Permaculture Design Course

Much of the initial garden design was inspired by permaculture principles.  Design systems that support each other- meet each other's needs and yields.  Also, the simple idea of "an edible forest" inspired much of my plantings of Maypop and Elderberry and Lovage and Rubarb and the list goes on.  Also, much of what is planted in the garden was much in thanks to whatever people were generous enough to give me from their own gardens.  In this mode, of observation of the organic flow of things into this garden, is how this garden was built and how it has been operating.

That is true, and it is also true that for this garden to continue to grow and sustain itself and be able to function in a way that truly works with nature rather than constantly having to put a lot of effort into resisting it (ie. mowing the persistent lawn, watering in a drought, rebuilding soil after run-off), we need a more comprehensive, big-picture-thinking, all-inclusive (or at least as much as possible) design plan.  This is where the Permaculture Design Course or "PDC" I am currently doing as organized by Cleveland's Green Triangle comes in.

Thinking of this space really in the long-term, especially when thinking about growing trees and seeing them to fruition.... well, it's got me radicalized in how I'm thinking about the place- at least, my perspective of the space has been radicalized and includes so many more factors- like latitude of the sun, and tree roots, and slopes and ponds, and zones.  OH!   So many things, that if plainly stated would seem simple and obvious.  Yet, the process of deeply negotiating many factors, and analyzing the site and landform- has got me thinking in even more expanded and open ways about the possibilities of what can and will happen here.

I plan to blog more about the course with reflections....
For now, stay posted, and we'll see what the PDC brings next for us!

Cheers,
Goodnight!