IconicCanadian,
Dr.DavidSuzuki has stated, “What
permaculturistsaredoing is themost
important activity that anygroup is
doingon theplanet.”
If permaculture is truly this fundamental forour
future, then surely itmust beahouseholdword.
Unfortunately this couldnot be further from the truth.Most
peoplehavenever heard thewordpermacultureand thosewho
have, usuallyenvisionabarefoot hippiepraying to theCelticgodof
agricultureduring the summer solstice.
Permaculture isadesign techniqueused tocreatea livingecosystem that
mimicsnature’snatural designs in the formof agardenor landscape.
Amaturepermaculturedesign isa self-contained, interconnected
ecosystem that requires infrequentwateringandallows the soil to renew
itself naturally, eliminating theneed for harmful chemical fertilizers, and
greatly reducing the requirement for costlyweeklymaintenancevisits.
Permaculturedesignutilizesmultipleprinciples tobest emulatenature.
Soil Preservation...
Mulchand livinggroundcoversareused toensure there isnobare soil in
thegarden. Bare soil isanopen invitation forweedgrowthand leads to
compactionanderosion. Apermaculturegarden isnever tilled. Tilling
destroys soilmicrobesandbiota, depletingnatural fertilizers. Tillingde-
stroysweedsand supercharges soil. This isgreat for short termand imme-
diate results, but isdetrimental to soil ona long-termbasis.
Planting
According toLocal
Environment...
Plants suited to the locationandenviron-
ment arechosen forapermaculturegarden.
Insteadof fightingagainst nature, permaculture
gardeners recognize the limitsof theirworkspace, and
workwithin them. With strategicdesignandabit of patience, a
permaculturegardener cancreatemicroclimatesandniches,whichal-
lowsone tocontinuallyaddnewplants thatwouldnot have thrived in the
originalworkspace.
CompanionPlanting...
Apermaculturegardener choosesplants that aremutuallybeneficial to
eachother. Eachplant hasa role inassisting itsneighbouringplants. This
can includenitrogen fixing, nutrient accumulation, attractingbeneficial in-
sectsandbees, soil decompaction, shadecreation, andwater catchment.
WaterCatchment...
Permaculturedesignutilizes techniques suchas rainbarrels, bio swales,
mulchandgroundcovers toallowwaterandmoisture topercolate into
the soil, rather thandirecting itwastefullydown stormdrains.
29
SUMMER
2015
|
STORY|DAVETRUMBLE
Permaculture
Combining the best of natural
landscaping and edible gardening
ESCARPMENT
®
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