In October, we explored the first permaculture principle: observe and interact. This month, I’m going to walk us through the second design principle: catch and store energy. There is a diversity of energy available on the land we inhabit. It’s important to recognize, honor and use these valuable resources to enhance and build vitality in […]
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PERMACULTURE LIVING: Observation key to design
In permaculture property design, there are 12 principles that a property designer uses for guidance when creating a site plan. The 12 principles overlap each other, honoring the relationships that exist among the natural and manmade elements that influence the site. Each element has some impact and, ideally, should be identified and then worked with […]
Continue ReadingCommunity garden kicks off fall season
Our own Plant City Commons Community Garden is just about ready to kick off its second full year of involvement in the Plant City community. The first year saw volunteers totally transform the front and side lawns, at 309 N. Carey St., into a substantial demonstration garden. Permaculture principles were employed to create more than […]
Continue ReadingPERMACULTURE LIVING: Designing your garden homesite
Gardening, as a science, includes many features that may not be readily apparent until you pay close attention to the natural dynamics on your site. In a permaculture garden, a well-developed design is the central feature leading to a rich successful garden. Many gardeners fail to plan out a specific property design, which can result […]
Continue ReadingPERMACULTURE LIVING: Soil key to garden health
I have observed that many traditional gardeners over-emphasize the importance of fertilizers and chemical pest control when establishing their seasonal garden beds. This ritual of fortifying the bed with manufactured agents to feed and protect the young plants is common wisdom that has been promoted and passed around for quite some time. The gardener inspects […]
Continue ReadingPERMACULTURE LIVING: Sustainable practices critical to our prolonged prosperity
There are two major taproots from which permaculture emerged. In 1979, an Australian ecology teacher and one of his graduate students coined and open copyrighted the term permaculture by combining the words “permanent” and “agriculture.” If you do an Internet search for either Bill Mollison or David Holmgren, you’ll find a vast body of information […]
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