brewongle eec permaculture design-1
TRANSCRIPT
2015
ByStevenBody
BrewongleEnvironmentalEducationCentre
3/5/2015
PermacultureDesign
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GoalsandEthics
Ethics
• Toworkwithnature• Reduceour‘ecologicalfootprint’• IncreasethesustainabilityelementsatBrewongleEEC• Fosterandvalueaconnectiontonatureinstaff,visitingadultsandallstudents• Respectalllifeforms• Producenowaste• Practicewhatwepreach
Goals• Tocreateasustainablepermaculturedesignasaneducationtool• Tocreatepermacultureelementsthatenhancethevisual,practical,edibleandteachingfocusofBrewongleEEC.• Tofosteraloveofnatureandgrowingfood• Tolinktocurriculumandprovideaqualityteachingelement• Tomanageandretainwaterinthelandscape• Tocreategardensthatareself-sustainingandrequireaslittlemaintenanceaspossible.
ToquoteBillMollison,oneoftheAustralianfoundersofpermaculture:
“Permacultureisadesignsystemforcreatingsustainablehumanenvironments”.
Permacultureaimstoproduceecologicallysoundsystemsforliving,producingfood,avoidingpollutionandproducingnowaste.Permacultureusesobservationsofthenaturalworld,includingnon-livingcomponentslikesoil,water,climate;builtenvironmentsandlivingthingstocreateabundanceandself-sufficiencyinalandscape.
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PermacultureDesignPrincipals• Workwithnature,notagainstit.Observeandinteract.• Theproblemisthesolution–cooperationnotcompetition• Makeleastchangeforgreatesteffect–minimisemaintenance• Yieldisunlimited• Everythinggardens–thegardenecosystemcanhelpreduceworkload.• Multiplefunctionsforeachelement• Aimforlongtermsustainability• Avoidwaste.
BrewongleEECiswellplacedtobeginusingpermaculturedesignelementstoshowcasehowsustainabilitycanbeusedinourschools,homesandworkplaces.Situatedon6acresofpartlyforestedridgetoplandabovetheHawkesburyRiver,Brewongleincludesanoldschoolhouseandnumerousbuildings,gardensandoutdoorteachingelements.
Thispermaculturedesignwillincludethefollowing‘zones’:
Zone0–theoldschoolhouseandsurroundingbuildings–traditionallythe‘house’inurbanpermaculturedesign.
Zone1–Thiswillincludethecurrentvegetablegardenandfuturegardensinanintensivelycultivatedareainthe‘backyard’oftheschoolhouse.Thisareaisclosetozone0forstafftomaintain.
Zone2–Thisareawillcontainthefoodforestelements.Itwillbecloselyplantedwithmanylayers,withmeanderingpaths.Itwillincludeanorchard,bushtuckergarden,otherfruitandshadetrees.Swalesforwaterretentionandaself-sustainingfocusarethekeystothiszone.
Zones3&4–Thesezonesareusuallyforlargerscaleagricultureandanimalsaswellasproducingfirewood,timberforsustainablebuilding.ThereisnoscopeforthesezonesatBrewongleEEC
Zone5–Thisisthenatural,indigenousforestareas.Permacultureseekstoconserveandenhanceournativebushland.BrewongleEECissurroundedbyShaleSandstoneTransitionForest(anEcologicallyEndangeredPlantCommunity),andGreyMyrtleDryRainforest.BrewongleisalreadyengagedinLandcareandwillcontinuetomanageweedsandnativevegetationinzone5.
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Element1–Zone0–rainwatermanagementBrewongleEECisreliantonrainwaterforallwaterneeds.Duetothehighvolumeofstudents(5000-7000peryear)passingthroughthecentre,rainwatercatchmentfrombuildingsiscrucial.CurrentlyBrewonglespendsover$1000dollarsayeartobuywaterandtruckittothesite.Thisiswastedmoneyandwastesenergy,resourcesandcreatesgreenhousepollutioninthetruckingprocess.
Currentlylessthanhalfoftheschoolhouseandveryfewoftheothersurroundingbuildingscatchandstorerainwater.Thisplanoutlinestheneedtoinstallrainwatertanksandensureallwateriseitherdivertedintoexistingtanksorfallsintonewtanksystems.
Element2–Zone2–stormwatermanagementCurrently,allstormwaterisdivertedviadrainsandpipestoflowawayfromthecentresbuildings.Someoftheseoutletscreateerosionproblemsonthesouthernhillside.Standingwaterinholdingpitscreatesmosquitobreedinggrounds.Muchrooftopwaterisalsoendingupinthestormwatersystem.Guttersareoftenblockedandsomeretainwaterandencouragemosquitos.
Thisplanwillprovidesolutionstoretainthiswaterinthelandscape,providewaterforfoodforestsandreduceerosion.
Element3–Zone1Herbgardenandshadetrees.Existinggardenbedsclosetotherearverandahofthehousearewellshadedandcouldprovideidealherbgrowingbeds.Ashadetree(deciduous)needstobeplantednearexistingvegebedstoprovideshadefromextremesummersunintheafternoon.
Element4–Zone2FoodforestsThiswillutilisepreviouslygrassedareasandanexistinggardenbedtotheeast,southandwestoftheschoolhouse.Meanderingpathswillleadstudentsbetweenorchardfruittrees,abushtuckergardenandnuttrees.Swaleswillbeincorporatedintothelandscapetoretainwater.
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Element5–Zone2BananaCircleAbananacircle,mangoandavocadotreeswillbeplantedintheareathatreceivesthemostsunandwaterrunoff.Thisisanexistinggardenbedtothenortheastofthehouse.
Element6–ChickensTheexistingfreestandingsolarpanelscanprovideaperfectcoveredareaforchickens.Byenclosingthisareawithmesh,providingnestboxesandperches,collectingwaterofftheroofofthesolarpanels–asustainablechickenhousecanbecreated.Chickenscancomplementthefoodforestsbyforagingforbugs,turningthesoilandfertilising.Eggsprovidedwillfeedcampprogramsandchickenscanhelpdisposeofcamporganicrubbish.
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SiteandSectorAnalysis
HighPoint
N
10%
8%
12%
8%
Firethreat LowPoint
Ponds
Coolmoistwind
Hotdrywind
Slope Stormwateranderosion
SoilSample Potentialrainwatercatchment
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SunArc
Asunarcallowsustoseethepathofthesunallyearround.TheareashowninYellowisthearcofthesunwiththeupperlimitbeingthewinterarcandthelowerlimitsummer.
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Climate
RainfallThefollowingtableformeanrainfallinmmisfromtheBureauofMeteorology–datacollectedatSackvillefrom2001-2011
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Mean 47.3 100.8 68.7 45.2 46.3 57.8 25.8 21.8 33.1 71.8 63.5 59.4 627.9
AscanbeseenthewettestmonthsareFebruaryandMarchanddriestmonthsareJuly,August&September.Thereisaneedretainwaterinthelandscapeforthedriermonthsandtocatchasmuchrainwateraspossible.
Temperature
Averageminimumtemperature(1994-2014)(Richmond)
Statistic Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Mean 17.6 17.7 15.6 11.5 7.5 5.1 3.6 4.4 8.0 10.9 14.1 16.0 11.0
Averagemaximumtemperature(1994-2014)
Statistic Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Mean 30.0 29.0 26.8 23.9 20.7 17.9 17.6 19.8 22.8 25.2 26.9 28.5 24.1
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FutureClimateFromCSIRO‘ClimateAnaloguesExplorer’-http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/climate-projections/climate-analogues/analogues-explorer/
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ThedataonthepreviouspageshowsthatafutureclimateforRichmondwillbe1degreewarmerwithlittlechangeinrainfall.Townswithasimilarcurrentclimatearelistedunder‘AnalogueTowns’.Thisfutureclimatewillneedtobeconsideredwhenchoosingappropriatespeciesforplanting.
SoilBrewongleislocatedonasandstoneridge90mabovesealeveladjacenttotheHawkesburyRiver.Soilsweretestedaroundthehouseinzone2closetopossiblefoodforestlocations(seemap).SoilpHwas8atallsites.Soilisloamysandwithaloworganiccomponent.Soilwillneedtobebuiltupwithorganicmatterandmanure.Soilhasgooddrainagearoundthehouse.
FireBrewongleissurroundedbyforest,includingmyrtledryrainforesttothesouthwest,anddrysclerophylltotheeastandnorth.Currentfuelloadsareestimatedat10tonnesperhectare.ThemainthreatoffirewillbefromthesouthwestaspectuptheslopefromtheHawkesburyRiver.Plantingsnearbuildingswillneedtoconsidertheuseofplantswithlowflammability.
WindDuetothesurroundingforest,themainareasforgrowingfoodhavegoodnaturalwindbarriersalreadyinplace.Noextraplantingswouldbeneededforwindprotection.
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MapofPermacultureElements.
Swaleordraindivertstormwatertoponds
Slowdownanddivertstormwatertogardenbedsandnewfoodforest
FoodForests–citrus,tropicalandnuttrees
Bushtuckergarden
Deciduousshadeandfruittrees.
Herbs
Chookshed
RainwaterTank Swale Divertrainwatertoexistingtank
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Recommendations
Zone0Themajorfocusforzone0(house)willbetomanagerainwatercollection.Ascanbeseenfromthesiteandsectoranalysis,muchrainwaterislostfromroofspaces.ItisrecommendedtoinstallrainwatertanksinthelocationslistedontheElementsmap.Mostofthesetankscanwaternearbygardenbedsviagravityfeedtodriplinesorsimilar.Apumpmayneedtobepurchasedtowaterthefoodforestofcitrus,tropicalandnuttreesoneasternsideofhouse.5000Lslimlinepolytanksandround20,000lretailforapprox.$1500each.Colorbondmetaltanksmayhelpkeepthevisualheritagelookofthehomestead.DECAssetstoassessandfinance?
Zone1Thebackyardandexistingvegetablebeds.Smallalterationsareplannedforthisarea.Adeciduousshadetreeisneededtoprovidesomeprotectionforgrowingvegetablesduringextremeheatdaysinsummer–possiblenativespeciesare;whiteorredcedar,oraflametree.Shadelovingherbscanbeplantedingardenbedsadjacenttoverandah.Spaceisneededforstudentgroupstomovearoundinandforvisualamenityoftherearofthesandstoneschoolhouse.
Zone2Stormwatermanagement:Swaleswillbethemaintooltodivertstormwaterandreduceerosionoccurringonthesouthernhillside.Aswaleisaplantedmoundconstructedalongcontourlinestoreducethevelocityofwaterflowandchannelittowardsplants.Thewatercancollectinthelowpointabovethemoundconstructionandfilterslowlyforplantuse.Thislowpointisoftenfilledwithmulchandmakesagoodaccesspath.Seemapforswaleplacements.
Existingdrivewaystormwaterproblems:Somewaterwillbedivertedtopondsviaaswale.Waterfromdrainscouldbedivertedintoexistinggardensaroundbigtreevianewpiping,insteadofcurrentrunoffdownsouthernhillsidecausingerosion.WatercouldbedivertedtoanewundergroundtankintheconstructionofproposedCoveredOutdoorLearningArea(COLA)
Bushtuckergarden:Theaimofthisgardenistobeateachingelementshowcasingnativebushfoods.Itcanbeincorporatedintoourexistingbushresourcewalkasanexampleofcultivatedbushtuckerplants.Plantscouldbeacombinationoflocalandnon-localnativespecies.
FoodForests:(seebelow)
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Allfoodgardenswillbemadeupofasmanylayersaspossible.Compostingcouldoccurviabottomlessbucketsundertrees–kitchenscrapsdroppedinherewithsomeworms.Bucketsremovedandrotatedperiodically.Achopanddropapproachcouldbeusedforpruningandprovidingmulch.
BushtuckerGardenPlantlistGroundcovers:
Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesWarrigulspinach-Tetragoniatetragonoides
Edibleleaves–raworcooked
Groundcover NA Likesmoistfreedrainingsoil,partshadecanbecomeweedy
Nativeviolet–Violahederacea
flowersedibleinsalads groundcover Allyear,denseinspring Likesmoistandpartshade
Nativeraspberry-Rubusparvifolius
Edibleberries,leavesmaketea.
Groundcover Dec-April Fullsun,welldrainedsoil.
BlueFlaxlily–Dianellalongifolia
Berriesedible Tuftinggrass Spring/summer Welldrainedsoils.
Shrubs/smalltrees
Plantname Use Height Fruitingtime NotesLemonmyrtle–Backhousiacitriodora
Teas,lemongrasssubstitute,cheescakes
3-8m Fullsun-partshade
Midgenberry-Austromyrtusdulcis
Ediblewhiteberries 2mspreadingshrub Moistwelldrainedsoils
Nativerosella–Hibiscusheterophyllus
Budscooked,jam,raw,petalsinsalads
3-8mshrub November/dec Moistwelldrainedpartialshade
FingerLime–Microcitrusaustralasica
Limesedibleinjamschutneys,saucesanddrinks
Upto10m Summer Rainforestplant
Climbers
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Plantname Use Height Fruitingtime NotesAppleBerry–Billaderiascandens
Fruitsedible Growswellunderlargetrees
Summer Toleratesrangeofsoils
Wombatberry–Eustrephuslatifolias
Fruitsandrootsedible Climber Summer? Localspecies
Hardenbergiaviolacea Birdandbeeattractor Climber Spring? WaterVine
Trees
Plantname Use Height Fruitingtime NotesBunyaPine??? Nutseatenrawor
cookedHuge–30-40m LateJanuary/febnot
everyyearPotentialhazardfromfallingcones
LillyPilly–Syzigiumsmitthii
Fruiteatenraworcookedinjam
Upto20m Autumn/winter Rainforesttree
PortJacksonFig–Ficusrubiginosa
Figsedible Up20m Feb-july Slowgrowing
Macadamianut Ediblenuts 12-15m Graftedvarietiesbest.
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NEfoodforest(inexistinggardenbed)Allfoodforestswillutiliseplantguilds–anassemblyofharmoniousplantsthatassisteachotherinhealth,bufferingenvironmentaleffectsandpestmanagement.
Thisplantguildwillutilisetheexistingelementsofplentyofsunandgoodwaterretentionandexistingwatertanksandpumpaccessnearby.
BananaCircle–plantinacircularswaleabout2-3mdiameterwithplentyofsunandgoodsoil.Lotsofcompost!Mayneednurseplantstocreatefrost/windfreemicroclimate.
Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime
Notes
Banana Ediblefruit,leavesforwrappingandservingfood
Dwarfvarietieseasierpicking-Cavendish
About9monthsafterplanting
http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-bananas.htmlPlentyofwater,richsoil,protectionfromwind,frostandcold.
PawPaw/Papaya Fruitedible Smalltree–5m? Allyear Asforbananas.Plantseedsfromripefruit.Sweetpotato Tuberandleaves
edibleTrailingvine Harvesttuberslate
autumnafterdiebackhttp://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/Information/SweetPotato.htmlPlantinspring–whenwarmer.
Pepino-Solanummuricatum
Crunchymelonlikefruit
Upto1metresprawling
Fruitsoverwarmermonths.
http://www.deeplivingproject.com.au/plants/pepinos/Sunandplentyofwater.
AvocadoTree Ediblefruits Canbepruned Summer Mayneedtwoplantsforpollination.
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EasternSideFruitandNutFoodForest.Thereisplentyofspacehereformeanderingpathsandallthelayersinafoodforest.Atleastoneortwoswaleswillhelpretainwaterontheslope,andastormwaterdrainfrombelowtheSolarPanelscouldberedirectedhere.
ThefocusofthisgardenisCitrusandNuttreeswithclimbersalongthefence
Trees.
Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesOrange–ValenciaorNavel
Fruit 4m Sept–April Soilwillneedimprovingmulchingcompost.Usegraftedvarieties
Mandarin–Imperialoremperor
Fruit 2-3m
Lemon–Meyer,Eureka Fig–blackorgenoa Fruit 2-3mormediumtreeif
notpruned.Summerfruit
Macadamia,Pecanorothernuttree
10-20m
Shrubs
Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesBorage Attractspollinators
edibleflowersgoodforchooks
Halfmetre Spring
Comfrey Nitrogenfixerandcompostacceleratorchookshealth
Halfmetre
Lavender Attractspollinators Smallshrub Fruitsaladsage Edibleflowers
pollinator
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EternalSpinach Perrenialherb Artichoke–globe Daikon Rocket Rhubarb
Climbersandgroundcovers
Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesGrapevineonfence Ediblefruit Climber Summer Nativeraspberry-Rubusparvifolius
Edibleberries,leavesmaketea.
Groundcover Dec-April Fullsun,welldrainedsoil.
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DeciduousShadetreesThesewillprovideshadeforvegetablebedsintheharshsummerheatandshadeforstudentseatingonoutdoortablesduringsummer.Thesewouldpreferablybefastgrowingandnative–RedCedar?
ChickenShedChickensareapossibleadditiontothispermaculturegardenandwouldbeincludedattheveryend,whengardensarewellestablished.UsingtheSolarPanelsasarooffortheshedmeansthatlittleinfrastructurewillneedtobeconstructed.Waterforthechickenscouldbecollectedintoasmalltankviarunofffromthepanelsthemselves.Timberroosts,nestingboxes,meshenclosingandadoorwouldallneedtobeconstructed.Issueswithchickenswouldbecareduringholidays,destructivenaturearoundgardensandfeeding.Benefitsareeggs,compostandpestcontrolingardens.
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ImplementationTheworksproposedcouldbecarriedoutinseveralways.Aschool/schoolscouldbeenlistedtohelpuscompleteelementsviaa‘permablitz’day.MtDruittTutorialSchoolstudentsandstaffmaybeperfectforthisandtheycouldhaveongoingownershipofthegardenandhelpwithmaintenance.Theyareregularvisitorsalreadyforbushregeneration.
Anotheroptionwouldbeforacommunity‘permablitz’dayorweekend.WecouldenlistthehelpofSydneyWestPermaculturemembersorlocalresidentstohelpwithearthworksandplanting.Thelocalscouldthenhaveaccesstotheproducefromthegardenasawayofthankingthem!
Priority1Watermanagementshouldbethefirstpriorityforimplementation.Theinstallationofrainwatertanksanddiversionsofstormwatershouldbecompletedfirstasadequatewaterwillbeanecessityfortheestablishmentofnewgardenbeds.FundingfortankscouldcomepartlyfromthePrimezonegrantmoneyandDECAssetsmayhelpout?Diversionofstormwaterwillrequiresomediggingandre-routingofpipesinboththedrivewayandeasternsideofhouseareas.Timeline–terms2-32015
Priority2Earthworks.Thebuildingofswaleswillworkinwithpriority1tomanageandretainwaterinthelandscape.Thiscouldalsoincludetheenrichingofsoilwithcompost(wemayneedtopurchasethis)andmulchingofpaths.Theseworkswillneedtobecompletedbeforeplanting.Term32015.
Priority3Plantingofalltreespecies.Term32015.Theendofwinterwouldbeagoodtimeforplantingasitisnottoohotonworkersandwillgivetreestimetoestablishbeforethesummerheat.ThisisthedriesttimeatBrewongleandadequatewaterwouldneedtobeavailabletowaterintheplants.Iftherehasnotbeenenoughrainfalltofillnewtanks,thenwemayneedtobuysomewaterinitially.
Priority4Plantingofallgroundcovers,shrubsandclimberstomakeuptheremainderofthefoodforest.Term42015.Theidealtimeforthiswouldbeearlyterm42015.Springplantingwillallowhelpestablishmentandgivestafftimetomonitorprogressbeforethesummerholidays.
Priority5ConstructionofChickenShedandadditionofchickens.2016.Thisisalowpriorityandsubjecttodiscussionwithstaff.