Permaculture News Now ...news and tips on sustainable and regenerative green living!

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Easy Way To Grow Herbs At Home - The Herb Spiral

Hello! Are you looking for an easy way to grow your herbs at home? If you don't have much space and like to grow many different herbs, there is a way to grow them all in the same small space.

Well, have you ever heard of The Herb Spiral in Permaculture?

The Herb Spiral is a truly amazing, highly productive and energy efficient garden design that was first created by Bill Mollison. "You can get 58 running feet (approx.17mtrs) of herbs from a Herb Spiral that is approx. 6 feet across at the base and 3 feet high from the middle."-Bill Mollison

The Herb Spiral creates microclimates allowing you to grow different types of herbs in the same area. (e.g rosemary for dry conditions and mint for moist conditions). Also you can add a small frog pond at the start of a spiral to grow your watercress.

You can grow all your herbs in one small space and by building your garden next to your kitchen door or as close as possible, you can get to your herbs quickly and easily when ever you need them.

photo source: amberdc

Here are some benefits of a Herb Spiral:

You can grow more herbs in the small compact space

Different micro-climates allow you to grow a large variety of herbs

A Herb Spiral can be build on concrete or any other hard surface

Easy to maintain and harvest your herbs

Only one sprinkler needed to water whole garden

You save time and energy on growing your own herbs

You may have a small frog pond build at the start of the spiral

Always fresh herbs available and no waste

Affordable garden feature - building materials can be found from your home or by going to scrap yards. You can use any kind of material that holds your soil in e.g bricks, rocks, timber, sticks etc.

The best benefit of all, I think is that you are creating an ecosystem that serves you and a range of small animals in your home - like frogs, lizards, insects, and other bugs.

And how would you FEEL daily to see your fresh herbs growing and giving you their heavenly scent....:-)

Here is a great video from The Daedalx tittled with The Herb Spiral where Bill Mollison gives all the secrets in building his famous Herb Spiral. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/sqiHJLj4DnI

Are you ready to set up your own Herb Spiral? Or maybe you have build one already. Let us your thoughts, we'd love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sociable and share :-) Thank You.

Heli & Allan Iso-Aho

Monday, 10 November 2014

Permaculture Garden - The Benefits Of Growing Your Permaculture Food Forest

Hello! Where do you go when you feel stressed out, anxious or just tired from the days work? How do you keep your body healthy and full of energy in years to come?

Growing a Permaculture garden with a Food Forest in your property gives you a peaceful environment and provides you a delicious, nutrient dense food which helps you to keep your body healthy and energetic for years to come.

What is a Permaculture Food Forest? It is a food forest that is designed the way it mimics a natural forests ecosystem. It produces food without too much human intervention when it's established. There is no need for pesticides, fertilizers and only a little watering.

Here are some benefits in growing your own Permaculture Food Forest:

You feel physically and mentally healthier by eating a nutrient dense food.

Biodiversity brings you food to eat in every day of the year. Growing annual vegetables as well, give you food almost straight away, while waiting trees to mature (approx. 4-6 years).

With a food forest you bring beneficial insects to do your 'dirty' work and there is no need for pesticides. Give a home for your 'helpers' and they stay look after for your pest problems

You can turn your organic waste into a compost and build a living soil with 'happy' microbes.

With a chop & drop method you can feed and build your soil to be healthy which keeps your plants healthy and productive.

Preserve your soil in any way you can - by having walking paths, avoid compaction of a garden beds, avoid pulling plants out instead cut off from the base and leave a root system to rot in the ground. All garden 'waste' goes back to the soil.

Planting diversity of plants which support one another is a system that gives you and a wildlife a place to enjoy many years to come. Not all the plants and elements are meant to benefit only a human but a whole ecosystem.

Energy saving methods: With plants in the right places you can passively cool or warm your house. Some other plants can form a wind break. There are plants for wet and dry spots in your garden. Even shady places have their purpose.

Creating an ecosystem for human, plants and animals which can be enjoyed by future generations. Helping to heal the earth starts in our own backyard.

Creating a Permaculture garden in your property is not hard when you know basic principles in ecological gardening and designing.

There are great courses available and learn from but if your budget is low, by reading books and watching videos on Youtube will get you started. And then take action!

Start with drawing a rough plan. Observe how the sun moves in your property in different times in the year. How can you harvest the rain water?

Start building a compost straight away. Compost any waste organic material from your home. Collect organic materials e.g ask your neighbors if they have any garden waste.

We collect leaves from the local parks. Ask juice bars their fruit and veggie scraps etc. Join your local Permaculture group to volunteer and go their workshops.

The soil is the most important part of any gardening practice. Keep taking care of the soil and it will take care of your plants :-)

Helping to heal the Earth starts in our own backyard!

Here is a great video from Johnny Mars again tittled with Permaculture Paradise: Val & Eli's Summer Abundance Part 1!

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1BpauXRp6U

Are you ready to create your own Permaculture Paradise?

If you enjoyed this article, please be sociable and share :-) Thank you.

Heli Iso-Aho

Thursday, 30 October 2014

What Would Mother Nature Say...

Hello! Hello! What would Mother Nature say to humankind if she could speak our language? This is something that came into my mind: "Work with me and flourish. Work against me and vanish." As we all know she is 'speaking' to us - but are we listening?

I feel great sadness to see how we treat this planet earth and its inhabitants. The earth is not a home only for humans, its also a home for all other living species and organisms. We've been given a huge gift by being a part of nature and it's our responsibility to respect and conserve the environment we live in.

"The greatest thread to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it" - Robert Swan

It's about you and me as an individuals, changing our ways and asking questions to find answers instead of blaming others. Taking actions every day instead of just talking about climate change. We all as individuals have the power to change the world into a place we want to live in.

Choosing the way we live and consume is a powerful act that nobody can ignore. Being a role model to our children so they adopt a meaningful way to live so they can pass it on to their children.

And I don't mean going back 'to anything' - but choosing to live more sustainable and regenerative way, so that this earth is better place tomorrow than it was today for all living species on the earth.

What could you change in your every day life that would have a positive impact on the environment?

Would you consider to do any of these: Do carpooling or using public transport, grow some of your food, shop locally, composting, insulate your house before having an air-con, harvesting rainwater, recycle water, practising zero waste, reduce plastics, avoid buying packaged items, reduce - reuse - recycle, up-cycle etc.

There are so many things that we can do as individuals to make a positive impact on our environment and feel great about it.

Do we really need to buy everything we want? How about buying a second hand item instead of a new one? Could we swap and share items? How about start cooking at home?

Changing our ways is not hard - it's just choosing a 'habit' over another one - and it can be a lots of fun too :-)

Here is a great video from ConservationDotOrg tittled with Nature Is Speaking - Julia Roberts is Mother Nature. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/WmVLcj-XKnM

Did you enjoyed this video? Do you agree with a message? Let us know - we would love to hear your thoughts :-)

Heli Iso-Aho

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Building A Raised Garden - How To Make A Keyhole Garden?

Hello! Hello! Building a raised garden has many advantages and can be build many different ways. Today we are going to show you how to make a keyhole garden.

What is a keyhole garden?

A keyhole garden is a simple way of growing your vegetables and recycling your kitchen waste in the same place. A great advantage with this method of growing food is you don't need much space.

Also if you live in the hot climate this vegetable gardening method is even more beneficial for you as it is more drought tolerant than a conventional garden bed.

Other benefits of a keyhole garden:

A centre compost basket provides nutrients regularly to your plants

By having a heat drawing outer wall materials your soil can be warmer than outside the beds

Garden has a great access to harvest from all sides

Easy to harvest garden by being high of the ground

Using recycled materials to build your keyhole garden makes it very affordable - you can use what ever materials available at home e.g. bricks, rocks, timber, bamboo, sheeting etc.

If you have pets, this garden system protects more your plants from trampling pets

To show you how much fun growing your own food can be, I found this great video on How To Make An African Style Raised Bed from Send A Cow .

Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/ykCXfjzfaco

So what do you think? Are you ready to start your own keyhole garden yet? Let us know what you think in the box below and please share this post if you found it helpful :-)

Heli Iso-Aho

Thursday, 16 October 2014

Is Urban Homesteading Just A Myth? - What Is Urban Homesteading?

Hello! Is urban homesteading just a myth or is it really something that can be done?

What is urban homesteading? To me urban homesteading is about a lifestyle of self-sufficiency and living low impact, sustainable lifestyle in your suburban home. E.g growing your own food and preserving it for your family. Harvesting rain water. Using alternative energy methods such as solar, hydro or wind. Using alternative transportation when ever you can (bicycle, walking).

Wouldn't be nice to have a life where you can 'go grocery shopping' for the most of your food in you backyard. Knowing that your food is fresh, healthy and a taste of food is unlike anything bought from shops.

To live life that is more simple by working with your community. Sharing, bartering and swapping products with your friends and neighbours. Selling your surplus food and buy products that you need and cannot produce yourself.

This family from USA shows you how they are living a simple, low impact life in their suburban home. We found this story to be so inspirational and fun.

Have a cup of your favourite drink and enjoy this award winning film from Urban Homestead titled with Homegrown Revolution - The Urban Homestead Dervaes .

This film made my heart sing :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IbODJiEM5A

So, what do you think about a self-sufficiency? Would you do something like this? Please leave your comments below.

Heli Iso-Aho