Polyculture research programme – progress report

“Research makes me bolder – its OK to 'fail' in research. This is liberating and somehow takes the pressure off.” Leeds meeting

“Good luck with your project. I think there is a real need for reliable, well-researched and widely available sources of information in this area. I think the awareness is improving but I think a lot of people need more concrete evidence of the benefits before they take the plunge. Your project could make a real difference to that. “ Survey Response

“I think the greatest benefit is to be had by widespread take up of these kind of approaches in back everywhere - not just in specialist projects showing what can be done.” Survey response

Summary

A total of 26 people have contributed via our online survey and 3 meetings in Leeds, Bristol and London. Vegetable polycultures and Forest Gardens are the most common applications. Most represented polycultures were in home gardens, allotments or community settings. Most systems are in their starting phase or relatively young. Most growers are keeping records of their plantings and results to some degree. While the programme is initiated by the Association, we hope to make links beyond our own membership and organisation, and work in partnership with others who are interested in this field. The most significant issues for research and training identified centre around - and site specific knowledge gaps, comparison of polyculture and systems, design, establishment and management of polycultures measuring inputs and yields applying polyculture principles on different scales (home , , community, commercial) It was felt throughout that our approach must simple enough to be taken up by non-experts, and at the same time rigorous and robust, to provide material for further scientific study. Qualitative and quantitative research methods will need to be employed. Our aims for this programme are 1. Making polyculture research accessible and rigorous From a list provided by practitioners we will choose candidate polycultures for trials. We will create methodologies for setting up and recording the trials and create an easily accessible format for logging in trial data. Trials will be carried out, if possible in collaboration with seed suppliers and other partners. Access to the results and their analysis will be given to practitioners, researchers and the public. 2. Putting polycultures on the map We will make information about existing polyculture sites and knowledge available and easy to find. We will link people working on polycultures – locally, within regions and national. We will show how polycultures can be used in different settings and on different scales 3. Making polycultures work for practitioners and users We will connect practitioners to help them develop and disseminate patterns for the successful design, establishment and maintenance of polycultures.

To achieve these aims, we will work with the existing permaculture network and collaborate with others working in this field. External funding will be sought to carry forward aspects of this progamme. Full Report Existing resources

So far, a total of 26 people have contributed via our ongoing online survey and three meetings in Leeds, Bristol and London. Our online survey has so far recorded 7 forest gardens, 6 vegetable polycultures, 2 sites. Most participants of the face-to-face meetings were involved in practical polyculture work. Most represented polycultures were in home gardens, allotments or community settings. All recorded systems are in their starting phase or relatively young. The majority of growers are keeping records of their plantings and results to some degree. Most LAND projects incorporate polycultures of some kind – in some cases these are central to their growing, in other cases peripheral or experimental. Other polyculture sites and contacts mentioned see Appendix A. The list is by no means complete – if you know of any further sites, please let us know. A number of resources used by practitioners were identified – see Appendix B. Again, this list can and should be extended. A number of respondents have offered help with specific areas of this project – see Appendix C A detailed presentation of the survey results to date can be made available on request.

Field of enquiry – our focus

Concerning types of polycultures, currently practical interest exists primarily in forest gardens and vegetable polycultures. Research into agroforestry systems is also of interest for us, and we will look for partnerships with other organisations in this area. The geographical focus of our own programme is Britain. We will however take into account practical work done in other temperate parts of the world and be open to knowledge gained from other climate zones. While the programme is initiated by the Permaculture Association, we hope to make links beyond our own membership and organisation, working in partnership with others who are interested in this field.

Practical issues as identified by meetings and survey responses

Knowledge gaps Plant knowledge useful legumes/ nitrogen fixers (FG) Influence of light conditions, microclimate, soil types – site specific challenges (FG) working in particular conditions – shade, wet areas, thin chalky soil Root and mycorrhizal interactions (FG) successful plant combinations Setting up trials

Comparing polycultures and Compare different mixes of polycultures with those grown as monocultures Staggered planting in a polyculture v monoculture nutritional quality of

Patterns in polyculture systems Successions in establishing a new polycultures conversion from conventional to polyculture establishing annuals within perennial systems Planting patterns guild interactions stacking of layers (FG) spacing of canopy (FG) Ground cover - planting in clumps vs as individual plants (FG) Planting times – seasonal, between ? Crops for winter and hungry gap extending yields across the season Best layout in terms of raised beds or flat (VP) No dig vegetable systems (VP) Confirmation or otherwise of folklore on plant associations Which varieties work best together? Climate change and adaptability of crops to new polyculture associations

Inputs and Yields Mulching – is it needed? Use of manure and other soil fertility improvers Pest control  Couch grass Yield comparisons - Yield over time – monthly? Totals? Typical yields on different scales – garden, field (per sqm/ acre/ ha) Usable yield needs to be stressed – how to measure it – what to compare it to? Look at whole system to see true yield Water efficiency Energy and labour inputs Environmental benefits Biodiversity value Pollination Aesthetic qualities

Scales/ Zoning of polycultures By zones – 1-5 – which polycultures are appropriate in which? Examples of successful suburban forest gardens Scale – what’s most appropriate for commercial growers v household usage? Scaling up polycultures: Is it possible to grow vegetables and short lived perennials as polycultures without using a rotation system” Harvesting methods for commercial use Whole polyculture designs – beneficial interactions between components Templates for public spaces or commercial polycultures Design Considerations

What kind of results are we looking for? Qualitative results – successful plant guilds, healthy plants, photos, satisfaction, anecdotal etc. quantitative- totals over year, percentage of food needs; time taken to produce etc.

SIMPLICITY! Language Methodology Methods including cultivation Make it easy to feed back results Make it easy to access each others results

An opportunity? For a seed company working with us. To create 3-4 seed mixes (even just 1 to start?!) of vegetable / herb/ flower / cereal / squash ?? involve seed company – Real Seed Company as a research partner. Produce 500 packs ? Put in catalogues and sell through Permaculture Association / Permaculture Mag etc. People can register results onlinne – keep thte language simple, link with schools project, Garden Organic member experiment? Quakers, RHS etc. market as a 'vegetable meadow'?

Potential funding sources Wakeham (?) Tudor Trust Climate change funds Levies from growers probably not feasible at the moment as growers mainly non- commercial.

Goals of the programme

1. Learning about Polycultures 2. Learning about Research The following objectivves and activities will contribute to one or both of these goals:

Objectives and Activities to achieve them

Making polyculture research is more accessible Carry out Vegetable Polyculture Trials Work with Garden Organic Choose candidate polycultures for trials Create methodologies for setting up and recording trials Set up easily accessible format for logging in trial data Contact seed companies to provide seed mixes Give access to analysis of results for practitioners, researchers and the public  Carry out Forest Garden Baseline Survey Contact potential partners – ART, Eco-agroforestry network, Pfaf Collate existing resources Joint funding bid? Develop methodology to record establishment and progress of forest gardens  Develop Participatory Research methods Review of participatory methodologies applied to garden-scale research. Develop methodologies and recording systems Site information – baseline survey form Site record forms - Yields, site development Online data entry & display  Develop resource base for practitioners Evolving factsheets accessible via website, including Forest Gardens – basic patterns and development Vegetable polycultures - basic patterns and development Setting up trials Taking records Resource lists Planting plans (a la RHS interpretation boards) describing polycultures (including layout, stacking, species mixes, fertility regimes, successions, maintenance regimes ...) 'Polycultures Map' showing techniques and approaches as they are used across the zones  Enable easy sharing and comparing of information Create space for blogs, graphics and photos on website Create space for discussion – online, newsletter

Putting polycultures on the map  Gather existing information on polycultures Collate existing resources within network – base maps, planting plans, species lists etc. Collate existing resources – books, websites, films etc. Literature search on academic articles, papers etc. Make information about polycultures easy to find Space on PA website on polycultures Resource list to download, online links Show how polycultures can be used in different settings and on different scales Map systems by scale and zone Link people working on polycultures – locally, within regions, national Keep interested people updated on progress – quarterly e-bulletin? Support development of local/ regional growers networks Develop partnerships with other organisations in the field Develop research questions for potential academic partners

Give access to information about sites using polycultures LAND members Link with ART forest garden network

Improved understanding of participatory research Periodic review and upgrade of recording system Periodic review and upgrade of factsheets on research and resource list Avenues of dissemination

PA website, slides, videos; blogs, discussion forums; links to web resources outside PA e-bulletin – quarterly updates in PA bulletin or separate one?; Local / regional support groups – as part of permaculture groups or other networks Stalls, advice, resources etc. - start with simple posters Partner organisations – through collaborative projects: Garden Organic, Transition Town Network – website and food website ,RHS, Allotments UK, SUSTAIN, Incredible Edible, PfaF, Agroforestry Research Trust Magazines; Alis Fowler?

Long-term ambitions

Formulas, seed mixes, plant families and suggested planting schemes tested and available Able to find the plants, seed mixes easily / commercially Quality database created and populated – extensive knowledge bank with links to groups, support, other info, resources, data, etc.

Possible sequence for developing polyculture research

3 year plan, with 1 trial in first year, same trial in 2nd year once everyone’s understood and learned about methods, and introduce new trials in 2nd and 3rd years Can we replicate existing research – don't reinvent, but what trials are worth repeating? Prefer to do a few trials well than many trials badly or with fewer sites Organise pre-trials meeting to discuss what will happen Do baseline survey for each research plot/farm, documenting soil type etc. Everyone gets summary of existing knowledge on the subject of the trial Everyone follows same protocol for setting up and managing trials and what to measure, including outline of layout Everyone uses same source of inputs (Eg seeds) Clear reporting structure – each site keeps a diary, and also completes on-line forms summarising results. Diaries for long term reference if any questions arise. Include a control (monoculture)? Emphasise site security so trials are not tampered with/eaten, damaged etc. Webpage for trials, to put up results, and for online sharing of comments during and at the end of the trial (moderated) Organise sharing of results post-trials Link with universities/ag colleges to encourage them to take up results for a more ‘scientific’ trial e.g. as student project – via academic advisory board Write up results for Permaculture Magazine, possible academic papers, journals, conferences etc. Have a national meeting on polycultures, once existing evidence is gathered to present What happens next

Feed back to everyone on the collated results of these consultations – Tomas Remiarz Make research strategy easier to find on Permaculture website – Debbie, Tomas Contact ART (and others?) regarding existing forest garden records – John Fellowes? Small group meeting to develop vegetable polyculture trials – late July/ August  Small group meets to progress Forest Garden baseline survey – Convergence? Gather teams to develop aspects of the programme Spread information to others – Everybody can do this! Literature review on polycultures to collate information so far – Diploma/ University students? Collate existing resources from people working with polycultures – Diploma students? Appendix A

List of known polyculture sites & practitioners Identified by survey responses, to be extended, please feed in more!

LAND projects are not listed here, as their expanding list is kept up to date elsewhere. Currently there are 20 sites, most of them incorporating aspects of polyculture.

The Agroforestry Research Trust has its own network of sites, in the UK and abroad. There is some overlap between the ART list and this one.

Agroforestry Research Trust, 2 sites in Devon Birchfield Pak Forest Garden (BFG), Manchester Callis Canalside Garden – Hebden Bridge, W Yorks Charles Dowding Cultivating Settle Ed Tyler, Argyle Scotland Emerson College – polyveg trials, Sussex Graham Bell & Nancy Woodhead, Coldstream/ Scottish Borders Hackney Community tree nursery, London Harlow Carr RHS, Yorkshire, implementing a forest garden Ian Tolhurst Incredible edible Todmorden Leaf Street Community Garden, Manchester Middlewood, Lancashire Naturewise Forest Garden, Hornsey Rise, London Niels Corfield, Leeds Offshoots, Burnley Old Slenningford Farm Organiclea forest garden, Chingford, London Plants for a Future, Cornwall Real Seed Company, Ryton Gardens? Tighnabruich, Argyle Scotland – self-seeding salad, veg and herbs in polytunnel Tir Penrhos Isaf, Dolgellau, Wales Wakelyn's Farm, Suffolk Appendix B

Resources Recommended by survey respondents

Connections Garden Organic’s 50 years of members experiments – lessons learned, what works and what doesn’t, methods, processes, documentation etc. Northern Fruit Group, other local/ regional fruit growing groups local networks combined / aggregated Transition Towns Chris Evans – extensive experience with polyveg in Jajarkot, Nepal Organic Growers Alliance Agroforestry Research Trust Universities and ag. Colleges (student projects) Kew NSALG and Fed of CFCG Information Agroforestry Research Trust- www.agroforestry.co.uk – catalogue, plant lists, books and brochures, new film on DVD Patrick Whitefield – How to make a Forest Garden, Earth Care Manual Toby Hemmenway, Gaia's Garden Jacke/ Toensmeier, Forest Garden books, edible forest garden network (USA, research network) http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/ Permaculture Research Institute Cold Temperate Climate (USA) http://www.pricoldclimate.org/ Robert Kourik, How to create and maintain your edible landscape naturally, new book on root patterns Plants for a future www.pfaf.org – book, website, email list and discussion forum City News (magazine, USA) www.cityfarmer.info The Food Forest (Australia) http://foodforest.com.au/academic%20papers.html#academic %20papers Inspiration Peter Bere drawings (?) Robert Hart books Sepp Holzer's work at Krameterhof, Austria Allotments esp. Ethnic Appendix C (internal)

Offers of contributions

Andrew and Pippa Greenwood, North Yorkshire blog, trial different mixes, fruit trials Wendy Hampton, Lancs – mixes for rotation Ann Evans, North Yorks – contribute records Jan Rushby, Gwynedd - enjoy writing Mick Mack, London - theoretical/ empirical knowledge Simon Parker, Wilts website, blog, scientific research knowledge - little time Maddy Harland, Hamps organic top fruit grower, FG experience, veg grower, publisher Zoe Lujic, London - research skills Jennifer Lauruol, Lancs urban/ suburban website reviews for useful information Mari Shackell, Kent - allotment experience Roz Brown, mid-Wales Experience with a difficult site successful polyveg bed with better yields than monoculture control Regional Permaculture group