Permaculture, Whats In A Name

Permaculture, Whats In A Name

I had gardens for well over 30 years, pushing 35 years. I learned a lot during that time. I practised what is called “square foot” gardening. I used raised beds, all organic, I had lady bugs, praying mantis, and other bugs that help you. I made my own sprays from tobacco and mild soaps and several other methods.

For several years now I have read books and several magazine articles about “permaculture”.  I have even attended a few “lectures”,  classes on the subject. I have seen so called experts tout permaculture when in fact it was just square foot gardening. They do have some things that are very much the same. However, there is a world of difference in square foot and true permaculture.

Why am I bringing  this up? Because it is a part of your food budget. By learning to grow some of your own food you should be able to save cash. For those of you who live in an apartment, some communities have a common garden plot. Or at the least you might have a balcony where you can grow a few things, like herbs and tomatos, and other climbing plants. The point is to “practise” now. It is not so easy that you can just make it happen. Hey I drop a seed in the ground and presto zap I have food.

With all due respect to square foot gardens, I am turning to the permaculture method. After doing some intense research over these last few months on the subject, I have just the book for you. It will change how you garden and how you will look at the earth/land. You will discover  by looking with a new eye, that suddenly you are aware of a fresh approach. Using nature as a guide. What it means to garden with this system is to leave you with more free time after your first efforts.

Meet Sepp Holzer, he farms more than a 100 acres on steep mountain sides in Austria at 5000 feet above sea level. He farms an intricate network of terraces, raised beds, ( different than the raised beds of sq. foot gardens), ponds, water ways, and tracks. It is all coverd with fruit trees, and other vegetation.

What is this? , it is an ambush for a book review , of Sepp Holzer’s book ,  “Permaculture, A Practical Guide to Small-Scale, Intergrative Farming and Gardening” . Hozer’s farm is said to be the most consistent example of permaculture worldwide. The book covers every aspect of his farming methods. Easy to understand details for planning and cultivation, even how, if you are so inclined , to make a decent living from the land.

Covers setting up a permaculture system , even in high altitudes.
Growing fruit varieties most suited for whole systems agriculture.
Developing a microclimate using rock outcrops to change the hardiness zone for nearby plants. Building earth-sheltered dwellings for animals and working livestock on the land. Cultivating edible mushrooms , etc…

The section on grafting, and copicing , and cultivating of friut trees is an eye opener. The keeping of fowl and other critters is made way simple following Holzer’s examples. This is very interesting and the first thing you do is go “of course” .

The book covers not only  large areas but the smaller acres as well. I am excited by getting started with this system. It is not something you can just start and abandon your  current system, whatever it is, but allows you to ease into it.

Some of the eye openers are the use of raised beds… Nope, not like most of us know, these are up to 5 feet high, and you attain a slope of about 45 dergees, and plant from the top down. Both sides, and not straight rows, with the raised beds used to divert the prevailing winds. The use of the mulch so it benefits you to the degree it is supposed too.
Digging a ditch and filling it with downed trees, and other large plants that are dead or cannot be useful in another manner, filling it with all kinds of plant matter. Then you add the dirts but in a controlled manner. You have to read it. By following this method, Holzer seldom has to use any manures, fertilizers after the first year.

I buy a magazine that comes from England on permaculture, but this book blows everything else away. A very important book for those who wish to become self-reliant, all Dirttimers, in my opinion, should have this book.

Chelsea Green Publishing
White River Junction, Vermont.
802-295-6300
www.chelseagreen.com

Tell them you saw the review on the Dirttimedude blog. I am sure this will be the start of some real fine crops. And a change , a postive one , in your production of foods for living.