The basic principle of permaculture is to draw inspiration from nature for crops: the species are multiple, indigenous, and can interact with each other, of course insecticides and fertilizers are prohibited, and the surfaces are optimized, as well as the use of water and sun. The goal being to no longer destroy ecosystems , there is another nice benefit: vegetable gardens cultivated in permaculture require much less care than traditional gardens.
6 key points for growing a permaculture vegetable garden
There is not one method of permaculture, it is up to everyone to think about and build their own permaculture, because it aims to protect nature and humans. Every garden and gardener is unique.
1 – Observe your environment
What plants grow alone in your garden, what animals and insects live there?
How is your garden oriented , what is exposed to the sun and for how long, where is the wind strongest?
What are the wettest and driest places ?
What resources do you have , in terms of material, budget, time, space?
2 – Select your vegetables and plants
In permaculture, the vegetable garden is not only made up of vegetables, it exists in a global group of plants that complement each other.
List the ones you want to grow, then group them by needs and sensitivities, and the interactions they can have with each other: friendly and companion plants.
Favor plants that reseed, for more durable plantings and lower financial and time costs.
They are no longer called weeds, and for good reason! Many of them are useful, to the auxiliaries , to the earth that they protect or nourish, to us because they give us a lot of information about the nature of our soil. And what’s more, some can be eaten! By occupying your spaces all the time, you will limit their spread.
3 – Draw your project
What to plant to protect from the prevailing winds, where to place the plants most used in everyday life: vegetables, herbs , so that they are as accessible as possible, create areas more or less close to the home depending on the human activities.
4 – Create plots
The principle is generally to cultivate above the ground, so as not to exhaust its resources. The types of plots are very varied: keyhole, lasagna, permanent flower bed, mounds , straw bales, 3P vegetable garden (non-exhaustive list!!). If you are making plant borders, take a plant that has few needs and a light root system, so as not to compete with plants planted inside. Unless it also has a use! Your plots must be wide enough , but you must be able to easily reach the center, 1m20 is reasonable. You should not have to walk in your growing beds, this compacts the soil, preventing the earthworms from doing their job properly! *
In permaculture , the earth is never turned over or dug . On the other hand, aeration is permitted, to a maximum depth of 15 cm, using a claw or a grelinette.
Placing the tallest plants in the center allows, in addition to making access to them all easier, to shade the smaller plants.
Grow in height : trellises, suspensions, teepees, to save space and provide shade.
The plots must be used all the time, so select plants that follow one another over time to go together. This method of occupation has several advantages:
– not leaving the ground bare, which prevents the proliferation of unchosen plants to the detriment of what you want to see grow.
– allow young shoots to benefit from the organic elements of plants at the end of the cycle which will release nutrients .
Planting is rarely online, it is done according to companionships .
5 – Always keep the ground covered
Mulch your plots : wood chips, cardboard, compost , in layers.
Mulch systematically between your plantations: you will prevent the growth of weeds and you will limit the evaporation of water, the gain is serious, around 3 out of 4 waterings , the micro-organisms and small insects can work there to decompose the elements which are available, humidity levels and temperatures are more stable, which reduces plant stress.
Fragmented Raméal Wood comes from young branches, less than 2 years old, which have been crushed . This grinding allows the fungi to quickly penetrate the wood (they cannot penetrate the bark) and digest it. This BRF spread on the surface of the soil makes the soil fertile and good for plants, by developing mycelium and humus.
Dead leaves
Very similar to the “mulch” that covers the forest floor, an ideal soil if ever there was one, you must collect the dead leaves from your garden, or why not from the side of the roads and use them at the base of your plants. However, avoid dead leaves from walnut and fruit trees.
Grass clippings
Rich in nitrogen , they are particularly suitable for beans , peas, lettuce, potatoes and other gourmet foods. Dry your clippings in the sun for 2 or 3 days before using them in 10 cm mulch, to have lasting coverage.
Green fertilizers
Covering bare ground and allowing the soil to be more permeable, thanks to their roots, they also provide, once mowed or covered with mulch, essential nutrients for plants.
6 – Optimize each element
The interactions
The elements of your garden must be able to interact with each other, to be useful for several functions: chickens feed you, delight in slugs, fertilize the soil and feed on your waste, green manure covers the soil, their roots nourish the organisms from the soil, the nutrients they contain will nourish the soil once they are decomposed. Companion plants protect or help each other.