Hello, fellow green thumbs and dirt enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the wonderfully weird world of permaculture. But hold onto your garden hats, because this ain’t your grandma’s gardening club. Permaculture is like gardening, but with a side of cosmic wisdom and a sprinkle of eco-friendly magic.
What the Heck is Permaculture?
Permaculture isn’t just a gardening method; it’s a lifestyle, a philosophy, and a quirky dance with Mother Nature herself. It’s like telling the planet, “Hey, let’s get cozy and grow some stuff together, but also, let’s keep it weird.”
Permaculture is all about observing how nature does its thing and then copying it. Picture this: You’re in your garden, and you spot a squirrel. Instead of chasing it away with a broom (admit it, we’ve all done it), you start taking notes. “Squirrel,” you write. “Good at planting acorns. Hmm.”
The Three Permaculture Ethics
Permaculture has three ethics that are as noble as they are amusing:
- Earth Care: This one’s a no-brainer. Take care of the planet like it’s your favorite pet hamster. Stroke its furry soil and make sure it gets enough sun (but not too much, we’re talking sunscreen for the Earth here).
- People Care: People are like plants. They need love, attention, and a decent amount of hydration. In permaculture, we build communities that thrive like a garden full of happy tomatoes.
- Fair Share: Don’t hog all the ripe apples! Share your bounty with your neighbors, or else your karma might end up as worm food.
Designing with Nature
Permaculture design is where the fun really kicks in. Instead of straight rows of vegetables, permaculturists design their gardens like a forest. It’s like creating a salad bowl where the lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers have a jam session together, swapping nutrients and stories about their latest compost pile gossip.
And here’s the kicker: permaculture doesn’t just grow food; it grows friendships. In a permaculture garden, you’re more likely to hear plants gossiping about their best fertilizers than see them squabbling over sunlight.
Chickens and Ducks as Garden Gurus
In the permaculture world, chickens and ducks aren’t just poultry; they’re the garden’s secret agents. They scratch, they peck, they patrol for pests, and they provide you with breakfast. It’s like having your own feathered garden ninjas. Here’s a little advice – don’t let your chickens free range your garden competely. They will eat almost everything – including the stuff you don’t want them to. Chicken manure is a fantastic fertilizer because it’s high in nitrogen. Here’s the catch – it’s STRONG so it needs to be composted first as to not burn your plants. We’ll go into composting details in later posts. Chickens also love to eat your weeds which is a great way to keep them happy and lower that food bill.
Plus, they have a hilarious sense of humor. Ever tried explaining to a chicken that it’s time to take a break from laying eggs? Good luck with that! They’re dedicated, even if it means producing enough eggs to fill a swimming pool. Unless of course you are in need of a bunch of eggs, in which case they will decide to take a break or molt.
Meditate with Mulch
In permaculture, mulch isn’t just a gardening tool; it’s a way of life. When you’re not spreading mulch, you’re probably meditating on it. Picture it: You, cross-legged in your garden, surrounded by a zen garden of mulch. Namaste, my friends. We use a locally made mulch from Black Forest Slash. This is a win-win. It’s local branches and slash that are then turned into a fantastic mulch that not only helps conserve water but adds nutrients back into the soil. Mulch will also act as a natural weed barrier.
Permaculture is like gardening’s whimsical, eco-conscious cousin who always brings homemade kombucha to family reunions. It’s about working with nature, not against it, and doing so with a touch of humor and a dash of cosmic insight. A great place to start with permaculture is researching Back to Eden Gardening.
What’s Back to Eden Gardening, Anyway?
Imagine your garden as a laid-back forest shindig where your plants are the groovy party animals. Back to Eden gardening is all about mimicking the natural world, where the soil is rich, moist, and teeming with life. It’s like Mother Nature herself threw a disco for your plants and invited them to dance in style.
Step 1: Mulch Like There’s No Tomorrow
You know that saying, “Mulch is the answer; what was the question?” Well, that’s basically the mantra of Back to Eden gardening. Mulch is like the velvet dance floor for your plant party.
Grab some wood chips, straw, or leaves, and pile ’em up like you’re making a mulch mountain. Spread it around your plants like you’re throwing confetti at a garden parade. The mulch keeps the soil moist, prevents weeds from crashing the party, and lets your plants shimmy their roots down to the rhythm of the Earth.
Step 2: Forget About Tilling (It’s So Last Season)
Tilling is like the garden equivalent of the Macarena – fun in the ’90s, but it’s time to move on. In Back to Eden gardening, you don’t disturb the soil like it owes you money. Just lay that mulch down and let the soil microbes, earthworms, and other underground party animals do their thing.
Remember, your garden is an underground nightclub, and the soil organisms are the DJs spinning the tunes (compost beats, anyone?). Tilling disrupts their groove, and we don’t want any upset earthworms on our dance floor.
Step 3: No Need to Fertilize (Nature’s Buffet Is Open)
Back to Eden gardening believes in letting your plants graze at the buffet of nature. The mulch breaks down over time, releasing nutrients and goodies for your plants to gobble up. It’s like the ultimate all-you-can-eat garden brunch!
Say goodbye to chemical fertilizers – they’re the uninvited guests at this organic garden soirée. Your plants will thank you with vibrant health and the best salsa moves this side of the garden fence.
Step 4: Water Like You’re Serenading Your Plants
Watering your Back to Eden garden is like serenading your plants with a love song. You give them a slow, deep drink, and they respond with lush growth and radiant vibes.
The mulch helps retain moisture, so you don’t have to play garden DJ with your hose all day. Water when your plants are looking a bit parched, and watch them sway to the rhythm of hydration.
Step 5: Sit Back and Watch the Garden Disco Unfold
Now that you’ve set the stage for your garden’s dance-off, it’s time to be the VIP guest and enjoy the show. Kick back with a glass of iced tea and let your plants do their thing.
Watch as your garden transforms into a lush, vibrant discotheque of greenery. You’ll have tomatoes twerking, carrots cha-cha-ing, and peppers doing the salsa – it’s a garden party like no other!
So there you have it, folks – Back to Eden gardening, where mulch is king, tilling is taboo, and your plants are the life of the underground dance party. Get out there and let your garden boogie like it’s 1979!
Freedom Pines Farm 