Food Garden Priorities | Permaculture Q&A

[@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~

[@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...

[@TheWeedyGarden]

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

[@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!

[@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 !

[@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.

[@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.

[@msdramamusic]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@leslieguerrero4834]

Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge!

[@muzingayengwenya4587]

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

[@SpiritusBythos]

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

[@JaysCashVault]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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?

[@LuckyFigFarm]

Loved the first half. Succinctly presented, pertinent points.

[@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

[@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

[@Nu_genele_dicteaza_sorocul3]

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.

[@Nu_genele_dicteaza_sorocul3]

You just know them.That is how.

[@seanburger1449]

@@Nu_genele_dicteaza_sorocul3 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.

[@Nu_genele_dicteaza_sorocul3]

@@seanburger1449 it is true what You say.

[@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

[@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...

[@pablohofmannpuentes791]

God Bless You Brother, Shalom!!!

[@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

[@FunnySurpriseToys]

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

[@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)

[@lifeofkrie]

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

[@jhosk]

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

[@regieayson3285]

Thank for sharing very informative

[@fairdinkum1079]

You’re an absolute legend thank you for sharing

[@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 🤓

[@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.

[@odonnellsaussiehomestead8257]

Brilliant!!!!! 🥰👍

[@JohnnyAppleseedOrganic]

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

[@davidb9059]

Hard on . This is valuable.

[@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.

[@LesleyWhiteHealing]

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 ?

[@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~

[@VK-qo1gm]

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

[@dalinatuu8506]

Thank you,i shall do

[@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.

[@ladyboysexypollyzazakongsu3958]

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

[@feemcdonald4423]

Thanks Geoff....brilliant

[@kathygracevlog]

These are gold informations!!! Thank you

[@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

[@asf130thecompany7]

Well let me ask you this: I live in Scandic region of Europe and the issue is that most of the soil seems to be clay ish so how would you help it to improve? For a berry and fruit garden

[@beingreenpermaculture8613]

Humus. Clay is often acidic so should be good for berries. Aren't berries a national Cuisine in Scandanavia? Thought they would naturally grow well (?)

[@asf130thecompany7]

@@beingreenpermaculture8613 Yes wild varieties grows but not all varieties :) And forget to mention its not the light clay soil but a heavy one which cracks when dry and goes to muddy when decently wetted :/

[@kikikut22]

But no, asf is getting at the non-draining problem. So, ammend/mix in compost, also sandy soil, or rock dust to help balance you know?

[@poetsrear]

I'd try slow rotting fibrous additive, like wood chip, willow, annual stalks, for aeration, cover and anti-compressive effect. Also some gravel could do (or just make it worse, with hard clay mixed with rock). Lake hummus, as suggested, holds a lot of enzymes, humic & fulvic acids, which are like a bubble bath for ground microbial life. It could boost up the organic process and accelerate the soil improvement from clay to mulch. But if it's bad, you'd probably need a few cycles of cover / improvement crops left unharvested; perhaps something with deep roots to increase drainage in the clay. So to get a layer of organic matter on top of the clay, and also preferably deep roots penetrating it (willow is native to the north, has powerful roots, grows fast, likes watery riversides[=clayey] and produces quality fibers). Also look into no-tilling farming methods, it's successfully implemented against soil erosion, desertification and soil compaction, which are basically the features that clay presents.

[@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.

[@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?

[@oscarherrera9049]

Greetings Geoff happy new year 2021

[@dantheman9135]

ThankQ

[@farmhousepasirmadang4381]

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

[@hunterp7821]

Very dense info 👍❤️

[@elpas.6974]

thank you! so exciting 😄

[@justahappygardener]

Nice one Geoff :) Paul from Scotland

[@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.

[@aussiegardener5703]

how many head of cattle or sheep can you effectively graze per acre whilst rotationally grazing them and how large would you have the paddocks and how regularly would you rotate them? thanks.

[@seanburger1449]

I think Joel Salatin has 1 cow per 0.9 acres on good pasture and moves them daily.

[@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 😎

[@gwynnethvanjaarsveld7030]

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

[@VeganChiefWarrior]

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

[@aldas3831]

Hi Jeff! Very helpful as always. Is the third principle called fair share or return of surplus? I have heard other permaculture people use fair share...and I like your definition better.

[@nessav7258]

return of surplus is return to the land for nature demands a return for every gift received or the user must pay.

[@kikikut22]

It's the same thing, right

[@aldas3831]

@@kikikut22 no, it’s quite different...fair for whom? Who decides what is fair?

[@kikikut22]

@@aldas3831 good thinking alda🙂

[@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

[@alexwade78]

What if you've only got the aspect you have? Should we remove some old trees to.create more sun time?

[@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.

[@hvacstudent967]

My question about permaculture ethics are in contrast to morality preached by religion. Joe Saladin for example spreads his message about stewardship from the perspective of a Christian, serving the creator while honoring creation. I think both permaculture and what polyface farms, or Joe Salatin, are teaching us as ethical farmers/designers is very similar. Do you see moral / ethical differences in the two schools of thought? If so how? How do we combine the old world of morality based on faith in God with the ethics of permaculture?

[@Tak9628]

What do you do for very steep sun exposed slopes? I know swales shouldn't be used too steep for risk of landslides. For a smaller scale, 30 degree or similar angle, this piece is urban and limited in what's allowed. Currently almost nothing but invasive grasses will grow and that is sparingly.

[@chriswong8659]

Cute cat 😁

[@faysalahmedsany1832]

Drinking water level is going deep down.How to solve this problem?

[@kikikut22]

Hold the water into the earth. SO many methods depending the situation. Plant more trees, create swales, mulch, stop deforestation, take out impermeable human-built structures like concrete, asphalt, etc., prevent erosion in landscape, etc.

[@animalloverabh]

Would you say we need food gardens and food forests? Instead of just food forests and meadow/grassland?

[@cg1tube]

Several times you mention contour. I don’t understand any of that. Can you point me to a video or some articles? Thank you! I’m in blistering hot windy Central Texas and it’s hard to grow things but working on it…..

[@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)

[@mickkelly4032]

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

[@rennae6018]

Prime Minister?

[@janevaguenther7308]

How would you design a vegetable garden if you were not short on space at all?

[@ForageGardener]

Locate some of it close to the house in the near zones. But if there is an area with better soil or better water access, that can be wise to grow there. Depends what your goals are. Work WITH nature to supply your needs. Many things should be close to home for easy use

[@ForageGardener]

Check out my channel I have a few videos about building free organic soil and free raised garden hugelbeds etc :)

[@hedykarim3570]

How do you garden in a high wind area ? Like a beach coastal area ..,sandy ,salty very ,very high wind . Summer is , windy dry ,humid and hot, winter is cold , windy and wet . Thanks North Carolina Coast USA.

[@kikikut22]

Um, I'm not understanding @ 10 minutes about responding to unexpected weather or climate change undesirable situations of drought by "closing off the footpaths"??? By the time a drought is realised, would this closing off retain water? So there's still SOME water falling? But by the time you realise drought situation...?

[@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...

[@Mashiamape22]

Where do we ask questions

[@AYoung-rt9ij]

Geoff, sir. Im beside myself today. Ive been wanting to buy bills first three books. An watched the price go past wonky. I was just waiting to get paid again, but the $$, went to 150, then $300, more than i had at the time. So no dice today. I ask you, since ive been following your progress for quite a while. If the world intranet gave the ghost up, how????? Might i get the books i think us, who could teach, aquire them? If you would have us we would move, but, i still think this "infant americas" , needs to be returned, and retaught. What is important. How can i get my hands on a copy, ???

[@SolidGoldShows]

Hello Geoff, I live in a desert land with no access to water. Except, stores that sells it. My desert land is flat. How do I go about collecting water for use? I live in Southern California.

[@kikikut22]

Rainwater harvesting, and good points about very problematic water situation there

[@dingchat555]

Are you concerned about your cat harming non-pest native wildlife, e.g. birds? Free-roaming cats are a major problem for this reason in Australia, as well as in many other parts of the world, even if they're not feral. Love your channel. I hope to join the permaculture movement some day.

[@Sha3Doo]

permaculture in high saline soils? how to combat root burn etc.?

[@jond532]

can we live on Perennials only?

[@ForageGardener]

I'm pretty sure its possible, but it would take a long time. However there is a way to get there! And you can grow annuals in a "perennial" way :) I have a few videos regarding some of this type of thing

[@jond532]

@@ForageGardener We've only been farming for 10,000 years so I'm sure it's the normal to eat from perennials! can't imagine living off just fruit and leaves tho! but maybe it's the way we should go. Nice i will check

[@RifaTzAhin]

What do you think about GMO crops? Do they fit in a permaculture system? Can I mix GMOs with native plants?

[@kikikut22]

Ha! Great question, and to add a great thought, let me just categorize your question as a "surplus back to earth and people care", you dig?

[@ForageGardener]

Short answer. No

[@ecojardim]

hi, excuse me the question, i am german speaker and i do not find a translation for the word "sureplus". can´t understand what this is. please could someone help me with this?

[@samkinpommers4558]

Surplus is the what remains after you have satisfied your own needs. Thanks for asking that question. It helped my understanding of the three principles of permaculture. An understanding of surplus and how to benefit others with it would go along way to curing the inequities of our current systems.

[@ecojardim]

@@samkinpommers4558 hey! thxalot! you make my day ;) how do you say? nothing happens by accident. now i understand why i didn't find a translation, i just misspelled the word. well, but this way i could help you. isn´t that great? and so it goes! have a nice day! hey if you are interessted in my place, take a look here: ecojardim.net

[@jokoramdani6798]

Hi Geoff,,your videos very great,,can you give Indonesian subtitlle so i can learn it more easier😁😁😁

[@jond532]

Can annual crops be sustainable if it requires disturbing the soil to harvest? i.e. potatoes, carrots...

[@ForageGardener]

Yes disturbing the soil by hand is fine for harvest. Its different when you use a machine.

[@jond532]

@@ForageGardener interesting! any idea why?

[@ForageGardener]

@@jond532 Machines disrupt the soil far more. even putting these machine on the soil destorys it. ATVs and occassional trucks are not so bad. But massive farm equipment destroys soil just my touching it. As does "tilling". "tilling" is when you rip up the soil multiple times a year for weeding/planting/fertilizing. It anihilates the soil. Simply planting and harvesting is fine. However hand harvesting is much better than machine harvesting.

[@shadyman6346]

Robert Plant?

[@EstebanZavalaF]

When to use swales vs keyline!!!

[@nessav7258]

Keyline is a system of pasture irrigation where water can be released to flood a broad area, whereas swales are used to slow water down and infiltrate areas on contour.

[@EstebanZavalaF]

@@nessav7258 thanks! Both are on controur-or 1°, and are used to slow water. I want to do the test in a landscape, but i would like to know geoff experience/knowledge

[@nessav7258]

@@EstebanZavalaF sure, please ask. In the area where I live, Mr Yeomans owned property and created his keyline system. Just recently, some was sold for residential development. It was still working just before that, with stepped dams still evident in the landscape.

[@EstebanZavalaF]

@@nessav7258 awesome!!!!

[@hypeogaming8600]

you have a cat running freely on property?

[@parllax]

It's been a while. Are you taking a break? That's fine I do respect you. How much climate change will affect permaculture in general and permaculture farms? And how effective permaculture against climate change in the following decades as climate change get's worst.

[@manish7779]

They say that ur question violates the very defination of self sufficiency.

[@joeyisnice]

I had too many ducks and they killed everything, even the grass and weeds. Ducks are under control now but I can't get anything to grow in 100 degree weather. Now the rainy season is coming. Should I just make some swales? Will all the soil just wash into the swales and fill them? Not sure how to get roots back into the bare ground. All I have is canopy and understory now.

[@nessav7258]

I would break up the soil then cover the soil with mulch to minimise erosion. When this has had time to break down and add fertility, then you can grow ground covers.

[@kaxiaz]

How should we react when we see permaculturists acting against the Permaculture ethics?

[@ForageGardener]

How so?

[@TechWzBst]

@@ForageGardener I guess he means like saying they're permaculturists but not actually practicing earth care, people care and return of surplus.

[@VeganChiefWarrior]

gardening is 99 percent weeding lmao

[@theaveragegamer879]

I clicked cuz I thought you was Rambo

[@pomademahal]

Endless supplies of bananas I see!