Zones are so important. If something that needs regular attention isn’t right under my nose, then bad weather, work distractions and having to walk to zone 3 or 4 means I might not check on it for a few days and the slugs have a feast!
Thanks for this post. I love the idea of zones based on what needs the most attention but also what is harvested most often. I have a large balcony just outside my kitchen door and have added some extra veg planters this year. Thinking this way will really help me decide what to plant in them compared to my main growing space..
I'm really enjoying the book Huw and love the flexibility of permaculture.
Light is such a limiting factor in my tiny garden that I have to plant things where they'll get the most light, which also happens to be furthest away from the house, but the zoning is really interesting. I thought I could incorporate it in small ways based on the example in the book about zones within zones.
Lots of room to play though in this approach which is great!
I have your book and I'm enjoying thumbing through the pages and reading and learning so much - it should be easy to do (I say should! Hah!) and I've already started a couple of tree guilds. Well, I have the trees, need the bits underneath that aren't just daffodils! It's fun to plan too. I love my chickens and ducks too. Cheers
I live in France and ordered your new book and Sam's fermentation book from Shakespeare and Co. which I'll be able to pick up in the store in the next 5 biz days. Can't wait. I thought I read somewhere you have a hands on course available in Wales?? Or if you know of a permaculture designer that I could talk to before purchasing a piece of land I have my eye on in France that would ease my anxiety. :-)
Still working my way through your Permaculture book, loving it so far!! 😍
Our house and garden (grounds really - 2.7 acres, mostly abandoned grassland/moorland) are on a north facing slope on an Orkney island at 59° north. The food growing area is up some steps from the house, so not visited regularly at the moment. We have some veg beds there as well as a greenhouse and the frame of a poly tunnel, waiting for its twin walled polycarbonate cover making it a polycrub to be put on.
So all or our garden is “out of the way” of our daily travels in and out of the house, but we need to make a concerted effort to visit it again.
We do have a flagged area at the back of the house facing south so perhaps I should have some pots of herbs and salads there. It is shaded by a sycamore in the summer which also protects the area from the south and south westerly wind…much needed up here in Orkney!!
With permaculture areas, would you recommend having growing areas following the contours of the slope (so running E-W), or a curve round, giving a bit more shelter from the prevailing winds?? Still trying to get my head round the geometry of it all!!
The portrait of the hen is beautiful. Well done, Sam.
Zones are so important. If something that needs regular attention isn’t right under my nose, then bad weather, work distractions and having to walk to zone 3 or 4 means I might not check on it for a few days and the slugs have a feast!
Thanks for this post. I love the idea of zones based on what needs the most attention but also what is harvested most often. I have a large balcony just outside my kitchen door and have added some extra veg planters this year. Thinking this way will really help me decide what to plant in them compared to my main growing space..
I'm really enjoying the book Huw and love the flexibility of permaculture.
Light is such a limiting factor in my tiny garden that I have to plant things where they'll get the most light, which also happens to be furthest away from the house, but the zoning is really interesting. I thought I could incorporate it in small ways based on the example in the book about zones within zones.
Lots of room to play though in this approach which is great!
I have your book and I'm enjoying thumbing through the pages and reading and learning so much - it should be easy to do (I say should! Hah!) and I've already started a couple of tree guilds. Well, I have the trees, need the bits underneath that aren't just daffodils! It's fun to plan too. I love my chickens and ducks too. Cheers
All ideas are welcome I like the idea of walking past the flowers to get to your veg.
I live in France and ordered your new book and Sam's fermentation book from Shakespeare and Co. which I'll be able to pick up in the store in the next 5 biz days. Can't wait. I thought I read somewhere you have a hands on course available in Wales?? Or if you know of a permaculture designer that I could talk to before purchasing a piece of land I have my eye on in France that would ease my anxiety. :-)
Still working my way through your Permaculture book, loving it so far!! 😍
Our house and garden (grounds really - 2.7 acres, mostly abandoned grassland/moorland) are on a north facing slope on an Orkney island at 59° north. The food growing area is up some steps from the house, so not visited regularly at the moment. We have some veg beds there as well as a greenhouse and the frame of a poly tunnel, waiting for its twin walled polycarbonate cover making it a polycrub to be put on.
So all or our garden is “out of the way” of our daily travels in and out of the house, but we need to make a concerted effort to visit it again.
We do have a flagged area at the back of the house facing south so perhaps I should have some pots of herbs and salads there. It is shaded by a sycamore in the summer which also protects the area from the south and south westerly wind…much needed up here in Orkney!!
With permaculture areas, would you recommend having growing areas following the contours of the slope (so running E-W), or a curve round, giving a bit more shelter from the prevailing winds?? Still trying to get my head round the geometry of it all!!