Permaculture & Edible Landscaping - Where Ecology and Economy Intersect The Importance of Edible Landscaping “Managing urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of the 21st century. Our success or failure in building sustainable cities will be a major factor in the success of the post-2015 UN development agenda.” -John Wilmoth, Director of UN Director of UN DESA’s Population Division Mission Statement • To connect & educate children, families, institutions, corporate clients, and municipalities to the production of their food through beautiful and sustainable designs. • To provide support and maintenance for those designs to be successful. The impact of green spaces on health • Mental Health Benefits: • Stress and violence reduction • Improved concentration • Physical Benefits: • Enhanced health • More rapid healing • Improved environmental conditions, increase in quality of life • Social Benefits: • Crime Reduction • Increased workplace productivity • Safer Driving • Economic Stimulation Permaculture & Edible Landscaping - Where Ecology and Economy Intersect Ethics of Permaculture THE PRIME DIRECTIVE OF PERMACULTURE: Care of Earth Care of Care Community of People through Fair Share Permaculture’s Focus Regarding Land and Nature Stewardship Plant Forests www.wininarywordpress.com Build www.lyricspond.com Store Water Ultimatepurewater.com Educate Blogs.claronledger.com ourselves, children & others www.freewebs.com Save Seeds Teach one 1. Produce high yields of diverse products such as food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, 'farmaceuticals' and fun; 2. Create a largely self-maintaining garden and; 3. Create a healthy ecosystem. What it is not. It is not gardening in a forest. It is gardening like a forest. What it is or strives to be – a perennial polyculture of multipurpose plants. Perennial: most plants regrow every year without replanting. Polyculture: Many species grow together. Multipurpose: Each plant contributes to the success of the whole by fulfilling many functions. Strategies – Hugelkultur = Raised beds Source: eatcology.com Strategies – Sheet mulching Source: igrowsonoma.org Strategies – Arranging Guilds Source: theresiliencyinstitute.net Dynamic Nutrient Accumulators Latin Name Common Name Nutrients Accumulated Betula lenta Black birch Ca, K, P Carya ovata Shagbark hickory Ca, K, P Chamemelum nobile German chamomile Ca, K, P Cornus florida Flowering dogwood Ca, K, P Juglans nigra Black walnut Ca, K, P Nasturtium officinale Watercress Ca, K, P, Mg, Fe, Na, S Rumex spp. Sorrels and docks Ca, K, P, Fe, Na Symphytum spp. Comfreys Ca, K, P, Mg, Si Taraxacum officinale Dandelion Ca, K, P, Cu, Fe, Mg, Si Urtica dioica Nettles Ca, K, S, Cu, Fe, Na, N Managing a Permaculture Landscape • Maintenance is centered around soil preservation, wind and water management • Understand plant life cycles, harvesting & processing, and pruning techniques • Certain level of artistry and attention to detail required Principles of Permacultu re Design in City Gardens Permaculture & Edible Landscaping - Where Ecology and Economy Intersect.