page-loading-spinner

permaculture

Image | How to Build an Earthen Pond and Dam Wall
How to Build an Earthen Pond and Dam Wall
by Phil Williams

It is extremely important that you choose your pond site wisely before bringing in the heavy equipment. I addressed how to do this in my pond planning article. In this article, we use the existing topography and soil types to make the best pond site choices.
How to Build an Earthen Pond and Dam Wall
 by Phil Williams

It is extremely important that you choose your pond site wisely before bringing in the heavy equipment. I addressed how to do this in my pond planning article. In this article, we use the existing topography and soil types to make the best pond site choices.
Image | 9 Permaculture / Garden Books for the Resilient Homestead
9 Permaculture / Garden Books for the Resilient Homestead
by Phil Williams

When seeking ideas and solutions to your permiculture and homesteading projects, its always good to have a few key resources to reference and provide inspiration.  Here are a few of my favorite books to help in giving guidance and knowledge and make your next project wonderfully successful.

height=Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual, Bill Mollison

For the hard core permaculture designer. This is more of a reference book than a book you would sit down and read cover to cover. It is filled with incredible detail on designing in every climate. This permaculture book has more information than any other in existence.

 

 

 

9 Permaculture / Garden Books for the Resilient Homestead
 by Phil Williams

When seeking ideas and solutions to your permiculture and homesteading projects, its always good to have a few key resources to reference and provide inspiration.  Here are a few of my favorite books to help in giving guidance and knowledge and make your next project wonderfully successful.

height=Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual, Bill Mollison

For the hard core permaculture designer. This is more of a reference book than a book you would sit down and read cover to cover. It is filled with incredible detail on designing in every climate. This permaculture book has more information than any other in existence.

 

 

 

Image | Multi-Functional Plants for the Permaculture Garden
Multi-Functional Plants for the Permaculture Garden
by Phil Williams

If you have a choice of planting a tree, shrub, vine, herbaceous plant, or groundcover that only has one function or another species that fills that desired function and also provides three other benefits, why wouldn't you plant the more functional species. In permaculture, elements of our designs should serve at least 3 functions. Many species can do much better than that. Below is a list of some of my favorite multi-functional plants that I am currently using on my permaculture site.
Multi-Functional Plants for the Permaculture Garden
 by Phil Williams

If you have a choice of planting a tree, shrub, vine, herbaceous plant, or groundcover that only has one function or another species that fills that desired function and also provides three other benefits, why wouldn't you plant the more functional species. In permaculture, elements of our designs should serve at least 3 functions. Many species can do much better than that. Below is a list of some of my favorite multi-functional plants that I am currently using on my permaculture site.
Image | Creating Swales
Creating Swales
by Phil Williams

Swales are simply ditches on contour (contour is a level line across the landscape), with the excavated soil from the ditch being placed downslope to form a berm. The purpose is to rehydrate landscapes, add texture and microclimates, and to be used as a tree growing system. You can also use swales to increase catchment for ponds.
Creating Swales
 by Phil Williams

Swales are simply ditches on contour (contour is a level line across the landscape), with the excavated soil from the ditch being placed downslope to form a berm. The purpose is to rehydrate landscapes, add texture and microclimates, and to be used as a tree growing system. You can also use swales to increase catchment for ponds.
Image | Planting Fruit Tree Guilds
Planting Fruit Tree Guilds
by Phil Williams

Last year, I prepped and installed some of my fruit tree guilds. I had planned to install the following guilds around my zone 2 fruit trees. As with most plans, they did not go exactly according to plan. I had trouble getting some of the plants and seed, and I decided to plant more chicken friendly edibles, as these trees are inside the chicken paddocks. Having said that, my original plan was good, so I am listing it below, in case you might want to copy it. The important thing is that you install ample nitrogen fixers, nutrient accumulators, pollinator attractors, and pest repellants.
Planting Fruit Tree Guilds
 by Phil Williams

Last year, I prepped and installed some of my fruit tree guilds. I had planned to install the following guilds around my zone 2 fruit trees. As with most plans, they did not go exactly according to plan. I had trouble getting some of the plants and seed, and I decided to plant more chicken friendly edibles, as these trees are inside the chicken paddocks. Having said that, my original plan was good, so I am listing it below, in case you might want to copy it. The important thing is that you install ample nitrogen fixers, nutrient accumulators, pollinator attractors, and pest repellants.
Image | Ethan Roland: The 8 Forms of Capital
Ethan Roland: The 8 Forms of Capital
by Adam Taggart

Building on top of last week's foundational discussion of permaculture, this week's podcast explores how the permaculture approach can be applied to creating value — aka, capital — across the full spectrum of our lives.

Chris sits down with Ethan Roland to discuss the "Eight Forms of Capital" framework he and his partners at Appleseed Permaculture have developed:

 

 

Ethan Roland: The 8 Forms of Capital
 by Adam Taggart

Building on top of last week's foundational discussion of permaculture, this week's podcast explores how the permaculture approach can be applied to creating value — aka, capital — across the full spectrum of our lives.

Chris sits down with Ethan Roland to discuss the "Eight Forms of Capital" framework he and his partners at Appleseed Permaculture have developed:

 

 

Image | Toby Hemenway: Explaining Permaculture
Toby Hemenway: Explaining Permaculture
by Adam Taggart

"Permaculture" is a word fast gaining adoption in (and beyond) the agricultural and gardening worlds. We see it mentioned fairly often here on PeakProsperity.com.

But what exactly does it mean?

When asked, many of our readers have a fuzzy sense, at best. So, we've asked one of the top experts in the permaculture field, Toby Hemenway, to provide an 'everyman's' overview of the philosophy, science and best practices of the craft.
Toby Hemenway: Explaining Permaculture
 by Adam Taggart

"Permaculture" is a word fast gaining adoption in (and beyond) the agricultural and gardening worlds. We see it mentioned fairly often here on PeakProsperity.com.

But what exactly does it mean?

When asked, many of our readers have a fuzzy sense, at best. So, we've asked one of the top experts in the permaculture field, Toby Hemenway, to provide an 'everyman's' overview of the philosophy, science and best practices of the craft.
Image | How to Build an Herb Spiral: Part 2
How to Build an Herb Spiral: Part 2
by Phil Williams

An herb spiral is not meant for large scale production. It is meant to provide many different microclimates in a small space. This is beneficial because you can pack many different varieties of herbs into a small space close to your kitchen, so you can conveniently pick them as you need them. It is also garden feature that can be admired simply for its beauty.
How to Build an Herb Spiral: Part 2
 by Phil Williams

An herb spiral is not meant for large scale production. It is meant to provide many different microclimates in a small space. This is beneficial because you can pack many different varieties of herbs into a small space close to your kitchen, so you can conveniently pick them as you need them. It is also garden feature that can be admired simply for its beauty.
Image | Permaculture Zones
Permaculture Zones
by Phil Williams

A major design concept of permaculture is zones. When you are accessing a permaculture site, dividing the property into zones can help you to position certain plants, animals, aquaculture, pasture, orchards, forest, and housing to result in the most positive connections between zones. This process leads to more stacking of functions, and a greater efficiency of the site.

There are (6) zones, starting at zone 0, and ending at zone 5.
Permaculture Zones
 by Phil Williams

A major design concept of permaculture is zones. When you are accessing a permaculture site, dividing the property into zones can help you to position certain plants, animals, aquaculture, pasture, orchards, forest, and housing to result in the most positive connections between zones. This process leads to more stacking of functions, and a greater efficiency of the site.

There are (6) zones, starting at zone 0, and ending at zone 5.
Image | Patterns of Design in Permaculture
Patterns of Design in Permaculture
by Phil Williams

Permaculture design works to copy many patterns and shapes that occur in nature. This tends to enhance energy flow or slow it down, depending on the needs of the inhabitants. This also adds diversity of life and edge. Below are some of the common patterns in permaculture design and how they can be used.
Patterns of Design in Permaculture
 by Phil Williams

Permaculture design works to copy many patterns and shapes that occur in nature. This tends to enhance energy flow or slow it down, depending on the needs of the inhabitants. This also adds diversity of life and edge. Below are some of the common patterns in permaculture design and how they can be used.
Total 32 items

Community

Top Conversation

 Prep Now for the Coming Winter Challenges
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the needs and sustainability of our family. We have six young children, our oldest just turned 12 and our youngest just turned 3 months old. I love the considerations that the article had above and thought I would add a few things that I have considered for our situation. My...
Image | hgrootveldgmail-com by hgrootveldgmail-com
36 95
View the conversation
Image | The Grow Network

The Grow Network

Learn more
Image | Harvest Right

Harvest Right

Learn more