Permaculture Project/yard

[canadianplant]

Over the last year or so, I’ve been slowly practicing, and reading up on permaculture. Without getting really into it, it’s basically sustainable gardening, where the inputs are half of the amount of outputs you get, as well as eventually needing little or usually no care. Basically I’m practicing horticulture (basicaly a garden with food, and blends in to the native landscape). Some of the core principles are letting nature do the work for you, no tilling, no chemicals (or better no fertilizer at all, besides manure/compost)), creating a closed system, and not excluding any animals.

These are pics of my yard ATM. A work in project with a small amount of room, and even smaller budget. First thing you’ll say is “wow there’s lots of weeds". They are building my soil, attracting pollinating insects, not to mention comfrey, clover, and dandelion are all actual beneficial for soil, that thrive in disturbed soil. The odds are in the next 2 or 3 years, there won’t be a single dandelion in my beds, just due to good ole succession.

There is going to be at least 3 more trees added (one in the front), and will either be peach, plum, apricot, or another non fruiting beneficial low tree ( 20 feet ish), that would provide food/shelter/habitat for animals, food for me ( nut tree?), native, nitrogen fixing, or a mulch tree (pollard). I won’t restrict myself to natives only either (in general, not just trees).

Its only in its 3rd year (maybe a few things that have been there for a while), won’t really look “finished” for a while (years, or even decades, gotta think long term) and yes, there WILL be palms tried, just for “S—test and giggles” in the very near future, and once I get multiple Basjoo, they will be tried as well.

I haven’t had a chance to label the pics yet, but I’ll answer questions if you have any.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54368343