Sowing Green Manure Crops before the Rain
Sydney is finally expecting some solid rain for an extended period of time. Now is a great time to direct sow seeds and let Mother Nature water your garden for…
Creating a Food Forest
On the weekend a group of PDC students viewed my property as part of their course. It was wonderful being able to share all of the things that I have…
Use your wrist to check soil temperature
Planting Seeds Using Soil Temperature
Spring has arrived and as the weather warms you have started dreaming about all the seeds you will soon be planting. I can hear the pages of those enticing seed…
Right Plant, Wrong Location – April 2018 PermaBlitz
Our April permablitz had the usual list of jobs (build new raised garden beds, plant fruit trees, prune, etc) but what this particular blitz highlighted for me was the all…
Nitrogen Fixing Legumes
No doubt you have all heard about the important role that nitrogen plays in your soil. Many of you have also heard of the great benefits of the legumes (peas…
Banana Circle
The banana circle has become as iconic in permaculture design as the herb spiral and chicken tractor. A banana circle is simply a circular hole about 2m in diameter and…
Air Purifying Plants
While the word permaculture immediately conjures up images of outdoor spaces – rambling gardens, vine covered pergolas, productive vegetable gardens and fruit tree forests – a permaculture design also focuses…
Love your weeds!
No. That was not a typo. After all, a weed is just a plant growing in a position where it is not wanted, and many of the plants we call…
Guilds – Companion Planting on Steroids
Guilds are a fundamental technique in permaculture design. A guild is typically set around a main central tree (often a fruit or nut tree) and plants are grown around the…
