Permaculture Farming

Archive for December, 2010

Question: Where can I find perennial seeds for sale?

A few of my closest friends and I are trying our hand in Permaculture this year and are looking for many perennials. We live in a temperate climate in southern Michigan, zone 5. Seed bank searches online only come up with medical mar. Thanks so much in advance!
*** To add to my original question: Flowers – blooming during as many months as possible. Herbs, fruit/nut bearing shrubs, shallow pond plants…the list is long and rather specific. I was wondering if anyone knew of a reliable seed bank of this nature and could pass on their information.

Answer: In what quantity? What type perennials……I’m assuming flowers of course, but garden or wildflower? Have you tried wholesale perennial flower seed search or something similar? Perennial seeds will be difficult as most breeders into hybrids.

High Plains Food Bank – Permaculture Project

GLOBAL GARDENER – Permaculture with Bill Mollison (Bullfrog Films)

Question: Does Permaculture Farming eliminate or reduce inadvertent animal deaths?

I just recently started a garden and have gotten curious about this. Are Permaculturalists able to raise crops on a larger scale without running over moles, rabbits, etc. Do you use taditional farm equipment or another process? I appreciate any answers. Thanx.

Answer: Cant really add anything to what Fred and Bohemian said,they covered it all.
Animals are included in the concept as components ,domestic as well as wild,

Check my page http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/item/10
where i talk about this –in Organic pest control

Or as workers ,
a nice example is using pack rats to harvest wild rice,by making underground chambers for them with a ^door^opening in the top for stealing their stash.

Heavy tractors are a NO NO because it compacts the ground
and Plowing kills of the organic soil producing cover ,So what you mean by traditional implements is unclear.

Permaculture is more about NO till farming
The horse and plow (small light weight tractor is also acceptable) or hoe are traditional
and should only be used to initially shape the ground to ,and to make it receptive for water harvesting and drainage.or for planting if one uses a chisel plow,or hauling work.

For the rest as little as possible of the LIVING top cover is disturbed using Mulching to combat weeds instead
(see my entry on Mulching same page)

Note.
Permaculture is a sustainable concept that is meant for the quality of life ,not for a commercial market ,the planting is too diverse for that ,there are many crops at any time ,not a lot of one crop alone.

Although many of the principles can be applied to commercial farming.

Odula Family Permaculture Farm