Food Garden Priorities | Permaculture Q&A

Back at Zaytuna Farms, Geoff is again answering questions. This week he talks about what to prioritize when starting a permaculture food garden, as well as how to garden in exceptionally wet environments.
Regardless of size, when starting a food garden, we start the same way. We have to consider aspect, noting particularly how much sunlight we get. We have to work with contour, which allows us to maximize our water efficiency. And, we have to size our beds (no more than double-reach) and paths appropriately.
Then, there are Geoff’s top six considerations:
6) Controlling the edges and ends of the beds with low-lying and/or perennial plants,
5) mixing annuals and perennials together,
4) cultivating diversity in size and shape and color to confuse pests and favor predators,
3) taking advantage of micro-climates in the design to extend the growing season,
2) utilize the increase of growing area with vertical spacing,
1) and cycling nutrients through the system via waste from the garden, house, and beyond
With wet gardens, the priorities are much the same, but we also have to recognize both the value of water in the garden and the value of air. We want aerobic soils with air in them, and we can get this with growing mounds and raised gardens. When put on contour, our raised gardens can help us with retaining water if dry periods arise, and rocks within those garden beds aid with drainage.
Next episode, Geoff will be delving into permaculture ethics: care of the earth, care of the people, and the return of surplus. To ask questions regarding permaculture ethics, comment below in this video thread and Geoff will answer the most upvoted questions in the next episode.
Watch Episode one, "Dealing with Mosquitoes and Reading the Landscape", here: • Dealing with Mosquitoe...
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#permaculture #foodgardens #raisedbeds

[@darongw]

I really like using perennial veggies. I've found it easy to have year round greens here in western Washington state in the United States just by planting a mix of perennial greens. Kosmic kale, tree collards, miners lettuce, rose checkermallows, mountain spinach, several perennial onions, violets, sorrels, waterleaf and I'm exploring others. In a small area you can easily have year round greens with perennial veggies. This can leave room for other food plants such as tomatoes, fruit trees, berries, etc...

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

You have wise words, and an amazing cat~ We grow garlic by leaving it in ground for years at a time, letting it grow naturally. We recognize the clumps are densely packed storage, and when we want garlic in the usual form, we dig up a few compact clumps, and spread them out to plant in a good spot. We always have large quantities of garlic in ground, and it would take extreme effort to run completely out of it~

[@VK-qo1gm]

Great info, but does the garlic not rot being in the ground for so long, as I would like to try this too, thx

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

Our summers are dry so rotting isn't an issue, except for potatoes, which are practically designed to rot. If garlic is left on top of the surface in mid summer it will surely cook, but any depth below ground should work, especially in a permaculture area where the ground isn't left bare. Mice would be more of a concern, especially if growing garlic top-bulbs, but they like commelina diffusa a lot more~

[@christophergruenwald5054]

@@NashvilleMonkey1000 I might have to try this. I planted some garlic the other day in the wood mulch around my trees as an experiment. I’ve tried unsuccessfully planting it in my garden once before.

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

@@christophergruenwald5054 Keep trying to get it established (and other things), as once they are, other things start to fall into place. We saved asparagus seed, and started planting it in in lots of places. If it gets to be too many, we can always pull some of it out, but since it will take three more years for the new ones, we don't expect all of them to take, so we plant as much as we can and worry about cleaning it up later~

[@SpiritusBythos]

Thank you so much for everything. You are a fountain of meaning.

[@TheWeedyGarden]

Geoff you are a well of knowledge. Thanks for another info packed video 💚🙏🌱

[@friendlyfoodforest8033]

Hi Geoff from the Friendly Food Forest in America. We are trying to get things growing and love the permaculture ideas you and others talk about. Politics: Many people I hear from in the permaculture movement vilify profit and it turns me off. Do you think profit is a dirty word? Wouldn't more people join the movement if it was less divisive when it comes to free market economies? I think some surplus is good as long as resources are used responsibly and you are not creating pollution to realize the surplus. Thanks sir, you are an inspiration!

[@Mr2Reviews]

A collab with Self Sufficient Me would be awesome.

[@nessav7258]

I love the way you explain things so clearly. I have read permaculture one and two but you reiterate it so well.

[@Scott-jb9kp]

Thank you for answering my question Geoff! You have helped a lot! :)

[@ahmadhasif979]

Thank you scot for asking, You question help me alot 🇲🇾👍🏿👍🏼👍🏻👍🏽

[@louisegogel7973]

@@ahmadhasif979 Yes I agree, thank you for the question! And thank you for the answers Geoff.

[@orangethumb6942]

do you practice inoculating your areas with mushrooms? what are your views on considering mushroom inoculation in the design phase? Is it time well spent?

[@plantingthenorth7225]

Very well spent. Using compost is an inoculation. Mulching with straw, hay, wood chip etc is and inoculation. It happens without intention very often

[@audreycermak]

There's a good KZbin video on that topic by North Spore.

[@rileymcdonald8110]

They is a KZbin channel called north spor and the have videos specifically on mushroom growing in your normal garden

[@mikeharrington5593]

I introduced an attractive Creeping Jenny plant into my UK garden a few years back as a cover crop ! Now it is choking the whole ground area & I can't get rid of it !

[@LuckyFigFarm]

Loved the first half. Succinctly presented, pertinent points.

[@orangethumb6942]

how can we determine the soil health by reading the weeds or insects that are in it?

[@VK-qo1gm]

Awesome question, would love to know that myself

[@efrem_1167]

You just do it. Ex: comfrey or nettls growing as a weed is an indicator of rich soil. Aphids are an indicator of too much nitrogen in the soil and so on.

[@efrem_1167]

You just know them.That is how.

[@seanburger1449]

@@efrem_1167 When looking at soil alone you can look at the structure of topsoil in your hand. If it looks like lots of 'crumbs' glued together it means that the bacteria and fungi are creating good micro and macro aggregates. THis allows for air to pass through and water to soak in. If you shake your hand a bit the soil should mostly stay together, held by the glues produced by the bacteria and fungi. You can also tell a lot by the colour - 70 % dark chocolate colour means good humic acid content, indicateing that there are good levels of beneficial fungi. As for indicator weeds I think Geoff has a video explaining some of that.

[@efrem_1167]

@@seanburger1449 it is true what You say.

[@hassaneslaibi3183]

I feel that the ethics you describe are shared by the permaculture community. How can we spread them beyond it? Which kind of people are most open to such change?

[@josephsherman5288]

I think survivalists and preppers would be a good aim, people who expect to live off the land would be happy to adapt ethics that benefit them and their environments. Perhaps exclusive communities also? Like the Amish, Mormons perhaps, etc.

[@hassaneslaibi3183]

@@josephsherman5288 from my friends circle I have found younger people to resonate with this thinking more than the established farmer. The lockdown and pandemic brought many in my country (Lebanon) out of the city back to their hometown gardens up in the mountains. Those newly learning to plant are the ones who were most intrigued by what permaculture has to offer

[@DiegoPunchw]

interesting topic are "CO2 Carbon sequestration by Living Organic Farming", Plants and Soilfoodweb Due CarbonCycling can reverse climate change by carbon storage back on soil.Dr.ElaineIngran scientist talk about it.

[@christophergruenwald5054]

@@DiegoPunchw except if you use tillage it goes straight back into the atmosphere. Which may organic farms do a lot of tillage. Perennial plants, with the proper management of ruminating animals can fix the broken water cycle and store massive amounts of carbon in the ground where it belongs. Check out Greg Judy.

[@hvacstudent967]

I’m 34, middle class, Christian, libertarian, it resonates with me, i’m working with creation now in connection with the creator. I love this system, I love God, life is good. Nice try globalist’s ;) you have pushed humanity into awakening!

[@fairdinkum1079]

You’re an absolute legend thank you for sharing

[@isbestlizard]

Haha love the aussie magpies in the background :D

[@msdramamusic]

This is very informative. I need to control my edges.

[@1UMMA]

I've seen you greening deserts or being part of projects in Jordan , Saudi Arabia( albaydha), Algeria, Australia... did you use the same strategy everytime? Which one you had more success and why? Is it a matter of work ethics or do certain natural & climate settings are easier than other? Thank you for your work thank you for your teachings..much Love & respect to you from Tunisia. 🇦🇨🇹🇳

[@jhosk]

When I think about permaculture design, the garden of Eden comes to mind

[@bonzothebrown7603]

When selecting plants, leafy greens (but not lettuce) are the priority, they have the highest mineral content of any plants, have no skin to block herbicides, they have the shortest shelf life and the prebiotic fibre missing from modern diets.

[@Hoireabard]

You really provided a thorough and excellent answer to my question Geoff. You are the best. Thank you so much!

[@palace927]

Check our Bealtaine Cottage on youtube. Collette is from West Ireland and I know she used a lot of gravel for drainage.

[@leslieguerrero4834]

Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge!

[@cristymenapace677]

I absolutely ❤️ your videos! Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge!

[@louisegogel7973]

THANK YOU!!! Always enjoy the journey! Yes yes yes.

[@bigchieftomato]

Thank you Geoff! You are one of my personal heroes, thank you for sharing and getting consistent with KZbin uploads - you are the best! Hope to meet you in the flesh one day :)

[@feemcdonald4423]

Thanks Geoff....brilliant

[@davidmaldonado9512]

Hola geoff me encantó tu clase de bosque comestible pero no sé inglés como muchas personas en Latinoamérica sería posible traducir al español por favor te estaríamos eternamente agradecidos Gracias por el trabajo que estás haciendo , esto podría salvar nuestro planeta

[@AntonioLopez-kx6ho]

Geoff Lawton, it is very good to be encouraged, and it is something we need, but please approach the issue from a realistic point of view and be honest with the main problems that people who do not enjoy the favor of the institutions can encounter. Geoff Lawton, está muy bien que nos des ánimos, y es algo que necesitamos, pero por favor aborda el tema desde un punto de vista realista y se honesto con los principales problemas que se pueden encontrar las personas que no disfrutan del favor de las instituciones.

[@VK-qo1gm]

Thank you for great & very useful info, love your garden & moggi of course

[@muzingayengwenya4587]

Now I think I can begin packing to relocate to the country side. Thanks a lot for this video Geoff

[@kathygracevlog]

These are gold informations!!! Thank you

[@timhess9903]

Thanks so much! I enjoyed the presentation and the ethics

[@colinmacguire]

Geoff, I am so excited to have stumbled upon you and your videos! I am totally new to permaculture, so please excuse the ignorance in my questions. Geoff, we live on a property with a relatively steep landscape running down from the top of the property to the road at the bottom (about 1400 square metres in total). We would like to create a flower garden, but also, to make a food garden. Where do we start? I saw in your videos you speak about contours and that one needs to prevent water from running off. How would we go about designing the garden to a) prevent water, soil & nutrient runoff, and b) to retain the water as we live in a relatively dry climate (Gauteng, South Africa). Thanks again for sharing your passion. It's infectious:)

[@regieayson3285]

Thank for sharing very informative

[@strugglersfarm5428]

Haven't seen you in a while hope all is well. Can't wait to learn more. Thank You for all the videos Geoff

[@plantingthenorth7225]

LOVELY spot on as always! To add to the wet climate question #2, is species selection. What foods grow naturally in swamps, lake edges, marshlands etc. One temperate example I can think of is celery and its friend celeriac. They love being soaking wet

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

Google "Water Plants", specifying food plants, check for a wiki list, there are a few for food plants that are very useful, like the Wiki List of Leafy Vegetables~

[@plantingthenorth7225]

WILD RICE! How could I be so forgetful. Zizania Palustris

[@dingchat555]

If you're in the Americas, you could grow the native Sagittaria latifolia, the broadleaf arrowhead. It's a wetland plant with edible tubers; some websites also say the leaves, particularly when young, are edible as well, though the species is known for the tubers. I don't know how productive it is as a garden-grown food plant, but it could be a good addition for some more garden diversity while supporting native species. Of course, I'm biased because it's one of my favourite plants.

[@jaysvlog9803]

Wow this is amazing you have no pests no mold nothing just amazing

[@lifeofkrie]

your videos are informative, easy to understand, and inspiring...

[@strugglersfarm5428]

How do you feel about converting our natural forest to food forest to feed the world. Millions of acres of woodland forest around the world could be converted into food forest that would feed people for generations to come. Don't know if this question fits but I've always felt like it was a very simple step toward food security. If we plant them they will grow

[@etherealrose2139]

There's more than enough desert to transform before you go disrupting an already working and diverse biome such as a woodland

[@homesoulgrownhandmaidenoft5276]

Excellent content. The 1st video of yours I saw was on PH. Exactly the type of channel I've been looking for. Others do well too. You are spot on and right to the point. Thank you 🤓

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

I used to belong to a local permaculture group. It had a good turnout originally but quickly dwindled and finally there were only five of us that tried to keep it going. The ethics were there, but the reality wasn't. We have great ethics, but then people on the whole flounder on how to care for the earth. they want to give back to others, but really don't know how to make that work. What comprises giving back to others? Maybe we are looking for too grand of a gesture or too great of a change. But regardless, making it real instead of theoretical seems to be a hurdle.

[@turningtidefoundation6080]

Thanks a tone for the wealth of information. God bless you 🙏❤. Thanks to you're inspiring work and teachings were able to do food forests for orphinages, old age homes, schools, tribals and farmers. Thanks a tone Geoff Lawton. You're amazing

[@thletter-iz8fu]

Thank You Sir!!

[@tomjolles3761]

in regards to permaculture ethics, what is your stance on food forests being open to the general public? in other words, what is your experience with unregulated food forrest areas and what systems (eg. volunteers) have you set up for day to day functioning?

[@tinnerste2507]

Here in germany i live in the middle of european commons. Its primarily for firewood harvesting but theres a whole healthy ecosystem here that supports lynx. People here may pick produce ljke nuts berries and mushrooms to a certain amount 15 kg for berries and no limits on mushrooms. If you wsnt to sell what you hunt or forage, you must pay for a lisence, but its not overly expensive. Things like hunting and tree felling are heavily regulated so you need training, and you may only harvest sfter soeaking with the forester. He will decide which trees ate ready to fell or which animals are becoming overpopulated and are allowed to be hunted. For me, my lisence is 10 euro per year and 40 europer tree or, if i want the forsster to do it and drop it by my home 200 euro.

[@tinnerste2507]

My area is called oberharz. We have a massive water collecting system here made of hundreds of resoviours and channels on contour its facinating to see the earthworks at such a large scale.

[@dingchat555]

@@tinnerste2507 That sounds amazing. As I do more research on the topic, I realize that something similar does indeed exist here in Canada - foraging on Crown land is allowed, though you also need a permit for fishing and hunting. This type of 'forageable' crown land in Ontario only extends southward to near the north shores of Lake Ontario if I recall correctly, meaning the most populated parts of Ontario & Canada overall, west and south of Lake Ontario, don't have nearby access to this type of common land. My concern as it relates to foraging, fishing, & hunting in Crown land is the potential level of exposure to industrial pollutants and pesticides.

[@tinnerste2507]

@@dingchat555 my area is a historical mining area for lead copper and silver we are also on the border between east and west germany so there are some lakes here closed because old ammunition was dumped there. We also have detailed maps of the areas as well as a foot or so humus covering the ground. Mostly the leaves, meat and berries are very safe to eat becaue the plants dont take in the pollution, they leave it in the soil. There are some areas though where fishkng and mushroom gathering are unsafe. Of course this is ontop of modern polution like acid rain, chernobly etc... i think there are no more unpoluted corners of the world anymore sadly. If you cant find a map of pollution, test some of the soil in the area you want to forage and say its from your garden if you need to.

[@tinnerste2507]

@@dingchat555 you might also use the newspaper and offer to do some garden work like tree trimming in return for some fruit. I had this arrangement with eldery neighbors, they even baked me pies on a few occasions.

[@FunnySurpriseToys]

Hello my friend! Beautiful! Have a nice weekend! 👍

[@elpas.6974]

thank you! so exciting 😄

[@coderxster3303]

Hey Geoff. I'm wondering if you could give some practical examples of how you factor in the ethics when going through a design? Is it something that you explicitly design around, or do they happen to be integrated as a result of good design? A couple of real world design examples would be great! Thanks.

[@dailyharmony2052]

If I may, I'd like to take a crack at your inquiry..., If one takes stock of current situation, and factors what is right and wrong in all known aspects of it, one then is obligated to prioritize and make new decisions as more data information becomes available. observing the of action and inaction re actions and consequences Ethics (as defined by merriam-webster) 1 : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation 2a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values the present-day materialistic ethic an old-fashioned work ethic 2b the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group professional ethics c : a guiding philosophy d : a consciousness of moral importance forge a conservation ethic 3 ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness)

[@DiscoverPermaculture]

Hi @coderxster, thanks for commenting :-) Geoff answers your question in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaOtiYqgl85mo6c - Best wishes, Bonnie (GLO team member)

[@coderxster3303]

@@DiscoverPermaculture Thanks Bonnie! And Thanks Geoff!

[@irinakirilenko8759]

powerful knowledge

[@odonnellsaussiehomestead8257]

Brilliant!!!!! 🥰👍

[@JohnnyAppleseedOrganic]

Thank you for another great video. Your herb spiral is beautiful...I know what my next weekend project is ;)

[@vallip4254]

So many people I've talked to about perma systems say they find some of it daunting - I see it as information overload - Geoff you make sense = doable...thanks

[@atmaramkhot7983]

Sir, u r really doing great job ,Natural way to nourish, Respect n understand the Nature, Mother Earth in distress n along with abundance of food for Humans, Birds n Animals

[@hunterp7821]

Very dense info 👍❤️

[@pablohofmannpuentes791]

God Bless You Brother, Shalom!!!

[@ladyboysexypollyzazakongsu3958]

Thanks​ you​ very​ much​ I​ love​ Your garden​ video​😍​

[@justahappygardener]

Nice one Geoff :) Paul from Scotland

[@oscarherrera9049]

Greetings Geoff happy new year 2021

[@davidb9059]

Hard on . This is valuable.

[@kijkedwin]

Lovely.

[@dilipnilakhe5443]

Wow so much to learn from you, you are treasure of knowledge, I am from india and we have rainy season, so it pours 4 months in a year and other months mostly dry climate, so I guess we should focus on storage as much as possible and recharge the ground water using techniques you suggested, this is my take away.thanks.

[@annburge291]

Could you talk about the ethics of a small number of farmers having the right to pump water from the aquifers for mainly export crops and leaving the local people with shallow wells running dry... water that large number of people require. I'm thinking of avocado growers in Chile, pecan orchards in Chihuahua Mexico...

[@hassaneslaibi3183]

Thanks Geoff! Inspiring video as usual ❤️ Is there a database or good book to select varieties of plants that work in a certain climate (temperature, shading, etc). This would be super helpful for adding variety and hopefully saves some trial and error. Im in Lebanon in a semi dry area with hot summer / cold winter and plenty of direct sunlight. I have difficulty figuring out what works in my climate.

[@tim1tim2tim3tim4]

A good site for free is pfaf.org you can filter by many parameters. I still hope to see further responses with other databanks

[@Hslaibi]

@@tim1tim2tim3tim4 thanks a lot, the search feature is very valuable. I'll trade you the tip with this one: it's an app I like called PlantNet that identifies plants by photo and the nice thing about it is that you can select which database you want to look at based on your location. It's like a crowdsourced ID project that might be useful to find out what's in your area.

[@Hslaibi]

@Jon Hanzen this is great! I checked the weather in Denver and it's almost the same as my hometown throughout the year. This is a great insight already. Thanks man, I'll check out the book.

[@jmessick8163]

Hassane and others this replies: Not to offend but rather to explain. I am an American homesteader who loves learning alternative ways to live at peace with the natural world around me. I am responsible and am conscious about how my decisions affect those around me and the earth. I do the best I can. I am sharing with my children and husband what I learn. We experiment and adapt to our environment. That said you cannot just manipulate or target people to do anything. You MUST simply live the change. By your living example or just simply sharing with those whom are curious you will see change. Just LIVE by example. That is how the world will change. Be the change!

[@hassaneslaibi3183]

@@jmessick8163 spot on. Thanks so much for sharing this thought. We must remain humble and accepting and lead by example as you describe.

[@ejsrn724]

I live on less than a half acre of land. It is sloped in my backyard. Rainy mountains of Western North Carolina USA. I am planning on making some mini swales+mounds for a vegetable garden and at the bottom of the slope, create a rain garden. We have issues with flash flooding and the neighbor’s house floods almost into their house, it’s like a moat around them during floods. Floods our yard, but thankfully, not the house. Anyway, I’m hoping my garden can slow the rain runoff a little bit since we’re already dealing with creeks flooding. Maybe the water will run off once the creek starts going down. That’s my hope anyway. I hope I’m not going to add to the problem by storing water in the ground with the plums under my mini swales and especially the rain garden. All the info on these things I’m getting from researching online so I’m not sure if I’m getting a good grasp on big picture/long term.

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

Principle three should have a caveat that obtaining a yield must be regenerative, never at the expense of natural systems, never exhausting supplies or breaking future production. It must be in the principle itself, to bring the flaw in our mainstream practices to a conscious level until we can trust to let natural systems guide us~

[@olsonlr]

I have been watching and much enjoying for quite a while. Trying to apply to central Georgia USA. Thinking that a lot of that advice about incorporating native trees might be better for the tropics than here. Predominant trees here are loblolly pines and sweet gum (liquid amber). Nothing grows well near them. They will suck the life out of the soil.

[@Jo-xf4nt]

Hey Geoff, what are you going to do drifferent (if anything) now that we are at the treshould of a grand solar minimum? Great video! Love your information.

[@dantheman9135]

ThankQ

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

All of humanity has a Confluent Responsibility to build up the air, the water, the land, the plants, the animals, all people, to build up the supporting infrastructure of life itself. Ultimately, life is the only currency the universe recognizes. All resources put to war, control, systems that generate hardship, and monuments to those ends, are time and energies squandered, that we must put to better use, in building a world centered on life, to move past civilization into celebration, the Celebration of Life and the Celebration of Abundance.

[@rumrhapsod]

Hi Geoff! How much the fact of taking care of earth and people should prevail upon non acting towards thing to resolve problems (as Fukuoka says)? in others words, are these two firsts ethics about actively taking care of something or only to care about something (and to take action only if necessary)? at what point to much acts becomes non ethical? I hope i didn't get too abstract on this! a big thanks from switzerland

[@dalinatuu8506]

Thank you,i shall do

[@fairyfarm238]

I am facinated by your videos! Can you talk more in details about contour? I have a 4ha property including a 1 ha pond at the bottom surrounded by dry land (4 months without a drop of rain) in the city of Launceston, Tas. It seems perfect for your teaching. Any more detailed suggestions as to where I should start to contour my property so the dry parts can naturally retain more water before it all rushing into the pond - it has puddles of water 5 m away from the pond in winter raining season. But dead dry and clay in summer. All grass turned yellow.

[@estebanfigueroa2050]

Geoff!! Teach us some liquid microbio fertilizers!

[@seanburger1449]

Hi Esteban, If you're serious about it look into Dr Elaine Ingham and 'Soil food web'.

[@estebanfigueroa2050]

@@seanburger1449 Sean, thank you. Im actually doing her launch your lab course atm. I just love Geoff s approachs and ways to simplify important practice s. Buen dia!

[@seanburger1449]

@@estebanfigueroa2050 Nice! I'm doing the same course. Not so easy to tell whats what under the microscope but getting there! Good luck and I'm sure I'll see you on the forum sometime.

[@jakenewman6133]

Hi Geoff, Wondering how to balance form and function for people that are starting to consider the benefits of permaculture. It is difficult for people to sacrifice the aesthetic of modern manicured landscaping even in light of the potential benefits. Do you have any tips and tricks of design to maintain aesthetic? Is there any advice you can give to help people move passed this conceptual barrier? Thanks!

[@jakenewman6133]

@@NashvilleMonkey1000 I think I understand your point but I think you will find most of the time it isn't the city that exerts that kind of pressure and that it is usually HOA groups. That being said not everyone is limited by collective housing standards but consider hanging milk crates, deep straw mulch, rainwater runoff tubs, etc. an eyesore. thanks for your reply!

[@christophergruenwald5054]

@@jakenewman6133 cities have ordinances against not mowing your lawn.

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

Factory Farms are driving populations of many wild animals into cities, causing cities to strip the streets of all food, basically doing their part in sterilizing the planet~

[@jakenewman6133]

@@christophergruenwald5054 You are certainly right about that. Hopefully by leading the way and getting people excited about permaculture less people will want lawns and slowly faze them out.7

[@jakenewman6133]

@@NashvilleMonkey1000 that's true. What do you mean by stripping the streets of food?

[@stefanomoretti3664]

The importance of contour is understood. My question: how do you balance the contour design with the need for mechanical work/machines in a permaculture design in earlier stages ?

[@chriswong8659]

Cute cat 😁

[@jpsamy_inthezone]

¼ acre is small 😱😳 And here I am, starting with less than ⅒ of an acre, with business and home already built on it 😅 Have 12 hours of direct sun though 😎

[@varunvanchi]

Hi Geoff!! In regards to permaculture ethics, what all components can be included in "Fair share", other than sharing food. If you could elaborate on inclusiveness as well, please. Thanks!!

[@nessav7258]

Can I add, the sharing of resources i.e. water, land, knowledge, seeds, time and human connection. There you have the basis to start your journey of self preservation.

[@acommunistdwarf]

Thanks for all this insight being made available free. My question to you would be how do we involve permaculture ethics in politics and activism? The foundations seems deeply rooted on respect for others and the community that provides for us all, which in my view is the tenet of left politics, can you comment on ways to bring permaculture ethics into politics?

[@kikikut22]

Just take the JFK quote and slightly change to, "ask not what others can do for earth and people, but what YOU can do for earth and people, (especially when you have a surplus)"

[@etherealrose2139]

The left cares nothing for nature nor does the right. Your issue is getting caught up in politics at all Just live your life the best you can. No one cares about your activism unless you're trying to win a popularity contest (politician)

[@QyetOne]

Hi Geoff! Love your shares, though I'm in a cold temperate zone (really on the southern edge of the colder portions of the temperate zone). Do you have any good recommendations for edge control/path design in the temperate zone? (full sun, even rainfall month to month, quick draining soil, working on that =D)

[@LesleyConsulting]

TOP PLANTS FOR HOT AND COOL CLIMATES. With hot summers (up to 43 C / 105 F) and moderate rainfall ( 360mm in a drought and 650mm average), I'd normally plant Mediterranean perennial edibles. But cool winters (zone 8b with some hard frosts and lows down to -7 C ish / 19 F) knock them out. What are your favourites plants for this situation? Also are there any other parts of the world I could look to for inspiring equivalents? fyi I'm in Central West NSW (on the other side of the great dividing range). The edible trees are going great apples, pears, stonefruit, nuts, feijoa, loquat, blood orange, lemon but it's the ones for the table month in and month out (even if they get knocked back in winter and return in spring that are proving a challenge.) Thanks Geoff! Always lovely to see Zaytuna farm again. I still remember my time there in 2013 very fondly.

[@franziskani]

Is it possible your plants get too much rain. Not the cold takes them out but winter rains ?

[@mikearcher6568]

Hi Geoff; Mike from Cumbria England I have been volunteering with RSPB Naddal Farm Hawswater. Their land has been heavily grazed for decades. their land is in my mind challenging it is a long way above sea level 400m 550m at the passes to the next valleys and up to 900m or son on top of the mountains/ridges around the valleys with cliffs and rock outcrops up the steeper areas and peat bog in the valleys. They also experience up to 1600ml/year. We have been planting Juniper and are aiming to collect the berries to make gin to sell to further what they need to do. Their aim as I understand it financially self-supporting and generating; increase biodiversity for ornithology and create a clean catchment area for Hawswater reservoir. United Utilities have planted thousands of trees in the catchment area some seem a little strange: Oak; sycamore; Holley; rowan; hawthorn; blackthorn..... I haven't noticed any alder broom or gorse. This really highlights an issue for me: in a temperate climate of this nature what plants can we naturally grow to provide food for ourselves and biodiversity? From watching many of your videos now I get the methodology the species I suspect are going to be very different due to our relative geography and I'm struggling to find good sources of information. Can you please shed some light on this for me?

[@kaxiaz]

Clear ethics its something that makes permaculture very different compared with other ecological movements.What is the story behind the creation of ethics in permaculture, was it Bill Mollisons idea from the beggining?

[@farmhousepasirmadang4381]

Hi Geoff, do you have video that explain about chop and drop method for lazy fertilizing?

[@louisputallaz7556]

I still need an answer to age old question of having access to 80 acres in NE California on the edge of desertification. The only thing growing there is grandpa’s old garden and enough rice to cover taxes and some upkeep on the roads. The slope if any is between 1 and 3 degrees and it has 2 creeks that run about every 10 years or so and the only way I know this is I have witnessed it with my own eyes. So my question to you is this : to swale or not to swale ? Ground cover or not to cover crop ?

[@mickkelly4032]

This guy has to be the next President....Surely.!

[@rennae6018]

Prime Minister?

[@dailyharmony2052]

Would it be ethical for the President of the United States to request your Permaculture consultation in Making America Great Again ? We love ya, Bless ya and your family. And may God Bless America.

[@audreyorgnon7112]

Hi Geoff, I think, the answer to my question is 'yes', but : do we need to cover with mulch a ground that is in an area where the sun does not burn...? And why? I used to do so in the south of Tenerife (desert) now I'm in a cooler and more humid micro-climate in the north of El Hierro. Greetings from the Canary Islands

[@cedarchoppincartographer]

Regarding the ethics of permaculture. If we build functional ecosystems then we inevitably introduce predators. I have a pack of coyotes that frequent my homestead. I do not want to kill them, but I feel pressure to do so from my neighbors and family. What do you think about that?

[@hvacstudent967]

Stewardship requires harvesting of over produced elements in any system. Eat the coyote, create bone meal and blood meal for your plants, protect your animals, the circle of life.

[@urutuc]

get yourself a couple of german shepperds... there is no call for killing.

[@etherealrose2139]

There is always call for killing. Natural disease, starvation, or predation happens to every species and we are part of the food chain. We are predators. You can choose not to kill but killing will be done for you whether you want to or not. Buzzards gotta eat same as worms.

[@ejsrn724]

Apparently, coyotes produce more babies if they hear less calls from each other. I’ve wondered if you can play a coyote calling track on loud speakers and make them produce less/more average level babies. I haven’t researched that part yet. Just thinking. Haha

[@ejsrn724]

Meant to clarify. So killing = less coyotes = less howling. Triggers more babies (twins and such). Apparently, that’s why the population has exploded and of course killing off their competition (wolves). So if we can trick them into thinking there are plenty of coyotes, maybe that can keep their numbers down.

[@keithandyulonda3395]

Hi Geoff, Yulonda here. I live near Orlando, FL and I live in an area very close to a wildlife habitat. My HOA discourages planting edibles because the potential to attract the wildlife (particularly bears). I have a screened in deck and decided to grow in containers. Not my preferred method but better than nothing. Can you describe, in detail, how to design a permaculture container garden for those of us who have to grow in pots? I’ve watched many of your inspiring videos and you’ve mentioned container gardening, but it hasn’t been the focus of a video. Thanks in advance.

[@TechWzBst]

The main thing is to never have bare soil. You can still include all sorts of colourful flowers and smelly plants underneath pots of climbing tomatoes, around eggplants or between your lettuces. Where you don't do this at least mulch the soil

[@DAdityaC]

What steps can we follow to make the ecosystem more nutrient positive? What are the demerits of having overly rich soil?

[@roelandselleslachs3292]

Thanks for the video Geoff! Are the three ethics summed up in order of importance? Does "people care" have priority over "earth care"? If so, will it remain like that, even when let's say overpopulation swings out of control? Thanks again.

[@kikikut22]

Think it depends where on is in their life, like many developed nations where people are for the most part, very well cared for, but largely at the cost of the environment's health, then maybe earth care ought to take precedence.

[@ejsrn724]

Are there resources devoted to more small-scale gardens? Like, the swales would be foot-path sized and probably not for trees, but more for perennials and veggies. Yes, I know these things are touched on here and in other videos, but wondering if there’s some info clumped together for that? I don’t want to sign up for any classes since it’s just a small garden at my home. Maybe less than 400 square feet total of vegetables and pollinator plants.

[@Balaji0596]

Please do a tour of Zaytuna farm. It's been more than a year ❤️

[@cristianlungu2977]

Hy! here's my question about homestead level Earth Care: Can you turn a soil sodic from too much greywater/treated water usage (homestead scale)? I plan (in spring) on using treated water (both grey and black that has been passed through an aerobic electric pumped water treatment plant) for irrigating parts of my clay-based garden (in total, around 800 m3) planted with honeylocust, elaeagnus species and alfalfa (all three from decompaction purposes, which is a real problem). I plan on cutting down to zero sodium from detergents but there is still urine which contains appreciable amounts of sodium (table salt) - 3 kg per person per year (we are family of three). Will using this kind of water be harmful in the end, for soil - taking it to the point of being unproductive and even more compacted/collapsed, knowing that sodium is for the most part useless for plants but also toxic for plant life in significant amounts? I'm in an temperate continental climate, semiarid to arid - in fact, bellow 380 mm (official number) per year precipitation. Thank you.

[@zephaniahwmarion7311]

❤️

[@gwynnethvanjaarsveld7030]

How can we use permaculture principles and ethics in this time of global crisis? Please give strategy for getting through pandemic.

[@veganchiefwarrior6444]

never had strawberry diseases in my 7 year old strawberry patch im worried now

[@TheEketone]

I have started breeding pastured meats rabbits as a low energy food source for our family. Was hoping to get some insight on your experience with rabbits at Zaytuna. We are also in Northern NSW and I am interested in growing more fodder for them. Any suggestions on species you have had success with? Leucaena, tagasastae? thanks

[@rachellestringer]

I would love hearing about this as well, rabbit breeder here!!

[@Clarinda787]

Do you know what USDA Garden Zone your farm is in? It would be interesting to find out if any of the plants you use there would grow here.

[@rossmuir9730]

so Q&A......We need people to grasp the new concept of Modern Evironmentalism Architecture which is not just Nature Neutral like roof/wall vegetation covered buildings..But AKA ...TWIN TOWERS GARDENS...IOW 1 acre of footprint multiplied to 110 acres of soil and it's byproduct....I think it's to start building towers at scale...

[@lauracouto3967]

Olá. Muito Obrigado Quero aprender. Se possível, por favor, ensinar fazendo. Nem todos sabemos inglês Amo permacultura E no inverno o que fazer? Obrigado🌿☀️🌳