How I use Permaculture Principals to Grow More Food my Small Garden

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I have used some of the concepts and principles in permaculture to build my garden and the practices I use. Central to my gardening methods are the principals of permanent agriculture through the use of perennials [2] and sustainable methods of food production [3]. Many of the principles I use in my garden are inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka the author of The One-Straw Revolution and his do-nothing farming where by one grows food with the least amount of effort while avoiding the use of manufactured inputs. Many of you have already heard this already on my good friend Patrick’s channel in fact the method and book inspired his channel’s name One Yard Revolution. [4] Today I am going to go through how I have implemented some of these principals in my garden and working to research and test the methods and practices to see if science supports their use. I started in gardening much like many of you. I wanted to garden organically so I purchased organic products and followed methods similar to conventional large scale farming. Following a number of conversations with my parents, grandparents and finally the YouTube community I was inspired to investigate the principals of sustainable gardening and was interested to see if it could be done in my northern growing zone. As I began investigating these principles I liked the idea that this method of food production was more environmentally friendly while producing more food than I was able to previously. I did find abandoning practices I had used for years tough. When abandoning a practice I was worried the new method would lead to a failure and I would lose the crop for the year. In order to help the transition I started by testing the new method on a small patch to see what happened. I started adding perennials to the garden. This took a few years and some planning to maximize the use of the space I have dedicated to this. I took roughly equal shares between annual beds, trial beds and perennial beds. The central beds are dedicated to annuals with the trial beds immediately adjacent and the perennial beds on the perimeter. To date I have added 33 varieties of 12 different crops and continue to look for other crops to add in including this rhubarb plant that my parents took from their patch to bring to me. In order to produce as much food as possible in a sustainable method I have organized my plants by size and nutritional requirements. I have chosen to plant larger trees and shrubs outside of the garden directly in my native soil. Their extensive root networks often extending 1.5 – 2x larger than the diameter of the tree are able to seek out and find the nutrients they require. This allows me to plant them in areas Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stephenlegaree14 Webpage: www.albertaurbangarden.ca Google +: google.com/+StephenLegaree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaUrbanGarden Twitter: https://twitter.com/northern1485 Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/ABurbanGarden/

Comments

28000 plus subscribers I see . but please boycott Facebook

Sorry to be mean to you, but the word you need is PRINCIPLES not 'principals'. The latter means the 'chief' or main thing, like in a college 'principal'. (Sorry, retired English teacher who can't give it up completely!)

Hi Stephen, Do you have a list of all the perennials you have in your garden. I'm an Alberta gardener also, Edmonton area.

You are extremely helpful! Thank you truly very much. I am not growing all I want to yet. The learning experience has been unparalleled. Blueberries in a high ph started my obsession.

you have a fantastic day too :)

I don't use cardboard alone...I use it under other mulch(leaf mold/grass clippings/compost) that does bring nutrients to the mix...but the worms love cardboard so much I figure they're bringing some of that good stuff along with them.....always like your videos....very informative !

As usua,l I enjoyed your video. I 've noticed that cardboard and black/white newspaper isn't mentioned often when talking about mulch. The worms love them and I use it thinly around some plants and then cover with looser mulch such as compost, coffee grounds or grass. Or a mix of these....

My Northern garden helper. you have been so much help, in saving money, and educating on a better and more stable ways of our garden practice. I want to thank you, for all your work, which helps us. I am Blessed I found you,and one yard revolution. Sincerely Rick

my northern garden friend, how could I plant compfery to keep it under control, I know it has great benefits for the garden. enjoy your informative videos,Sincerely Rick

As new gardener in Edmonton, i am looking forward for 2016 gardening season

Agree. Perennials before annuals. More output for less work.

After being turned onto Permaculture a few years ago by +Jack Spirko I no longer look at the landscape the same way. I recommend everyone search out more info about it.
Congratulations on 10K subs. You deserve many more, and I'm sure you'll have them. Your scientific analysis is unparalleled by any other gardening channel. I'm so looking forward to your future videos to see how you interpret permaculture principals from a scientific approach. As always, thanks for sharing.

Congratulations Stephen! Those are some great points about permaculture. I am adding a bit more every year so I can relax a bit at our getaway place. I think the bushes and trees are wonderful and we have apple and cherry trees. My perennial herbs should last several years and I hope the annuals continue to reseed every year.

Stephen, I have no clue how I wasn't subscribed to you. My sincere apologies. Congrats on the 10k!

Thanks for helping spread permaculture across the planet Stephen....Permaculture works!

Another great video Stephen. There is always something new to learn about permaculture and sharing ideas like this definitely increases the volume which is a good thing. Oh and hearty congratulations on reaching your 10K. Absolutely stunning job. All the best.

Congrats Stephen, you deserve it :-)

Great video and congrats on 10K

Congrats on 10k! That's an impressive milestone!

Congratulations on 10k subs!

You're in a much colder growing zone than I am, but I figured I'd ask anyways:
Do you have to deal with slugs and vine borers? Do you have any suggestions on what to do about them?

For slugs, I have tried diatomatious earth, and the roll on through it like it's nothing. I'm sure it probably kills them later, but that doesn't prevent them from giving my plants lethal diseases in the mean time. The only thing I've found that even stems the tide at all, is going out every night, and inspect all plants and surrounding areas for slugs. Trespassers are removed, and salted to death. They seem to like marigolds, so I planted them this year as a trap plant, and it has also helped some to distract them from my food plants.

Squash vine borers are a death sentence if they get into your squashes and zucchini. I have to check every morning and evening for any evidence of eggs, or worse. The only thing that seems to help is spraying Sevin on the vine areas. I hate using it at all, and I try to avoid getting it on the flowers because it will deter and/or harm bees.

Any better ideas for these?