Water is by far the most valuable resource in a Permaculture Garden. There are no gardens, no grazing, no trees, and hence no sustainability on any farm or homestead if there is no water. Harvesting, diverting, storing, and reusing as much water as possible is usually emphasized in permaculture design, whether above or below ground…
So, you’ve adopted the philosophy of permaculture and are working with nature in the management of your homestead. You thoughtfully observe what’s happening on the land and see how everything works together to be self-sustaining. Well, what could be more natural than urine, right? Urine can be used in permaculture as a nitrogen boost for…
There seems to be a great amount of interest about learning permaculture these days. It also seems that many people who practice permaculture want to send people who inquire about it to permaculture design courses to get their education about permaculture. While I think there is certainly a time and place for many to take…
In permaculture design, it's important to take a holistic view, examining the broader picture and larger patterns before we hone in on the details. When we talk about sectors and about zones in permaculture, this is our way of clarifying the patterns we see around us. This is how we use those patterns to inform…
The Honey Locust and the Black Locust are both considered invasive species of trees. The Honey locust, or Gleditsia triacanthos, is native to central North America, while the Black Locust, or Robinia pseudoacacia, is from a few small regions in the US. Both the Honey Locust and the Black Locust are members of the legume…
As more and more people wish to eat healthier, they get their green thumb dirty and try different gardening techniques. As you explore this field, you start researching and notice many farming practices you’ve never heard of before and don’t know how or if they interlink. Biodynamic farmers rely on astrological indicators for farming practices.…
As gardeners, we are always looking for ways to keep our growing as natural as possible, and part of that is finding ways to improve the soil without using chemical fertilizers. Wood is about as natural a product as you can get, so gardeners with access to wood, wood chips, and sawdust may see this…
For some, red clover might be seen as an invasive weed overgrowing some of their favorite plants and lawn space, while others, particularly homesteaders, might grow this herbal supplement intentionally to take advantage of its medicinal, cover crop and nitrogen fixing properties. A question both of these parties might have then is whether red clover…
Monoculture is one of those practices many people consider one of the most harmful human activities, yet think it will solve the growing need for food. On the other hand, Permaculture is a lesser-known agricultural practice, which many people believe is a great means to address the global environmental crisis. So, what are the differences?…
Agriculture is a massive part of our lives. It is the bookmark for civilization to settle in one location and develop cities. Permaculture is a type of agriculture. In fact, it stands for ‘permanent agriculture.’ So, do you want to find out how they differ? Agriculture is the practice of cultivating food for human consumption.…
Ticks are often a challenging problem to control, even in backyard areas. But when you have acres of property, dealing with these blood-sucking bugs without affecting the area’s entire ecosystem can be challenging. Besides being painful, being bitten by even one deer tick can be dangerous if it is infected with Lyme disease. While you…
Completing a hügelkultur bed is a huge undertaking and should be something you are proud of. As you want people to see your new creation, you want it to look pretty and be functional. So what are some plants you can plant in your hügelkultur beds? If you want to plant biennials, go for Black-eyed…
There are many great seed companies you can use to get organic seeds for your garden. Here are a few of the companies that have risen to the top of my list over the years and the reasons why. First, What Makes A Good Seed Company For Organic Gardening? Recognizes The Importance Of Organic and…
We love hazelnuts because, aside from being the key ingredient in Nutella, they are multipurpose. As a permaculture homesteader, planting the hazelnut is not just great for your food forest; it also has so many practical and commercial purposes. What Does The Hazelnut Tree/Bush Look Like? Without pruning, hazelnuts are bushes that can grow very…
