Bio permaculture 04a1: permaculture farm
principles and tricks
Zone Division - Planning
- Vertical Dimension - Water Tricks - Mulching - Water
Pouring - Ponds - Ground Tricks and hill bed - Buildings -
Energy - Weeds - White Clover - Natural Pesticides -
Compost - Transitions - Collecting Seeds - Tree Tricks -
Vegetable Tricks - Beer Tricks - Animals in Permaculture -
the useless monoculture
Hill bed on the ground with a stone rim [1] - Scheme of the 5
permaculture zones on a farm to avoid long paths and
transports [2] - Bed with straw mulch [3] - Plants draw their
water from a water pot with cotton chords [12]
This is an overview of elements of permaculture and
elements of recycling and efficiency improvement in
horticulture.
Permaculture in 3 points
-- The goal is minimal energy consumption
-- The goal is the development of intelligent, natural
water systems
-- The goal is the optimization of soil conditions and
compost (natural resources) [web23].
With the mixed culture and the interactions between
different plants nature is imitated in it's original
state. Thus, pests have no chance or there is a balance of
power [web26].
Spread permaculture
-- You can do the permaculture course PDC, learning to see
the conditions as a whole, remodelling gardens of friends
[web24]
-- One can arrange lectures and courses in permaculture
design and let student groups compete against each other
who first plants 40 trees or implement blueberries [web24]
-- In a permaculture garden or on a permaculture yard one
can also attach signs for visitors [web24]
-- The vegetable sellers and fruit sellers in the markets
also know in part how the plants grow best. Most knowledge
about natural garden and planting comes from the "gurus"
with calloused hands [web27].
The zoning on the farm in 5 different
zones
Permaculture wants to avoid long distances and transports.
That's why farms are divided into 5 different zones. In
smaller farms there may be only three zones. The
care-intensive areas are arranged close to the residential
building, while the low-care areas are arranged further
away [web01].
Scheme of the 5 permaculture zones on
a farm to avoid long paths and transports [2]
Zone 0: house, flat or settlement
Zone 1: Kitchen garden with microclimate: intensive care
Zone 2: vegetable garden and greenhouse: less intensive
care
Zone 3: fruit trees, nut trees, animal husbandry:
occasional care
Zone 4: Pasture, fruit trees, nut trees, tree stocks for
firewood and timber: minimal care
Zone 5: Nature Zone: Wilderness, rest area for nature and
man, inspiration and meditation: is left as it comes
[web01].
This classification is one of many possibilities. A forest
garden or a fruit forest garden are other possibilities.
Transition zones from one zone to another
zone are the most productive zones (edge effect)
The transition zones in an ecosystem are the most
productive zones. So one can create many transitions by
growing many different garden beds and garden plots - e.g.
the mandala garden beds [web26].
Planning a permaculture farm
The diversity of plants, animals and experiences is the
key to permaculture. Systems with many plant species are
more productive than when there are difficult conditions
with weather, soil or working hours. Diversity plantations
offer free time for play, work and relaxation. Various
gardens attract many species of pollinators and birds and
can be beautiful in all their diversity [web23].
And: build on existing physical structures by using fences
so vegetables or flowers can climb, install slopes for
plants which need ell drained soil, and use recycling
material for paths and borders. Especially in a
neighborhood with lawn and garden standards, it is a good
idea to start integrating perennials into existing
flowerbeds to minimize the shock of creating something
that looks so different from the status quo. [Web23]
Also extend the vertical dimension
Flo Scott: A forest is also three-dimensional space with
tall trees and plants climbing up the trees vertically. So
this can also be so in permaculture, you can "stack" in
layers. Vine-growing vegetables are allowed to grow
(beans, peas, cucumbers), then on the ground soil other
vegetables are growing (chard, salads, beetroot). Climbing
berries grow on the fences (grapes, loganberries,
blueberries). Strawberries grow in hanging baskets
[web25].
========
Mulch and mulching
Garden bed with straw mulch [3] - garden bed with woodchip
mulch [4]
Use for mulching
-- autumn leaves: Collected in autumn for being stored in
plastic bags with holes for the use in the next year
[web20]
-- bedding material from the duck house [web22]
-- rotten weeds without seeds on it [web22]
-- also possible are 3cm (8 inches) of sand, straw or best
is 3cm (8 inches) of 1 year old sawdust - one time per
year [web22,web32]
Fall foliage on the ground stores moisture, suppresses
weed growth, and nourishes nutrients back into the ground
[earthworms and other soil animals eat them]. Mulch should
always be in stock to be prepared for drought [web20].
Provide mulch in forests or parks. the leaves of trees, or
grass clippings from lawns [web20].
Grass clippings are placed around water hungry plants.
Tree leaves should first be scaled down, e.g. drive over
it with a hand lawn mower and then lay the mixture around
the plants [web20].
Leaves mulch can be stored in garbage bags, with a few air
holes in the garbage bags [web20].
Unsuspecting city nurseries burn the tree foliage instead
of spreading it on parking areas for the winter [web20].
[In towns and barriers with high traffic volume foliage is
contaminted - it should not be used but burnt].
Mulching for winter: cardboard in the garden
-- for the winter in the garden use cardboard, DO NOT
diestribute any compost for the winter, otherwise rodents
will come, nest there, eat away the compost, and also eat
away tree barks [web24].
========
Water tricks
Collecting rainwater, here a gigantic rain barrel from
ceramic on a rice farm in Thailand [5]
Gardening in the drought can work considering certain
principles:
Collect rainwater for pouring: The rainwater
of autumn, winter and spring should be stored from the
gutters, and these can be considerable amounts - it should
be pollutant-free roofs, so no roofs made of metal (copper
roof, etc.) [web20].
[In zones with sour rain, metal roofs are a danger for
collecting water because the acid is corroding the metal
so the water will be metal water].
In a small and large scale, the rainwater must be
collected:
-- install rain barrels in a garden, or hollows, small
wetlands
-- on a large farm install drainage shafts, catch basins,
ponds etc. [web24].
Use time and space carefully. If growing a particular
plant requires extensive cutting or weeding and you do not
like this work, try something different. If your family
wants an outdoor cooking area or more privacy, adjust the
plans to create those areas [web20].
Greywater: In the house you can use
greywater using the water of washing machines, bathtubs
and showers - using this greywater for toilet flushing,
the used detergents should only be natural, as sodium from
detergents can weaken floor structures - the easiest way
is a bucket under the shower collecting a lot of shower
water [web20]
Flooding with rain: only occurs when too
much rainwater flows into the stream above, so dam systems
or forest is missin [web24].
Pouring water
The general problem is that plastic does not remain
plastic, but microplastic goes into the water:
Watering plants with a watering can [6] - the trick with
permaculture is that you do not need to water much
-- You should water when the sun is not strongest, thus in
the morning and in the evening, so that the water does not
evaporate too much [web20] [above all in the evening
because during the cool night there is almost no
evaporation]
-- On large farms, irrigation can be automated with a
timer and tubes systems with drip irrigation [web22] [but
plastic tubes also provoke micro plastic]
-- Pouring on cool evenings brings the most, because
during the night the least amount of water evaporates
[web22]
-- Infrequent, deep irrigation draws the roots deeper than
frequent, short irrigation [web22]
Pouring water: Small water ditches with "aquatic
plants" that need a lot of water: For plants
that need a lot of water, small ditches should be put into
the bed and the water should be specially directed there,
e.g. for tomatoes [web20].
Pouring water: Keep distances with the same
vegetables, not planting them too densely: The
recommendations of the "distance instructions" have their
meaning: too densely planted vegetables are robbing the
water from each other [web20].
[Putting wood apr. 50cm deep into the garden beds is a
garantee that moist wood is in the garden bed also during
droughts and the plants survive all].
Drip irrigation
Those who can not mulch much and have no wood in the
garden bed, must introduce a drip irrigation. There are
different possibilities:
Watering: Drip irrigation with hoses in the soil:
Drip irrigation with hoses on the ground is an aid if the
mulch is not used. The drip irrigation leads to a deeper
moisture penetration of the plant and to normal growth
[web20].
But hoses with holes actually have nothing to do with
permaculture, because the soil and the ground animals
without mulch are exposed to the sun or to the wind and
thus the soil deteriorates. Additionally plastic hoses
provoke microplastic.
Timer switches
can be used for automatic irrigation with sprinkler
systems or automatic drip irrigation. Then nobody has to
be present for irrigation. [web22].
The drip irrigation with a pipe or with a
pet bottle with holes
Watering: Pipes next to trees for irrigation:
trees in parks or avenues, which are exposed fully to the
sun have sometimes 10 to 20 cm protruding pipes, with
which one can water the trees to supply water directly to
the tree roots [web20, web21]. The additional watering
with the drainage pipe is especially necessary for young
trees that do not yet have long roots that can not reach
as much water and are very vulnerable to long periods of
drought. Even dried-up trees turn green again when you
pour them with a drainage pipe and the water gets directly
into the root area [web21].
Water pipe for watering a tree sprout
in dry areas, scheme, but the pipe is not enough [7]
But principally pipes for roots have nothing to do with
permaculture. That should only be the emergency. Such
emergencies exist in settlements without mulch...
The hole bottle root irrigation
According to Andy Hamilton (theecologist.org),
the tube should be thicker than thinner. One installs a 2
liter PET bottle with holes in it to add water to the tree
roots - and this works very well [web20]. In dry areas
this may be necessary in the beginning for new
plantations.
Using a plastic PET bottle microplastic will go into the
ground. As this bottle is only for some months at the
beginning of the tree, it will not be so much.
Bottle with holes in the ground next
to a tree for irrigating the roots in drylands, scheme
[9]
All irrigation methods with plastic PET bottles are
grossly negligent and dangerous because microplastic
passes into the water.
The string watering
This method of string irrigation should work well
according to the readers, and there are some tricks with
it.
The fully automatic bottle cotton cord irrigation
It is even possible to ensure irrigation with a bottle
next to the plant and a cotton cord: the plant is sucking
the water through the cord. That should actually work in
garden beds:
Plant is drawing the bottled water by a cotton cord [11]
- plants are pulling pot water by cotton cords [12]
Video: This Will Water Your Plants While on Vacation
Works Like A Charm (3'14'')
Video: This Will Water Your Plants While on Vacation
Works Like A Charm (3'14'')
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQc3yENYuSk
The best trick is to put the bottle or the pot under a
slowly dripping tap. Then the holidays can last forever.
The video comments:
-- The maximum duration of stay is 3 weeks, then the pet
bottle is empty
-- One can put the bottle under a slowly dripping tap, so
that the bottle refills again and again, then the holidays
can last forever
-- The plants look better with cotton cord irrigation than
before with normal irrigation by hand
-- The cord must be made of cotton and must not be too
thin, and if in doubt, one can twist a double cord, or
take a shoelace with cut ends, then the plant pulls water
and the cord is damp
-- Persons in humid areas living with a dehumidifier, can
use the water from the dehumidifier directly for the
plants.
Further tricks from own experience with a kettle of water
and irrigation cords for plants (2018-2019):
-- Shoe laces are different, round laces allow more water
transport than flat laces, and depending on the plants you
have to install round or flat laces
-- What cords are used, also depends on the climate,
because in a hot climate round laces are needed, in winter
flat laces
-- The plants need different amounts of water, and for
many plants, too much water comes when the water bucket is
above them, so the position of the plants must be adapted
to their water needs:
-- Plants with low water requirements can
stand on the same level as the water pot
-- Plants with a lot of water requirements
must stand under the water pot
-- In summer, the water pot must be higher,
so that more water flows down
-- In winter, the water pot must be lower, so
that less water flows down
-- To avoid a mosquito population in the water pot, one
can smear an eucalyptus cream (for rheumatism) on the pot
edge, so no mosquitoe will come
-- It is also very advantageous to install a net with
cords (shoe laces) from pot to pot, which helps the plants
because then they exchange nutrients and signals.
-- So try it out BEFORE you go in holiday! [Web31]
Cord irrigation with a plant tower [18] - Salad field
with cord irrigation in line with 2 kettles [19]
Dead water - animated water
The water that comes directly from pressure lines, is
"dead water" because the structure of the water is
destroyed by the pressure. By contrast, water from a water
spring or rain water from clouds or from pressureless
water tanks is living water with a healthy and effective
structure. The plants should become more resistant and
bigger with activated water [web30]. Official comparative
tests are still missing today.
========
Ponds according to permaculture
Pond with willow and rowing boat [20]
Ponds produce food
Ponds are not only designed for drinking water or for
irrigation or fire extinction [and maintaining ground
water levels], but produce food:
-- Edible aquatic plants (water chestnuts, sagittaria,
lotus, vietnamese mint, etc.) [web26]
-- Fish and frogs [web26]
-- Ducks live in large ponds [web26] [and eat slugs].
Ponds filter greywater - the biological wastewater
treatment plant
-- Ponds can be used for biological greywater wastewater
treatment plant [soap water from the kitchen, shower,
sink, washing machine] by using a reed bed filter system
[web26].
Naked soil in the garden, when the bed is
empty, is particularly endangered, because rain compacts
the bare earth and can wash away the top layer [web26].
Naked soil is best planted with pioneer plants in the
beginning [web26].
Taproot pioneer plants
Installing a new garden or taking over an industrially
destroyed soil affords planting of taproot pioneer plants
that break up the soil [web26] [and pull up minerals]:
-- Fenugreek [web26]
-- Dandelion [web26, web28]
-- Daikon [web28]
-- Burdock [web28]
Garden beds should never be too large, so you never
have to enter, otherwise one compacts the soil
and air and waterways in the soil are blocked. By this
plants grow slower and the vegetables grow less [web26].
"The floor is the kitchen of the garden," explains Vynnie.
When your "kitchen" is well stocked, your plants will have
everything you need to thrive. When your soil lacks
essential nutrients, you must give "food" yourself into
the soil. The easiest way to add nutrients and build your
soil is to start composting. The easiest way to do that is
to take all your yard waste throwing it in a comfy corner
of your yard. Vynnie says you probably already have all
the ingredients to improve your soil, you just have to
start composting them. The added benefit of it is that you
can skip a trip to the local hardware store for some foul
smelling fertilizer. [web27]
Hillbeds
Hill bed on the ground with a stone rim: wood - foilage -
compost / dung - earth [1]
Such hill beds are the standard in permaculture with
several layers in it: wood - foilage - compost / dung -
earth. The wood in about 50cm depth becomes moist and is
converting very slowly into humus needing about 3 to 5
years for this. The roots of the plants reach this humid
wood and have no problem with dry seasons any more.
Compost and dung in the hill bed is converting in about 2
years into humus. Alltogether the convertion processes
with wood and compost / dung in the hill bed provoke a
"hot bed" which is about 5 to 8 degrees warmer than the
normal soil around it. All these conditions provide many
possibilities for planting until late autumn times. In
winter times the hill bed is covered with mulch. At the
latest after 6 years it will be renewed. Link: high
bed - hill bed
Add nitrogen to the soil
-- with sawdust (3 inch thick layer) [web22]
-- with wood chips [web22]
Sawdust as mulch for a kettle
planting with cord watering [22]
Salt the ground
-- Plant pecan trees, for example in combination
with blueberries [web22]
Soil has become hard and barren: loosen up
and rebuild
When nothing grows, the soil can be "repaired", with
organic contents, with humus:
-- Cultivating taproot pioneer plants: fenugreek,
dandelion break up the soil [web26]
-- Dig in rare cases, then mulch and cover to protect the
bottom animals [web26]
-- Composting [web26]
-- One can plant plants that produce a lot of green mulch
biomass, so that the leaves then rot to humus [web26]
-- Legumes give the soil nitrogen (beans) [web26]
-- Never step on the ground of a garden bed [web26]
-- Earthworms distribute more fresh humus in the bed,
earthworms dig well the earth [web26] [and never harm the
plant roots]. Book
How to create a worm farm [23]
Keep soil alive
New Zealand White Clover: For a long-lasting
vivid circulation in the ground, plant New Zealand white
clover - it's a low growing, nitrogen-binding,
drought-resistant perennial that likes to be mown [web22].
Never plow
Plowing and digging destroys the soil structure and
UV radiation kills ground animals which are not
determinated to live with sun light: turning
the soil causes deeper layers of soil to be exposed to the
sun, exposed to UV rays and the sun's heat. The soil
organisms (soil biota) are killed and a new population has
to form again [web26].
[For a certain time the field ist "dead" and pests invade
without resistance before the good animals can reinstall -
that's why: NEVER plow].
========
Buildings: Greenhouses
Greenhouse made of plastic bottles or plastic sheets have
to be rejected because of plastic air with microplastic in
the air.
Pit greenhouses (Walipini) are half underground and have
tropical temperatures also in winter with the possibility
of growing vegetables and partly also fruits also in
winter, see the pit
greenhouse (Walipini).
Pit Greenhouses "Walipini" in Bolivia, Wisconsin,
Bozeman (Canada) etc. for farming also during winter
times [24]
White fabrics for shading: When greenhouses
become too hot in summer, they can be covered with a
light, white fabric (white color reflects the heat).
Covering with a black fabric provokes more heat (black
color absorbs the heat) [web22].
Timers for large businesses
-- can be used in the greenhouse for sprinkler systems
[web22]
-- can be used on large farms for automatic irrigation and
pouring with sprinkler systems or drip irrigation in the
ground [web22]
[Real permaculture never needs irrigation because wood in
the planting beds is always moist for the roots.
Irrigation is only needed in the beginning].
Accelerate germination: To accelerate
germination, planting beds can be covered with clothe or
jute. This causes a higher humidity and a higher
temperature. It saves at least a week during the sprouting
of seeds. Concretely, e.g. carrot seeds were scattered and
during the germination period, the beds were covered with
jute bags. The seedlings do not dry out and are not eaten
by birds [web24].
Germination in several layers: The seedling
beds can be stacked [web24].
Mobile seedling greenhouse: One can set up a
mobile seedling greenhouse on wheels so that the
greenhouse then moves from field to field to transplant
the adult seedlings into the planting beds [web24].
Frost protection in autumn: raised beds can
be covered with jute bags [web24].
Buildings: tricks for garden gates
The more easily constructed, the longer it lives, e.g. a
frame with chicken wire [web22]
Buildings: tricks for fences
-- trimmed ducks and chickens can be variably fenced with
48-inch high fence nets (PoultryNet), so there is no need
for a wooden fence [web22]
Energy
Install solar systems and windmills or collect wood on
piles [web23].
Use highly efficient hand tools, such as a wide fork and a
hand mill, to minimize the use of gas powered machinery.
[Web23]
Remove weeds
-- Run rabbits free in the yard, they eat away smaller
weeds, but also clover, and children then run after the
rabbit [web22]
Against weeds: clover
Against weeds, the sowing of the following plants works:
-- Mustard with purple clover [web22]
-- Oat with purple clover [web22]
-- Buckwheat with purple clover [web22]
Natural pesticides
At the beginning of the garden conversion, Fukuoka made a
natural insecticide such as pyrethrum from chrysanthemum
roots, which he had to spray on his vegetables in the
first few years to save it from animals eating the
vegetables: against cabbage worm and cabbage moths
[web28].
Compost The workers
in a compost heap are the earthworms - Book How to create
a worm farm [23]
The five rules for the compost pile
1. Standing on the earthy ground: A compost
heap should be in contact with the earthy ground so that
worms and other useful beetles can enter bottom up and
work in it.
2. Turn your compost heap once a week.
3. Covered: Compost heaps should be roofed
so that the rain does not wash out the nutrients
4. Sectors according to duration: compost
heaps should be subdivided into sectors by duration of
impact - one must keep an eye on the age of compost waste
5. Separation woody-vegetable: Woody and
bushy compost degrades more slowly than kitchen waste and
weeds, so you should set up two different compost heaps
[web22].
Compost is possible with compost pile or sheet composting
[web26].
Fertilizer and / or manure in compost:
Anyone who uses manure in compost heaps must comply with
regulations:
"When you have fertilizer and / or manure in your compost
heap, the USDA Bio-rule requires that when composting
plant and animal materials, the compost must be prepared
by a process that has an initial C: N ratio of between 25:
1 and 40: 1. And that a temperature between 131 ° F and
170 ° F is maintained for 15 days with a rent composting
facility where the materials must be rotated five times.
Or a temperature between 131 ° F and 170 ° F has to be
maintained for three days with a ventilated pile system in
the tank or static before curing it for 45 days [web22].
========
Collect seeds
Collect seeds of plants and install lables with
their names: "Identify plants from which you
want to store seeds, or remember the source. This is
normal for spring seedling work or for direct sowing. But
in midsummer one has to write the names one more time
because by son and watering the names are fading. Do this
work in the garden during some relaxing minutes rewriting
the faded name shields. Note the general name, sort,
initials of seed source and date of sowing. Don't rely on
seed envelopes on a stick of wood." [web22]
Broccoli: With broccoli it's like this: the
umbels are the first to come eatable coming to the
vegetable market. Only later the side flowers appear, from
which one can save the seeds [web22].
========
Vegetable tricks
Permaculture planting
bed in three dimensions [25]
Growing vegetables that do not exist in the supermarkets
will increase self-esteem and eventually the products will
be sold to others [Flo Scott - web25].
Distances: Keep distances with the same vegetables,
do not plant too densely: The recommendations
of the "distance instructions" have their sense: too
densely planted vegetables take each other the water away
[web20], the nutrients away, can not reach full size, are
weaker and more susceptible to pests [web25].
Distances: Vegetables can be planted tightly when
they are different: Various vegetables can
also be combined in a dense space, according to the
experience of fruit forest owner Robert Hart. There are no
problems with watering or water consumption when there are
different vegetables [web20] [because different vegetables
consume water and minerals in a different manner and are
not blocking eath other].
Vegetables with sun - mushrooms and ferns in the
shade: where trees form a closed shade, one
can not plant vegetables that need sun, but one has to set
mushrooms and shade plants like ferns that grow rapidly in
the spring, before the foliage of the trees will form a
closed shadow in summer [web23].
Drought-resistant vegetables and spices with long
roots
There exist vegetables and spices with up to 3m long
roots. Here are listed some of them:
-- Jerusalem artichoke, survives any drought, is growing
like weeds with normal climatic conditions [web20]
-- leek [web20]
-- Parsnip [web20]
-- Carrots [web20]
-- Oregano [web20]
-- Thyme [web20]
-- Rosemary [web20]
-- Sorrel: French sorrel is not only edible, but also a
dynamic accumulator of minerals with K, P, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg.
Sorrel roots perform up to four to six feet and pull up
minerals to the surface, and these minerals remain on the
surface during the winter when the leaves have died
[web22]
Soil loosener
Cultivating taproot pioneer plants that break the ground:
-- Fenugreek [web26]
-- Dandelion [web26].
Planting the plants in groups
Nature is designed in a way that several plants together
(polyculture, biodiversity) grow better than single
isolated plants [web26]. One plant alone in a flowerbed is
like a human in the desert without a hat [web26]. Well
combined different plants have their effect:
-- a microclimate of its own
-- a separate temperature,
-- forming an own shade and sunscreen,
-- building a mutual wind protection
-- forming own moisture and
-- supporting each other in growth [web26]
-- in general, productivity in a plant group is increasing
[web26].
When different plants are grown in a group, they
communicate with each other with signals and they profite
each other through minerals in the soil and also with
flower scents - and at the same time there are
combinations that are blocking each other. So one has to
know exactly which combination will be planted. So the
combination is with a main plant and companion plants, or
partner plants in a "mixed culture" of "copmanion
planting" (Wikipedia
link) and so one can SAVE all costs for
pesticides:
Companion plants
-- will stimulate plant growth, productivity
-- will provoke better resistance to pests and diseases,
-- can hide plants from pests,
-- can mask or neutralize the scent of certain plants, so
that pests will find them less
-- can attract beneficial insects, which then pollinate
-- can attract predatory insects that eat pests in the
garden (Ladybug [eat aphids], lacewings [eat aphids],
hoverfly [eat aphids]) [web26].
Companion plants, drawing [26]
Planting plant groups together - corn + beans +
pumpkin "The Three Sisters": These plants in a
group increase each other, and you also save space. In the
"USA" the natives developet a combination called "The
Three Sisters": corn + bean climber + pumpkin (squash). On
corn plants the beans climb up and the beans bind nitrogen
in the soil, providing more nutrients. The pumpkin grows
on the ground and prevents the soil from drying out and
suppresses the weeds. For soil protection one can also
plant nasturtium [Flo Scott - web25].
Further combination options:
-- Climbing beans on the ground with nasturtium on
the ground - the nasturtium sells black flies
from the beans [Flo Scott - web25]
-- Plant radish + parsnip together, the
radish grows fast and the parsnip grows for a long time
[Flo Scott - web25]
-- Plant carrots + onions together, the
onion smell expels the carrot fly [Flo Scott - web25].
-- Plant herbs and vegetables in a
polyculture to confuse the cabbage white butterfly
(Pierinae) and other harmful animals [Flo Scott - web25].
Crop rotation: spring plants - summer plants -
winter plants
-- with a clever project planning you can harvest several
times a year [web25], so that the plants are changing in a
favorable sequence [web26]
-- the periods may also overlap slightly, so that the beds
are never empty [web26]:
Examples:
-- purple beans, then summer salad, and then broad beans,
and between has to be placed fresh compost mulch on the
ground [Flo Scott - web25].
Overproduction can be a gift for others:
When nature is producing too much, it can be given to
foster neighborly relations [Flo Scott - web25].
Tricks with individual vegetables
Vegetables that provide shade:
"Plant hops and beans to shade sunny parts of the house in
the summer and lower the temperature on the planting bed."
[Web24]
Broccoli: With broccoli it's like this: the
umbels are the first to come eatable coming to the
vegetable market. Only later the side flowers appear, from
which one can save the seeds [web22].
Leeks: When after harvesting one leaves
about 4cm of it, a new leek will grow [web24].
Tuber vegetables / root vegetables
Cut off tubers from carrots, onions and turnips and
set new ones: Cutting the tuber and replanting
the top, the plant will recover and will form a new tuber,
not as beautiful as the first one, but much faster than
sowing again [web24].
Fennel: Removing the fennel bulb, fennel
grows again [web24].
Carrots: "Be sure to leave enough of the top
to vegetative re-growth, in total leave about 3/4” or 2 cm
of root and leaf. This processes in an extension of
steckling seed carrots. Steckling is the method of pulling
seed carrots for root trait selection an then after a
brief vernalization period replanting them to grow seed.
For more on steckling read Principles and Practices of Organic
Carrot Seed Production in the Pacific Northwest
(PDF) by the Organic Seed Alliance." [web24]
Kartoffeln im Hochbeet, um Nagefrass zu vermeiden
Eine Permakulturgruppe aus Süd-Oregon meint:
"Plant your potatoes in empty raised beds. After digging
potatoes out of the ground by hand last year again I
vowed, “never again”. Not only is digging potatoes out of
the ground a lot of work and a game of hunt and seek but
you are also competing with the rodents for your harvest.
Here are four old raised beds with 1/4 inch wire hardware
cloth nailed to the bottom to keep the rodents from
digging in from below. We planted the potatoes in 2-3
inches of compost and then covered with old straw. We will
continue to add alfalfa as the potato plants emerge to
increase our yield vertically. Alfalfa is preferable to
straw because of its slight nitrogen content. I estimate
we will at least double our yield per square foot from not
only deeper beds but easier harvesting and reduced rodent
loss. After the potatoes are removed this Fall we will
toss the alfalfa in the compost pile and start with fresh
covering next Spring. This will prevent the buildup of
potatoes pests by replacing the growing medium." [web24]
Beans, peas, cucumbers: tendrils can grow
high (beans, peas, cucumbers), then at the same location
grow on the ground other vegetables (chard, salads,
beetroot). Climbing berries grow on fences (grapes,
loganberries, blueberries). Strawberries grow in hanging
baskets [Flo Scott - web25].
Broad beans are suitable for lower temperatures and give
nitrogen to the ground like all legumes [web26]
Legumes (beans) give the soil nitrogen and make it more
fertile [web26]
========
Tricks with berries
Climbing berries
Flo Scott: Climbing berries grow on the fences (grape
berries, loganberries, blueberries). Strawberries grow in
hanging baskets [web25].
Strawberries in a hanging kettle [27]
Blueberries
Blueberries [28]
Blueberries in the grass: blueberries can be
grown in the grass, then they are not eaten by the birds
[web22].
Blueberries with pecan nuts: For blueberries
the soil should be salty, one can arrange this by nature
planting Pecan trees [web22].
Cloning blueberries: one can clone the
blueberry plantation reaching easily a doubled harvest
with it [web24].
"We made several jigs with 5” screws to make nine holes
for clones all at once. The cuttings are planted directly
into the ground of our movable greenhouse. They will stay
there for two years. When mature enough they will be
forked up and planted direct into the side-beds shown
above. They will be transplanted as bare root stock
without ever being potted up. Growing directly in the
ground gives the young plants the best root structure and
increases their vigor and chance for success." [web24]
========
Tricks with trees
Pecan Tree: Taproot Tree
Tap roots bring water deep into the soil and bring up
nutrients from deep down to improve the field.
Permaculture from South Oregon says:
Think long-term time horizon. What are pecan trees doing
in a blueberry field? The answer is simple, the
blueberries will be here for only 15-20 years while the
pecan can be for over 100 years. By the time the
blueberries need to be pushed out the pecans will be
coming into mature production. Pecans have two other
advantages, first their shade is a dapple light allowing
some light in. Second, the pecan tree is the mother of all
tap root nut trees which compete very little with
neighboring trees and shrubs. Pecans are not allopathic
like black walnuts. The last benefit it that the pecans
need a “clean orchard floor” to be harvested. Our
blueberry field is mowed unlike the shaggy old-field food
forest. This design gives the pecans a 20 year head start
at Restoration Farm." [web24]
Ducks Donald
Duck: Enten fressen Wegschnecken [29]
-- Ducks do not dig as much as chickens [web24]
-- Ducks eat slugs [web26]
-- Ducks shit really hard, you should not have them in a
garden on a terrace [web31]
-- The bedding material from the duck house can be used as
a mulch [web22]
-- Trimmed ducks and chickens can be variably fenced with
48-inch high fence nets (PoultryNet), because there is no
need for a wooden fence [web22]
Rodents
Rodents look for potatoes: Potatoes in the
potato bed are often attacked by rodents. Therefore, it is
better to raise potatoes in the protected raised bed with
grid protection [web24].
Rodents are looking for nutritious compost quarters
in winter: that is why in winter one should
not lay out a compost layer with cardboard, otherwise
rodents will come and nest there and eat everything, they
also eat bark from young trees. When only cardboard is
put, that is enough and the rodents do not come. And
around trees must not be put anything [web24].
Keep birds away from berries
-- Install the acoustic device Bird Gard Pro
-- Install reflective tapes [web22].
The useless monoculture
-- Monoculture exposes individual plants isolated to sun
and rain [web26]
-- Monoculture rejects the positive effects of different
plants in groups for protection of sun and rain [web26]
-- Monoculture rejects all accompanying plants which have
a protection effect to the cultivated plants against pests
[web26]
-- Monoculture rejects the third, vertical dimension in
vegetable cultivation ("plant piling") [web26].
-- Monoculture of annual plants ultimately requires MORE
work, MORE effort and MORE statistic records because of
the immediate lack of nutrients and vulnerability to pests
and diseases [web26]
[-- Monocultures need pesticides to kill off all the
wildlife on the ground of the field, including the
beneficial animals, and the whole field is contaminated -
and that's why the vegetables and fruits are contaminated
with pesticides, and thus humanity is also contaminated,
provoking costly diseases and drug use - and using
pesticides needs time and machinery which costs one more
time a lot - and the illnesses of the pesticide workers
will cost one more time a lot].
One can "dampen" monocultures with
-- Plant forest edge and rows of hedges
-- Plant flower strips
-- Plant rows of trees at the edges of fields
-- Create mixed fields
-- Install a crop rotation so that the soil is loosen and
is well nourished. Flower strips
against monoculture [30]
[web11]
https://store.holmgren.com.au/product/melliodora/
[web12] https://holmgren.com.au/melliodora/tours/
[web13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Holmgren
[web14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Hopkins
[web15] https://www.thehollies.ie/
[web16] https://www.thehollies.ie/horsepower-at-the-hollies/
[web17]
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Fukuoka
[web18] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Fukuoka
[web19] http://www.permaculture.com/node/140
[web20] Andy Hamilton: The Ecologist: Growing without water:
how to garden in a drought:
https://theecologist.org/2010/jul/27/growing-without-water-how-garden-drought
[web21] Bäume mit Katheter:
https://www.bauexpertenforum.de/threads/baeume-mit-katheter.43621/
[web22] Permaculture News:
https://permaculturenews.org/2011/08/19/summer-permaculture-tips-and-tricks/
[web23] 6 Tips For Backyard Permaculture:
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/6-tips-for-backyard-permaculture/
[web24[
https://permaculturenews.org/2011/04/11/spring-permaculture-tips-and-tricks/
[web25] Flo Scott:
https://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/9-tips-increasing-your-yields
[web26] Australia: Deep green agriculture:
https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/starting-your-permaculture-garden/
[web27] Phoenix ("USA"): 5 Tips for Gardening:
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/restaurants/five-permaculture-tips-for-gardening-in-metro-phoenix-6504536
[web28] Masanobu Fukuoka: Natural Farming:
http://www.finalstraw.org/masanobu-fukuoka-and-natural-farming/
[web29] Bill Mollison:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mollison
[web30] Living water:
https://www.grander.com/international/einsatz-anwendung/garten-teich
[web31] Observation by Michael Palomino
[web32] Blueberries: A Century of Research, S.153
Gough / Korcak (editors); Blueberries: A Century of
Research; Food Products Press - an Imprint of The Haworth
Press, Inc.; New York, London 1995;
https://books.google.com.pe/books?id=wmi8AiB2U5oC&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=mulch+3+cm+sawdust+sand+straw&source=bl&ots=5bHH4zytmP&sig=ACfU3U3H9ZmKFPh53vicFu42aC2rnfshjg&hl=de&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzzPCqvdDjAhVC1qwKHbGaBfsQ6AEwC3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=mulch%203%20cm%20sawdust%20sand%20straw&f=false
Photo sources
[1] Hill bed with 1-layer drywall around it:
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/permaculture-tips-zbcz1306
[2] 5 zones on a farm, graphic:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/808536939321315185/
[3] Planting bed with straw mulch:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/1477812358910669/
[4] Planting bed with woodchips as mulch:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/1477812358910669/
[5] Pouring flowers with watering can:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/264938390557823135/
[6] Collect rainwater, here a giant ceramics rain barrel
from a rice farm in Thailand: Photo by Michael Palomino 2013
[7] Water pipe on tree sprout, scheme:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/156148312066145900/
[8] Pet bottle becomes small watering can:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/93871973468311514/
[9] Pet bottle with holes in the ground next to tree for
irrigating the roots in drylands, scheme:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/754071531328018645/
[10] Pet bottle irrigation in drought:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/672936369292626487/
[11] Plant choking water by cotton cord from water bottle:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/611152611906011846/
[12] Plants choking pot water by cotton cords: Video: This
Will Water Your Plants While on Vacation Works Like A Charm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQc3yENYuSk (1'59 '')
[13] Seedlings choking water by cotton cords from below:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/AUQ-Q4Ib0eTUXJya-zW7kokndy4ZqJbwR17OwWMd9bQsGly3sRsmVTI/
[14] Sprinkler system with PET bottle:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/AfwopuV9X0-GVnqoW0mgl9RQT2mL22-VRIblP_vVYI55U6aahBH5sp4/
[15] Cord irrigation from below with several strings:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/452330356309432734/
[16] Line irrigation horizontal with plants connected in
series: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/302796774927565129/
[17] Seedling with cord irrigation and stacked PET bottles:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/473440979571379797/
[18] Tower garden with cord irrigation in series:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/441282463465999226/
[19] String irrigation on lettuce field in series with 2
kettles:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/AcRbNLJskv2nZITfgQvFLBo8kby3Ru7P1w-cp0IPYqVDnIyuYnyrLfY/
[20] Pond with willow and rowing boat:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/416231190559276635/
[21] Empty garden beds:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/429882726926308341/
[22] Sawdust as mulch for a kettle planting with cord
watering: photo by Michael Palomino 2018
[23] Book How to create a worm farm:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/279012139392655379/
[24] Pit greenhouses "Walipini":
http://www.med-etc.com/natur/Ldw/walipini/walipini001.html
[25] Permaculture planting bed in three dimensions:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/371335931773543263/
[26] Companion plants, drawing:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/487866572104223023/
[27] Strawberries in a hanging kettle:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/529595237405258903/
[28] Blueberries:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/665547651155839162/
[29] Donald Duck: ducks eat slugs:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/542472717593777836/
[30] Flower strips against monoculture:
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/355925176796392628/
Pond with willow and rowing boat [20]
Empty garden beds with naked soil [21]
Sawdust as mulch for a kettle planting with cord watering [22]
Book How to create a worm farm [23]
Permaculture planting bed in three dimensions [25]
Strawberries in a hanging kettle [27]
Blueberries [28]
Donald Duck: Enten fressen Wegschnecken [29]
Flower strips against monoculture [30]
