Permaculture

Articles pertaining to permaculture.

Fixing My Apple Tree

There is an apple tree in my yard that is in dire need of help as it is suffering from apple scab. It is a perfect tree to use as the base of an apple guild as it is almost certainly going to improve as a result of using permaculture techniques. To create a benficial environment for the apple tree, I need to surround it with various plants.

First, we'll add some preventative medicine for the apple scab tendency - garlic chives. By planting these at the base of the tree, not only will the tree benefit form the natural fungicide properties of the chives, but they will also help to block climbing insects from gaining a foothold on the tree. The white flowers of the garlic chives are quite attractive to bees, always a nice benefit. They are perennial and the foliage with its slightly garlic flavor is a useful addition in cooking.

Apple trees are also prone to problems with woolly aphids and codling moths. For protection against the aphds, two protective plants are spearmint and sage, both of which I already have growing on the property, so I'll take some cuttings to proprogate more of each to plant near the apple. Lacewings love to lay their eggs on sage plants and their young enjoy feeding on aphids and since sage is a popular perennial herb, it is already a useful plant. The spearmint's strong scent acts to prevent pests from coming near and its winter flowers also attract polinators.

Getting Started in Permaculture

What the heck is permaculture? Here's the definition shown by a local Facebook group that I think seems to state it well: "Permaculture is a design methodology that makes the best use of nature's tendencies to maximize your yard's needs and to minimize your work." I like that - it's concise. But, I don't think permaculture is just about the land use on a personal level, but also more about land use in general. Its roots are in agriculture but permaculture also touches on restoring ecological systems, community development and planning, and energy. A search on the internet will bring up many, many diverse pages about permaculture, to the point of being almost overwhelming, but for me, the key point, is to start at home, making some improvements. Consider this to be a starting point as I plan to talk more about what I am doing on my own property. Hoepfully, it will insprie others to do some of the smae.