Newsletter Cochise County Master Gardener High on the Desert Vol. 28, No. 3 March 2017 The University of Arizona and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating The Virtual Gardener—Bill Mollison, In Memoriam Last month I entered the University of Tasmania where wrote an article in he received his degree in bio-geography. memoriam of He then joined the faculty of the university permaculturalist and taught there until 1979. author Toby While at the university he and a student, Hemenway and this David Holmgren, began sketching out a month I’m writing concept for a system of sustainable one in memoriam agriculture, a concept for which Mollison of Bill Mollison, coined the name “permaculture.” The the “father of result of this collaboration was the permaculture.” I seem to have driven into a publication of Permaculture One, a rut. But let me explain! seminal work that inspired a world-wide As I was researching Hemenway’s life I movement. (No English language editions unexpectedly discovered the obituary are available for download but a French Inside this issue: notice for another luminary of the perma- edition of the book can be downloaded Cuttings “N’ Clippings 2 culture movement—Bruce Charles “Bill” here.) The ideas in this book were expand- Mollison. Mollison died in Hobart, ed in 1988 by Mollison in his classic Register for Conference 3 Tasmania on September 24, 2016 at the Permaculture—A Designer’s Manual, My Dream Garden 3 age of 88. which is considered the definitive refer- Meet a Master Gardener 4 Bill Mollison was born in a tiny village ence today and can be downloaded from At a Glance Box 5 on the northwestern tip of Tasmania, this link. In 1997 he authored a handbook, Four-Winged Saltbush 5 Australia’s island-state that lies just off its Introduction to Permaculture, that March Reminders 6 southern coast. He described his early summarizes the Designer’s Manual and years as a dream life mostly spent hunting offers practical tips useful to home High on the Desert Registration 6 in the bush and fishing on the sea. In 1954 gardeners. Copies of Introduction to he joined the Wildlife Survey Section of Permaculture are available from the the Australian Commonwealth Science Cochise County Library System. and Industrial Research Organization When Mollison stepped down from his (CSIRO) where he first became aware of faculty position at the University of the devastation wrought on the environ- Tasmania in 1979 he was 51 years old. At ment by unbridled human development a time of life when many men are contem- and poor agricultural practices. In 1966 he (Continued on Page 2) Cochise County Cooperative Extension www.cals.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/ 1140 N. Colombo, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 450 S. Haskell, Willcox, AZ 85643 (520) 458-8278, Ext. 2141 (520) 384-3594 P AGE 2 (Continued from page 1) vegetables in separate beds preclud- Cuttings ‘N’ plating how to spend their retirement ing beneficial interactions between Clippings years, he stepped on to the world them or place the vegetable garden in stage as an evangelist for permacul- the far corner of a yard instead of For Cochise County Master Gar- ture. He developed and taught closer to the kitchen where its deners Association information con- training courses to certify others as produce is used? How often do we tact Valerie at: permaculturalists in Australia, the amend our soils with expensive United States, and elsewhere. In 1981 chemical fertilizers when we could [email protected] he received the Right Livelihood grow our own green manures or or the Cochise County Master Gar- Award, which is considered by some make our own compost from the deners web site at: to be the equivalent of a Nobel Prize things we discard in the trash? http://cals.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/ for honoring those who offer practical Chapter 2, Broadscale Site Design, You can also follow them on Face- and exemplary answers to the most invites the reader to carefully observe book at: urgent challenges facing us today. the resources and limitations availa- www.Facebook.com/ Permaculture, as defined by ble on a property. Although the CochiseCountyMasterGardeners Mollison and Holmgren, is a design discussion is aimed at people who philosophy to create cooperative have acquired large parcels of The next Water Wise presentation instead of antagonistic relationships undeveloped land, the principles will be held Saturday, March 4 between humans and the natural discussed are equally applicable to from 9:00—11:30 AM at UA Sierra environment, especially in the home gardens. Too often we only Vista. Presenter Dustin Hancock, production of food. The original look at our yards and gardens in Range Monitoring Research Special- concepts focused on agriculture, but superficial ways. Mollison invites us ist, will tell you about the how, when, they were soon expanded to include to take our time and really observe and why of pruning your landscape design considerations for entire and record our observations in notes plants. He will discuss the best season communities, including their eco- or photos. Learn to ask why things to prune and techniques that will help nomic and legal aspects. are the way they are and seek the your plants thrive. Contact the Coop- The goals sound lofty and abstract causes. Learn to work with the land erative Extension at 458-8278, Ext. but the implementation is based on and not against it. Fighting nature 2141 for more information. Check out practical measures that can be put to only leads to wasted effort and the Water Wise web site for their use by ordinary home gardeners. ultimate defeat. Go with the flow. 2017 schedule at: http://waterwise.arizona.edu/ Chapter 5, Home Garden Design, is Introduction to Permaculture is perhaps Mollison’s most helpful book chock full of practical ideas for the The Cochise Chapter of the Ari- for home gardeners. vegetable gardener. Whether you are zona Native Plant Society’s next pro- Although the book contains plenty an apartment dweller with limited gram will be held Friday, March 17 of tips and techniques, I believe its space or a have a multi-acre property at 5:00 PM. They meet in the Co- greatest value is in teaching a way of in the country there is something here chise County Community Develop- thinking about relationships— for you. As throughout the book, the ment Office conference room, 4001 relationships between the living emphasis is on relationships, energy Foothills Dr. Sierra Vista. The speak- things in the garden; relationships efficiency, and effectiveness. In er will be Doug Ripley, President of between living and nonliving things addition to general tips, there are the Cochise Chaperter, and the title of in the garden; and relationships specific suggestions for gardening in his presentation is: between the gardener and the garden. different climate zones, including Ilha Formosa—Observations of the What are the relationships? How do drylands. Check it out. Natural History of Taiwan, Republic we promote cooperative relationships In this article I’ve only hinted at all of China. He will discuss Taiwan’s and suppress antagonistic ones? Here the wisdom you will find in this rich biological diversity that he and are a few of the things you will find book. I highly recommend you his wife encoun- in the book. obtain a copy and take a look at it. tered during a two- The first chapter, Permaculture And if you would like to learn even week trip in the Principles, discusses basic garden more about permaculture, there are spring of 2016. For design considerations such as placing dozens (if not hundreds) of YouTube more information, elements where they are mutually videos featuring Mollison expound- follow AZ Native supporting and minimizing the ing on various permaculture topics. Plant Society on amount of energy required to Until next time, happy surfing! their web site: maintain them. For example, how Gary Gruenhagen, Master Gardener http://www.aznps.com/chapters/ often do we plant each of our [email protected] cochise/cochise.htm P AGE 3 2017 High Desert My Dream Garden Gardening & Landscaping Conference Registration When winter gets me down, and The Canna Lily (Cannaceae) is the skies are gloomy over the moun- another tuber and gives your sum- Still Open! tains, I start to think about my Dream mer flower garden a decidedly Garden. My Dream Garden would be tropical feel. Planted up against a Registration for the 2017 High full of bulbs, rhizomes, and tubers. fence or wall, its lush foliage and Desert Gardening & Landscaping They would start blooming just about flowers will set the stage for all Conference is still open through now. The early Snow Iris (Iridaceae) your other flowers. Plant Cannas March 6. and the Daffodils (Amaryllidaceae) after the last frost for a summer The Conference, sponsored by would be poking their heads up and show. the Cochise County Master Gar- bringing a smile to my face. Then, Gladiolus (Iridaceae) are not deners and the UA Cochise County next would come the larger Bearded actually bulbs or tubers, but Cooperative Extension, will be Iris in their outrageous color combi- corms. They are superb cut flow- held in the Student Union Building nations. The perennial Agapanthus, ers and pair nicely with Delphini- on the Cochise College Sierra Vista another Amaryllidaceae, would need ums, Daisies, and Phlox in the campus, adjacent to our UA Sierra just a bit of TLC, but not too much, garden. The best-known Gladio- Vista Campus. just cleaning up the yellow leaves lus with the widest color range is We have five keynote general before the blue-purple flowers would known simply as Garden Gladio- sessions, five hands-on workshops, hover over the pathway.