Permaculture...what IS it?

So, y'all remember when our Amherst neighbor Ryan Harb turned his yard into a permaculture garden, right? And then there came the UMass permaculture initiative started by the aforementioned Ryan as we were phasing out of our college days. Oh yeah, and then that same initiative got honored at the White House last year...so this "permaculture" must be doing something right.

Turns out it is. The core tenets, according to wikipedia anyway, are:

• Take care of the earth
• Take care of the people
• Share the surplus

Makes perfect sense, no? And the way to do it makes perfect sense too: creating a horticultural area managed by us (humans) that mimics the way nature interacts using ecological design and engineering. For example, everything chosen to go in a permaculture garden should have multiple purposes and the more the better. So if you have chickens in your area, they could possibly 1) eat food scraps and seeds and then poop it out shorting your compost cycle, 2) provide food for humans = eggs and meat, and 3) eat insects such as mosquitos and gnats that are a nuisance to humans. A mulberry tree 1) provides shade for humans and shade loving plants, 2) forage for chickens, 3) food for humans, and 4) lowers soil erosion with its complex root system.

Permaculture gardening incorporates lots of perennials, and from an annual gardener like me, it is fun to delve into a world of little known and some well known plants. So if one is to build a permaculture garden for themselves, they would need to have some permanency in their place of living, so uh, Gaby, we should talk. And you should visit Eric Toensmeier's property in Holyoke which he turned into a food forest. I'd love to go with you.

This weekend, I will take my first official permaculture course and after 4 more weekends, will have a permaculture certificate. Yay! Another piece of paper! But better than that, I will have a better and smarter understanding in the overlap of horticulture principles and be able to teach in the future if I so desired. In exchange for a lowered cost of the course, Jenna and I are cooking for breakfast and lunch for each class day (20 people) so it's going to be fun...

Of Sledgehammers, Paint, and Muslin (Living Room, pt. 1)

Last weekend I helped dad knock a hole in the wall, and painted the living room. I've got to say, sledgehammering some plaster sure felt good.

Here's a picture of the living room from when I first looked at the house:

Blehhhhhh wallpaper but lovely floors :) The new doorway is in the back right corner coming from the kitchen. You can't see that corner in this picture, but here it is below:

Jake and I got busy stripping wallpaper and prepping the walls for paint...

Here's the view of the living room, standing in the kitchen, looking through the new doorway. Pretty blue painting is in the works :)

This weekend I took a nice long trip to Jo-ann's Fabrics and picked out the lovely little numbers below, including some white muslin:

So yesterday I got busy with the Babylock that mum gave me, and after much swearing at the damned bobbin and threading of the unfamiliar machine, I was able to produce these curtains.

I think mum would be proud. I've got lots more curtains to do. Can't wait to see how they come out!