As we all become more concerned about the rising cost of living, eating and shopping healthier and cheaper, it makes sense to give some thought to growing your own vegies, fruit and herbs at home. In every family, there is usually always at least one person who has a green thumb, and if not, it’s easy to learn. As growing your own produce is simple, why not consider doing a little better and incorporating some permaculture principles into your garden and environment?

What is permaculture?

Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. The term comes from permanent agriculture, but also means permanent culture, as cultures cannot survive for long without a sustainable agricultural base and landuse ethic. On one level, permaculture deals with plants, animals, buildings and infrastructures (water, energy, communications). However, permaculture is not only about these elements alone, but rather about the relationships we can create between them by the way we place them in the landscape.

The aim is to create systems that are ecologically sound and environmentally viable, which provide for their own needs, do not exploit or pollute, and are therefore sustainable in the long term. Permaculture uses the inherent qualities of plants and animals combined with the natural characteristics of landscapes and structures to produce a life-supporting system for city and country, using the smallest practical area.

Permaculture is based on the observation of natural systems, the wisdom contained in traditional farming systems and modern  scientific and technological knowledge. Although based on ecological models, permaculture creates a cultivated ecology, which is designed to produce more human and animal food than is generally found in nature.

We offer Permaculture Design for homes wanting to set up a permaculture garden. An initial consultation takes 2+ hours and includes a design specific to your needs. It’s a great way to get expert advice to getting it right the first time to get a thriving, productive vegie garden sooner than you thought was possible.