SPRING HAPPINESS PARTY – PART 1

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SPRING HAPPINESS PARTY

PART 1
Come celebrate with us!


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In a week of downpours and plummeting temperatures the weather saved up its sunshine for Saturday, and well it should for it was the Spring Happiness Party at our sharehouse! We bade people leave their winter blues at the door and dress in their spring finery for a very special garden warming party. Almost two years since our Permablitz our garden was filled with laughter and the delicate scent of climbing roses and savoury treats. No one came dressed as a squirrel or possum, but a very busy bumble bee fairy made up for it.

I’ll be the first to admit that this was an outlet for a full blown girlish childhood relapse for the three of us, crochet flowers and jasmine wreaths and all, but despite this, even the gentlemen of the house had smiles on their faces, but this might have had more to do with the icy beers than the colourful paper lanterns. And a lapse of a day into shenanigans can be endearing, where as a lapse into hello kitty bedecked bedrooms would be far more alarming. Let’s all be greatful for small mercies people!

It was the perfect place for a party.

I was proud and delighted to see earthbag garden beds, so carefully crafted to create intimate spaces, being so happily used for a myriad of little catch ups and introductions. I hope a lot of new friends were made on the day and old ones strengthened.

Jess and Carly has to be shooed from the kitchen to enjoy the day, but their efforts were appreciated by the masses. Mini quiches were washed down with pineapple punch and every inch of the house was decorated with flowers that looked amazing next to rainbow fruit skewers. My carefully monitored, food intolerance based diet, took a major fall when a chocolate mousse, dairy filled, sugar fueled, gluten glistening delight arrived, but if your going to fall you might as well fall gloriously like that! I’m only human!

More photos tomorrow, there were too many lovely ones for one post, stay tuned!


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FOOD FOREST GARDENS PLANTING GUIDE

Here is where you’ll find a constantly updating list of Warm Temperate Food Forest Plants. I will add links to detailed descriptions of each as I post them including the most resilient of the lot as observed from our own food forest garden and those we have designed. It’s exciting to see some subtropical plants not only surviving but thriving in this climate if you choose the right microclimate (e.g. against a brick wall or mulch pit with grey water)

The realisation dawned with an artichoke flower bud, this gourmet delight that had not only survived but multiplied under my utter neglect. It had been a dizzying summer in our new garden started too late to harness the mild flush of spring.

Our annuals had struggled under baking sun and then a dreary winter had snuffed out hope of even mild self-sufficiency until the following spring, 3pm the dreaded time that the flats next door snuffed out our sun each day. A year later our annual beds bloomed and tomatoes swayed seductively, it looked great and tasted better but it had been a slog against sun, wind and snail.

We finally turned our attention to our little attempt at a food forest, planted and then forgotten for almost a year. But to our surprise and delight it was not a tangle of weeds or barren earth that the annual bed seems to revert to when your trowel wavers for a moment, the opposite: parsley gone mad, banana plants soaring skyward, almond blossoming, Babaco at almost 45 degrees under its weight of fruit (despite being in full shade all winter) and green manure leaving soil moist and soft. Of course with a little more intervention it could have been more productive, but it had reached a state of balance on its own that meant I didn’t have to fret if I went on holidays, or empty a water tank to quench its thirst. Although a far cry from a true forest, our little “low maintenance” perennial garden was working.

From that moment I changed my design strategy: easy, low maintenance, productive and beautiful… a Food Forest Garden.

Now we have an exciting project on the horizon, a Forest Garden for the Flemington Community Garden. Stay tuned for more!

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7 Layers of a Temperate Forest Garden

The 7 layer classification system was developed by Robert Hart from Prehistoric tropical garden methods in the 60s for more temperate climates. It provides a structure similar to that of a real forest that can be adapted from a large scale farm to that of a modest backyard. The architecture of a successful food forest considers not only light requirements of the plants, but water, shelter, root depths and other companion planting principles.

1. Canopy Layer

9m+ high nut, fruit and nitrogen fixing trees (Only larger FFGs)

2. Low-tree Layer

4m high, Dwarf Fruit / Nut Trees
Nitrogen Fixers & smaller trees
Shade tolerant trees
Pruned into open form for light

3. Shrub Layer

Woody perennial plants
Flowering, fruiting, wildlife attracting

4. Herbacious Layer

Perennial vegetables
Self seeding annuals
Bee & poultry forage
Mulch & soil builders, cover crops

5. Groundcover Layer

Less than 30cm high
Low, prostrate, creeping plants
Forms a living mulch – retain, suppress weed growth

6. Rhizosphere (Root) Layer

Edible roots & tubers
Shallow rooted, easy to dig
Longer rooted left to flower for beneficial insects

7. Vertical Layer

Climbers, creepers, vines
Twine around trunks or up fences, trellises, etc.
Habitat and food
Only in established Forest Garden, can strangle young trees

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1. Canopy Layer

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Alder Alnus
American Persimmon Diospyros virginiana
Apple Malus sylvestris
Arazole / Mediterranean Medlar Crataegus azarolus
Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia
Carob Ceratonia siliqua
Cherry Prunus avium
Chestnut Castanea dentata
Chinese Chestnut Castanea mollissima
Cornelian cherries Cornus mas
European Plum (Myrobalan) Prunus domestica
Hawthorn Crataegus spp.
Highbush cranberries Viburnum trilobum
Honey locusts Gleditsia triacanthos
Japanese Walnut (Heartnut) Juglans ailantifolia
Korean Stone Pine Pinus koraiensis
Northern Pecan Carya illinoinensis
Pear Pyrus communis
Siberian Pea Tree Caragana arborescens
Stone pine Pinus pinea
Tagasaste/ tree Lucerne Cytisus proliferus
Walnut Juglans
Hawthorns Crataegus monogyna
Medlar Mespilus germanica
Mulberry Morus spp.
Quince Cydonia oblonga

2. Low-Tree Layer

Almond dwarf Prunus dulcis
Apple Dwarf Malus domestica
Apricot Prunus armeniaca
Australian Round Lime Citrus australis
Banana (Lady Finger) Musa acuminata
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Cherry Dwarf Prunus avium
Citrus Dwarf Citrus spp.
Crab Apple Malus sp.
Date-plum Diospyros lotus
Dogwood Cornus
Elderberry Sambucus nigra
Japanese peppers Zanthoxylum spp.
Fruit Salad Plant Monstera deliciosa
Nectarine Prunus persica v. nectarina
Olive Olea europaea
Pawpaw, Papaya Carica papaya
Peach Dwarf Prunus persica
Pear Dwarf Pyrus communis
Persimmon Dwarf Diospyros spp.
Plum Dwarf Prunus domestica
Service Tree Sorbus domestica
Tamarillo, Tree Tomato Cyphomandra betacea
Tree mugwort Artemisia arborescens
Bamboo ‘Gracilis’ Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’
Serviceberry Amelanchier spp.
Silverberry Elaeagnus
Acacia/Wattles Acacia spp.

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3. Shrub Layer

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Acacia/Wattle Acacia spp.
Austral Indigo Indigofera australis
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.
Cape Gooseberry Physalis peruviana
Currants Ribes spp
Curry Plant Helichrysum italicum
Edible Savlias Salvia spp.
Goji berries Lycium barbarum
Gooseberry Ribes Uva-crispa
Guavas Myrtus spp.
Jostaberry Ribes x culverwellii
Large Kangaroo Apple Solanum laciniatum
lavender lavandula angustifolia
Lemon Verbena Aloysia triphylla
Mountain Marigold Tagetes lemmonii
Nodding Saltbush Einadia wutans
Perennial Basil Ocimum gratissimum
Perennial Chilli, Rocoto Chilli Capsicum pubescens
Raspberry Rubus spp.
River Mint Mentha australis
Rose Rosa
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Scented Geraniums Pelargonium graveolens
Southernwood Artemisia abrotanum
Tomatillo Physalis philadelphica
Wormwood Artemisia absinthium

4. Herbacious Layer

Asparagus Asparagus officinalis
Balm Melissa officinalis
Borage Borago officinalis
Broad bean Vicia faba
Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
Calendula Calendula officinalis
Comfrey, Knitbone Symphytum officinale
Dill Anethum graveolens
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
French Sorrel Rumex scutatus
Garden Mint Mentha sachalinensis
Garlic Chives Allium tuberosum
Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus
Hyssop Cynara cardunculus
Lemongrass Cymbopogon spp
Lovage Levisticum officinale
Marigold Tagetes
Mint Mentha spp.
Oregano Origanum vulgare
Parsley Petroselinum spp.
Pepino, Pepino Dulce, Melon Pear Solanum muricatum
Perpetual/Perennial Spinach Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Phacelia Phacelia Tanacetifolia
Rhubarb Rheum rhabarbarum
Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Stevia Stevia rebaudiana
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare
Yarrow Achillea millefolium

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5. Groundcover Layer

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Alpine Strawberries Fragaria x vesca
Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima
Basil Thyme Acinos arvensi
Black Cumin Nigella Sativa
Clover Trifolium
Coral Pea Hardenbergia violacea
Corsican Mint Mentha requienii
Cranberry Vaccinium Oxycoccus spp.
Creeping Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium
Creeping Snowberry Gaultheria hispidula
Creeping Thyme Thymus serpyllum
Fat hen Chenopodium album
Ground Elder Aegopodium podagraria
Kamchatka Bilberry Vaccinium praestans
Lingonberries Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Lowbush Blueberries Vaccinium angustifolium
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis
Miner’s Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
Pigface Carpobrotus modestus
Prostrate Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ or ‘Huntington Carpet’
Roman Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile
Running Postman Kennedia spp.
Sweet Violets Viola odorata
Vervain Verbena officinali
Warrigal Greens Tetragonia tetragonoides
Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens

6. Rhizosphere Layer

Arrowroot Maranta arundinacea
Beetroot Beta vulgaris
Carrot Daucus carota sativus
Cassava (Tapioca) Manihot esculenta
Chicory Cichorium intybus
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Daikon Raphanus sativus L.
Daylilly Hemerocallis fulva
Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia
Garlic Allium sativum
Ginger Zingiber officinale
Ginseng Panax spp.
Groundnut Apios americana
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosum
Liquorice Glycyrrhiza spp.
Native ginger Hornstedtia scottiana
Oca, New Zealand Yam Oxalis tuberosa
Onion Allium cepa
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Salsify Tragopogon spp.
Sweet Potato Ipomoea batatas
Tree/Egyptian Walking Onions Allium cepa var. proliferum
Welsh onion Allium fistulosum
Yacon Smallanthus sonchifolius
Yam Daisy Microseris scapigera

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7. Vertical Layer

Cantaloupe Cucumis melo reticulatus
Chokos Sechium edule
Climbing peas Pisum sativum
Coral Pea Hardenbergia violacea
Cucumbers Cucumis sativus
Grape -Sultana Vitis vinifera
Grapes Vitis spp
Honeydew Melon Cucumis melo inodorus
Honeysuckle (Blue-berried) Lonicera caerulea
Hops Humulus lupulus
Kiwi Berry / Hardy Kiwifruit Actinidia arguta
Kiwi fruit Actinidia spp
Malabar Spinach Basella alba ‘Rubra’
Maypop Passiflora incarnata
Nasturtium (Climbing) Tropaeolum majus
Passionfruit Passiflora edulis
Perennial bean (scarlet runner bean) Phaseolus coccineus
Pumpkin Cucurbita pepo
Soybean Glycine max
Squash Cucurbita
Sweet Potato (‘Bush Porto Rico’/’Centennial’) Ipomoea batatas
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
Wild grape Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris
Zucchini Cucurbita pepo

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Our Permablitz Garden on BH&G

Jo's Permablitz Permaculture Inner City Home Garden on Better Homes & Gardens with Jason Hodges
Jo's Permablitz Permaculture Inner City Home Garden on Better Homes & Gardens with Jason Hodges

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segment on community gardens featuring
our inner city permaculture garden


For anyone who missed it here’s a link to the Better Homes & Garden’s episode featuring our inner city permaculture garden! (We’re on second, third if you count the ad) I was away hiking at Wilson’s Promontory so missed the whole thing and came home to a whole inbox of messages from friends saying “you have bees?!?! what….why????”, they obviously haven’t tasted homemade honey before, or been frustrated with unpollinated pumpkins (we permaculturists have slightly left of centre concerns don’t we?)

Here at the Desert Echo we like to spread Permaculture 1.5 minutes at a time. hee!

Easily digestible in length, I hope this segment showed people that a beautiful, productive edible garden is possible for everyone, no matter what their budget, no matter their level of inexperience. Stay tuned to see our latest design for a garden in Pascoe Vale on a tight budget that aims not only to produce enough food to keep the cash strapped host fed, but also create a lovely garden for them to relax and entertain in!

If you want to help spread the word about Permaculture send BH&G a message that you’d love to see more of it on their show!

Check out the behind the scenes photos of the filming.


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EDIBLE GARDENS OPEN DAY

the garden wasn’t finished until it was filled with the laughter of community.

Photo credit Hobsons Bay City Council

Almost a year ago we opened our garden up to the residents of Moonee Valley & Hobsons Bay Council for the My Smart Garden’s Edible Open Day. As the days begin to shorten and the the cold creeps through the gaps it seems like a nice time for reflection on the last year, the first full year since our Permablitz. These are the photos taken last April by the council photographer, it was such a pleasure to have all the lovely people visit especially the little kids running on top of the garden beds, running toy cars over the wall like it’s a race track.


Sharing knowledge and community spirit embodies Permaculture for me.


A striving towards a friendlier, more loving world – for people, for animals, for the earth. Kelly Heffer is the driving force behind the My Smart Garden scheme and she was such a delight. I’d like to thanks her again for such a beautiful day and the lovely MINTI volunteers. I remember people beginning to filter in, a stream becomin a flood and when it was time for our two talks I could not move their were so many people packed in to our little suburban garden. What a beautiful thing, that people are so inspired by permaculture.

After a year in our garden, I’d like to move outwards, strive further. See if I can transform gardens like we did ours to create a better quality of life for their urban inhabitants. We are certainly happier and healthier for our urban oasis.

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