirect human activity interacts with the site. For example, there may be noise or air pollution from nearby industry or cars. There might be soil contamination to contend with. The site might also have public access through it or near it. Perhaps there are unwanted views to block out or desirable views to preserve.
Draw a Plan
A base map can now be used to develop different concept plans using information gathered during the site analysis. It’s a good idea to have several copies of the base map to test out different ideas. Draw the positions of different elements onto each concept plan and draw them to scale to get an idea of the layout. Consider which elements fit together well and how they can benefit from energies that pass through the site. For example, if you are going to have a small greenhouse, what is its best orientation? What happens when you place it in different locations? Which of the other elements benefit by being on different sides of the greenhouse?
Consider that different elements have multiple uses. If elements are not positioned well, they may have fewer uses or create more work. For example, a tree that is placed next to a boundary may drop most of its valuable leaves in the neighbour’s garden or give them the benefit of its shade. It may seem like a lot of effort to go to for a very small space but it’s an ideal way to test out how different elements relate to each other and how to best arrange them.
Broken lines can be drawn on concept plans to help visualise how people will move around the space. In the small garden space these can later become the location of more permanent paths. If your small space is to become part of a wider community of interlinked permaculture spaces, you can also map out how those spaces are interconnected and where the main walkways are. This will help to clarify where to locate paths or gateways on your property.
Finally, it’s time to settle on the most appropriate design. This can be used to produce a master plan if required which will guide the construction of the design to be implemented.
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