€¦ · web viewproject 10. isabel’s garden (2012) summary and lessons learnt. this project...

Project 10Isabel’s Garden (2012)

Summary and Lessons Learnt

This project taught me a lot about working for a customer. Like Tracey’s Garden this was a domestic garden, but with a lot of hard landscaping and fairly solid initial ideas about being self-sufficient in fruit and veg and connecting to nature. The design fulfilled the brief but the project taught me a lot about really hammering out the real requirements and developing a longer relationship with the client beforehand. People don’t always know what they are really wanting in a design and can often be overly enthusiastic – you can’t just accept what they say, sometimes they need more help coming to an understanding, so you need a period of observation with the client as much as with the land! But even if this design is not fully implemented, it has had a positive effect on the client’s outlook and awareness and enabled me to go through another design process iteration.

EthicsEarth Care – Sustainable food production, composting better and improving soil, creating more wildlife food and habitat, capturing rainwater, increasing wood burning use rather than coal.People care – More satisfying connection to land, providing nutritious food and enjoyment rather than all garden toil as they get older, lifting spirits and providing retirement activity. Fair Share – Increasing connection to local residents by sharing and swapping more produce, being more present in the front garden whilst gardening, having conversations about permaculture techniques.

Criteria & Principles DemonstratedThis project used OBREDIMET for the design framework and also demonstrates the use of Functions and Elements Analysis, Overlays, Sector Analysis and Evaluation and Costing.

The Key Principles demonstrated are Produce No Waste, Catch and Store Energy, Obtain a Yield, Use & Value Edge, the Problem is the Solution, Use and Value Diversity, and Slow and Small Solutions.

of 26Isabel’s Garden Design by Alison Ensor

Isabel’s Garden

Observation

The Starting Point – Site Visit and Interview

Isabel contacted me for a permaculture design in February 2012 having met for a second time at a meditation course. She was aware very loosely about permaculture, but having no real knowledge she was mainly interested in its holistic philosophy, having felt a strong spiritual connection to the Earth and Nature for a long time. She had wanted to start growing fruit and vegetables and was drawn to the idea of raised beds but did not know where to start, being nervous of making costly mistakes.

Since moving to the house and garden Isabel feels she has been fighting against its square, sterile feeling and now feels it’s imperative to incorporate her garden into her spirituality. She also seems to have been getting stressed by gardening – it always seems a chore and like fighting a losing battle. She wants a new way to interact with the garden which is more natural and in harmony, reducing workload but also gaining a deeper understanding of nature, wildlife and eco-systems.

Her husband Graham seems to be willing to let Isabel make most decisions but I get the feeling he needs to feel things are done properly and is a lot more conventional. He hates mowing but thinks there ‘should’ be a lawn!

Wish List

Not to be self-sufficient but to grow a reasonable selection of the following including surplus to freeze as had freezer capacity, unable to eat jams and preserves though.

o Soft-fruit -raspberries, strawberries, currants, tayberries, blackberrieso Rhubarbo Top fruit – apples (eaters as get cookers from neighbour’s tree), plum, maybe

something like nectarines? Not keen on pears.o Salad stuff, lettuce, celeryo Roots – potatoes, carrots, swede, turnip, parsnip, beetrooto Brassicas – cabbage (all year round and red), cauliflower, broccoli and

calabreese, o Onions, leekso Peas, runner beans, French beanso Courgette, squash, marrow


o Tomatoes – cherry and big, cucumbero Willing to try other things – eg broad beans

(Note: very conventional annual veg choices, what they normally buy in shops. High on brassicas with potential pest problems)

Would like raised beds to avoid bending too much, knee problems Soil very heavy clay – too difficult to work, dries out. Help! (do have access to horse

manure) Already composting but would like to make easier process Wood storage important – currently distributed over several places including garage

and covered over goal area! Also currently using coal as well, problem with coal ash and large amounts of coal dust.

Meditation space – would be nice to have dedicated area, make attractive Existing seating/patio area – only sunny in summer but secluded and protected from

wind Existing pond – was a fish pond once, would like it to be more of a wildlife pond – do

have a grass snake that eats the frogs! Space for bringing on seedlings as existing conservatory was more a restful house

space, didn’t want clutter of seed trays etc Improvement to concrete pathways? – surfaces lost integrity, look unattractive, too

square lines for Isabel, not sure what can do Isabel likes circles, hates straight lines but accepting for raised beds Graham – more conventional, doesn’t like mowing but thinks should have some

lawn! When asked about costing – told anything reasonable so I took this to mean money

was not too much of a problem but we couldn’t be lavish! TIME? Graham working full-time but coming close to retirement, Isabel has time

available – approx. 4 hours a week once all up and running. Would like to start something growing this season if possible NB – Front retaining wall is collapsing and will need to be rebuilt soon, have had a

builder suggest a curving wall set back from front perimeter – which suggest a large amount of soil will be available

Ethics

This design is a perfect example for demonstrating the ethics of Permaculture

Earth Care – Sustainable food production, composting better and improving soil, creating more wildlife food and habitat, capturing rainwater, increasing wood burning rather than coal,


People care – More satisfying connection to land, providing nutritious food and enjoyment rather than all garden toil as they get older, lifting spirits and providing retirement activity.

Fair Share – Increasing connection to local residents by sharing and swapping more produce, being more present in the front garden whilst gardening, having conversations about permaculture techniques.

Boundaries and Resources

Site Survey - 6 th March 2012, 1 pm

The house is a detached modern house sitting on a generous corner plot but divided equally to back garden, front and side garden. The property faces entirely south so this means the back garden is shaded and the slope of the plot has meant the terraced back garden has a sunken patio. The front is sunny and open with only one tree shading a part of the lawn but it can be windy. The road is a quiet side street in a village location.

The back garden feels quite ‘built up’ with stone walls, steps, paths patio, pond surround and garage wall. The side and front garden are really mostly lawn with hedge and some shrubs and feel very open but not inviting (though this was March). The front garden pathways are concrete and straight lined and the surface is deteriorating.

The only access to the back garden is either from through the garage, the drive being not adjacent to the house, but behind the side garden, or via a narrow alley on the far right (east) of the property.

Back Garden – site survey



Patio in front of kitchen windows – dark, north facing, Conservatory gets mid-afternoon sunUsed as storage space obviouslyLandscaped retaining walls/steps up to patio/lawn – can’t be touched

Midday shading from house, shading washing line and most of patio

Terraced back half of garden, raised , gets more sun

Oil tank and coal bunker hidden behind bamboo screen

Garage south facing – car access from side of plot

Wisteria recently cut down

Door opens onto garden

Large pots containing ornamental trees – possible resource as trees not doing well

South facing garage wall with trellis support from recently removed wisteria. Full sun in winter.


Lawn area – with central whiteberry Robinia tree – central focus for birdsGarden pond behind, grass snake likes raised pond pump spaceGarden fence panels – south facingRaised pond pump – obviously used as sunny seating, sometimes Isabel sits here for meditation, sometimes on lawnNeighbours conifers dropping material into pond.

Side access behind shed and wood storage container

Washing line – not used in winter, in shade on 6th March midday.

Flat roof water downpipe, plus north facing roof downpipe available on east side of property

No outdoor tap.

Patio in front of kitchen gets no sun most of the year, Useful resources - old paving and bricks

Front Garden


Slope evident from this photo

Tree is a Laburnum, showing some sign of stress but been advised to keep. Best ever display last year.

Front garden in full sun – south facing. Downpipe from whole front of roof space. Sloping aspect to pavement.

Retaining wall is collapsing, needs rebuilding, plans to create two tiered section – - potential for soil?

Base Plan


Side garden bordered by high privet hedge and garden wall.

Gets midday sun – partial shading am and pm. Currently wood store and compost bin at far end

Only accessed from front – no back garden access

Concrete path alongside house


(Note: scale refers to original drawings, see portfolio)

Sectors and Site Survey

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Isabel’s Garden Design by Alison Ensor

Evaluation

Functions and Systems

Having has several chats about the garden and visited Isabel three times in the last few months the main functions she and Graham require can be summarised as

Food production Providing utility space Creating a more ‘natural’ space for spiritual connection and enjoyment Concern about safety of the front wall

I then broke these down into possible systems and elements that could work within the very different sections of garden.

Functions Systems ElementsFood Production Top fruit Ballerina apples & plum

Nectarine?Soft-fruit Raspberries, tayberries,

blackberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries

Vegetables Large selection of annual vegetables listed, suggest perennial options?

Garden structure Greenhouse, raised beds, pathways

Rainwater harvesting Guttering, diverters, tanks

Water delivery Hoses, soaker hoses,

Soil Improvement Compost, mulching materials – lawn mowings, paper/card,Manure from local stables

Utility Dry /accessible wood storage

Wood storage box, additional covered space

Washing drying Rotary line – in more sun

Tools & equipment storage/access

Shed, garage, increased and more accessible wood store


Pathway improvement Planting options for edge softening – low growing herbs

Reduce stress of gardening

Reduce lawn areas, easier access and less effort composting

Garden relaxation, nature/spiritualityconnection

Seating areas Tables and chairs, occasional seating, lawn and plants, pots that work well

Meditation space Privacy, seating, attractive and fragrant planting, wildlife attraction, creating roundness?

Wildlife Existing pond, additional planting to increate bio-diversity, habitat improvement, Bird feeders, nesting boxes/habitat/site managementInsect beneficial planting

Front wall problem Additional terrace to relieve lower wall

Terracing, remove large shrubs whose roots are destroying wall

Zoning , Elevation & Aspect, and Placement

Access and desire lines are very obvious on this property as there are limited ways in which to get into the property. The back door, patio, lawn and pond, steps to garage and front pathway from pavement to front door are high visit . Also fairly frequent in the summer months is through the conservatory onto patio and garden. Less frequent access is via side alley gate to back door (as kept locked) and side garden (only really for mowing and hedge maintenance now children don’t play here).

In such a small area zoning is often merely a matter of identifying high visit and low visit areas.

Zone 1 is therefore the Front garden pathway and rear patio, garage steps and lawn/pond.

Zone 2 is the less visited Side gate and Alley, Side garden and Front garden lower lawn.

Zone 3 – side garden hedgerow. Lower front garden wall beds?

Zones 4 and 5 are not really relevant to this garden and can be said to be the fields and hedgerows surrounding the village.


Aspect and Elevation suggest the ideal location of vegetable annual crops be in the south facing front garden where water can also be delivered from higher elevated water storage containers near the house. The least successful place for annual crops (and of course where most often tried to date) is on back garden patio.

The secluded back garden is most suited to developing wildlife and a meditation space, already with established pond and warm sunny space at top of garden.

The full shade areas suggest water and wood storage space, thankfully the shed is already ideally located near back door and within a shaded space so not taking up valuable growing space.

The solar gain and vertical space areas of the garage wall, rear garden fencing, west facing house wall and side garden wall are all unused at the moment and have great potential for food production.

The side garden with low visit rate and partial shading is ideally suited for fruit and perennial crops , which could also be attractive to wildlife and top fruit trees could provide some extra wind break potential for strong south westerlies.

Design

The Design – Back Garden

With such hard landscaping and infrastructure in the rear garden there was not a huge amount of change that could be suggested for this garden. The main focus has been on developing opportunities for insects and birds by planting suggestions (see plant list appendix) and making use of the garage wall as a perfect solar gain aspect for a greenhouse. A more defined seat with an arbour would increase the feeling of peace and seclusion in a sunny spot for Isabel’s mediation space.


(Note: scale refers to original drawings, see portfolio)

Food Production elements: Greenhouse - seedlings, tomatoes, cucumbers, overwintering salad, nectarine, water

capture from roof for internal watering, solar gain from wall, South facing fence – soft fruit climbers Using semi-shaded stone wall ‘beds’ for strawberries, especially alpine for temporary

summer sun benefit.

Wildlife elements: Planting - long grass, wild flower meadow, ivy, nectar rich climbers and plants, Food and habitat - increased birdfeeders, nesting sites, overwintering ‘untidyness’,

brash piles, mulches. Suggest not replacing gold fish in pond and allow natural eco-system to develop.

More marginal planting at edges of pond maybe by ‘wicking’ water from pond or identifying overflow.

Meditation space: Increasing Isabel’s spiritual connection with nature by biodiversity encouragement


Vertical growing space for more fragrance and seclusion, Help Isabel with permaculture techniques for gardening, allowing certain weeds,

using mulches and ground cover plants, planting hardier more native species and generally ‘relaxing’ into her garden so she can become more attuned to it.

Create more ‘softness’ and ‘curves’ to counteract square harshness of infrastructure by planting more low growing ground cover to spread onto patio edges, hang over walls, climb fences, especially circular wildflower meadow.

Utility elements : Wood storage under kitchen windows – increased capacity, no need for access to

garage and steps, unused space, relatively dry Water storage containers - again under kitchen window - making use of relative

elevation to deliver water to the front garden, using a shaded, unused space. Butts to collect more water from garage roof – maximising collection for greenhouse

and for topping up pond to reduce mains water use. Reducing mowing by creating wildflower meadow spiral.

Move washing line further north in the garden would give extended sunshine and perhaps more access to southerly winds, but Isabel seemed reluctant to move her line when I suggested this and asked me to remove it from the design. The only thing she disagreed with!

The Design – Side Garden

This area was easy to identify as a perennial and fruit Forest Garden because of its zone and partial shading. Graham needed to be able to access the hedge for trimming (though I am attempting to suggest less rigid trimming to enable birds to benefit from the privet berries, hence need a season of flowering and fruiting) and wanted to be able to keep pathways tidy my mowing. I have suggested a process to plant trees first, then create shaped sheet mulch beds with cardboard and manure , then adding perennials, soft fruit canes and plants after bed shapes created. I foresee lawn mowings being in short supply after this design has been implemented fully, but the front garden and rear lawn will provide some material for keeping weeds down in this area at least at the beginning. Privet hedge trimmings could be shredded as mulch on these beds. Will blackbird and thrush ‘mulch kicking’ proof too much for Graham that he will want tidy edging? Maybe mowing up the ‘mess’ will be enough!?


Food Production elements:Top fruit, apples, plums/damsons, cherry – on dwarfing or ballerina root stock to prevent too much additional shading, Graham concerned about root invasion to house and drainSoft fruit - trained against wall, strawberries at base of wall and along footpath, raspberries can be kept in check by mowing.Perennials – mainly soft herbs and rhubarb, tentatively suggesting other edibles such as Jerusalem artichoke…

Wildlife attraction elements: insect attractors, that can be cut and left as mulch, hedgerow left to be more wild, top fruit and mulched beds will attract birds, blossom attracts bees.

Utility elements: Reduced mowing and hedge trimming, water storage from front down pipe can act as reservoir for front irrigation, again reducing effort.


The Design – Front Garden

This sunny open aspect is the most suited for annual vegetable production and the slope will enable soaker hose water delivery to reduce their workload. The soil is clay so will retain moisture and nutrient cycling if a barrier to water loss is applied through effective mulching.

One of the ways I want to help increase the building of good soil in this area and reduce their current workload is by suggesting in-situ composting methods: either in an alternating ‘spare’ raised bed (temporarily covered), or a moveable compost bin – lifting off and spreading half rotted contents over alternate areas of the terraced bed (cover with lawn-mowings, straw, leaves etc if too untidy). The second way will be more beneficial for the clay soil and create less problems with potential smell, wrong mixes etc.

An additional tier terrace will solve the collapsing wall problem by reducing the load on the lower wall. Multi functionally this will also create a slightly raised access pathway to enable easier gardening of the vegetable ‘strip’ terrace and if the lower terrace is planted with attractants for beneficial insects, strongly scented Mediterranean herbs etc, this will act as a useful strip for the annual bed and maybe help deter pests, by attracting beneficial wildlife and increasing bio-diversity.

After visiting my plot and Tracey’s Garden (see other project design) Isabel was keen on using wine bottles in the design as she felt they were very attractive and a great talking point with the neighbours.


Food Production Elements:

Raised beds –

Act as in-situ composting containers – fill one and leave to rot whilst growing in others, then swap.

Bordering highly visited front pathway Zone 1 – ideal for salads and seedlings for annual bed planting out. Pick salad for tea from front door.

Additional protection from wind/birds/insects/frost by garden mesh held over beds by blue water piping located into plastic waste piping – easily removed for attention/harvesting.

Easier on the knees and back as Isabel and Graham get older Benefit from heat of wall of house, elevated aspect for added frost avoidance Automatic watering from elevated water storage from front of house downpipe. Good use of any ‘waste’ soil from terracing work. If ‘look’ not that important – could make out of waste blocks and paving slabs stored

on rear patio rather than timber


Annual Vegetable terraced bed –

Easy raised access from lower terrace Slope lower than both water storage tanks for buried soaker hose watering Edged by wine bottles for easy curve, strimmer proof, non-degrading, waste

materials, talking point particularly liked by Isabel. Composting in-situ will reduce workload of turning and transporting waste/compost,

building more friable top layer above heavy clay soil. Benefitting from leaves & nitrogen fixing of leguminous Laburnum tree – leaves can

be swept onto bed from lawn.Lower tier –

Hot and dry – perfect for bushy herbs, natural pest deterrent, Culinary and medicinal herb use – Isabel ‘physic’ garden inclined.

Wildlife Element: Lower tier –

Hardy and poor soil tolerant shrubs – bird cover, ground cover for soil life Attractive flowering for bees and butterflies Seed heads/dead stems – food for birds, insect hibernation site

Utility Elements :

Less lawn mowing Reduce effort of composting Waste mowings/leaves/kitchen waste –used in situ as mulch Solve earth stabilisation/collapsing lower wall problem by decreasing strain on one

wall, reducing height of single retaining wall. Removing large shrub roots from behind wall.

Use ‘waste’ materials such as paving slabs as stepping stones, even as raised bed edging perhaps.

Evaluation of Timescales and Costs of 26

Isabel’s Garden Design by Alison Ensor

Costs

Terraced bed – not included in costing as already planned/budgeted for

Lean to Greenhouse 4x8 feet = approx. £400 brand new,

Raised bed materials – Bottles = £0 just time!

Log roll = approx. £150

Timber for raised beds 6x2 treated, rough sawn , 30cm high, 2.4 mx 1.2 m beds = approx. £50 each X 4 beds = £200 or much less if using waste material stone/slabs

Planting – As much or as little as want approx. £150 for seeds and plants?

Trees – 3 x £20 if bare rooted = £60

Soft fruit – 6x approx. £10 = £60

Compost/manure = Free collection?

Water Butts 6 x300l x £40 = £240 or 2 x1000l x £100 = £200

Total = £1260 (or less if chose cheaper options)

Implementation

Timings/Implementation Plan

April 2012Temporary Container beds – I suggested Isabel start this season by filling her old recycling boxes and using the bagged compost stacked on her patio to just get growing! Simple things like where to place – suggested bordering pathway on front garden, and on raised section of patio next to seating maximising sun and gardeners attention time might make all the difference. Over the summer have been answering questions on veg growing like what do potato tops look like when the tubers are ready.

Autumn/winter 2012 Bare root tree and soft fruit cane planting, sheet mulching around to form beds

(NB Source cardboard and manure before) Erect lean to greenhouse on garage wall and add connected water butts to existing

one from garage roof


Spring 2013 Strip off turf areas in spiral shape and sow with wild flower seed, cover with sand.

Keep watered until established Plant wildlife friendly , nectar rich plants in borders Plant out perennial roots & strawberry runners in side garden beds Plant up greenhouse with trained nectarine and seedlings for summer veg, out

tomatoes and cucumbers in soil level beds in greenhouse. Set up compost bin in front garden (maybe against east wall, away from any terracing

area) and start generating compost ready for beds Start watering fruit trees if dry

Summer 2013 Erect arch or arbour in meditation space and plant , montana clematis, rambling

roses to scramble up and into dead conifers Continue with temporary annual containers until front garden terracing works

complete Start sourcing timber/recycled materials for raised beds in front garden to take any

waste soil generated by terracing works Continue composting in a bin in front garden Cut comfrey and add new mulch to fruit side garden, keep on top of weeds Water fruit trees and keep well mulched

Autumn/winter 2013 Start bottle bed edging on upper terrace after terracing work completed Lay soaker hose out on this bed and cover with sheet mulch materials to rot over

winter and suppress grass, Rake leaves from tree onto this sheet mulch Empty compost bin into raised beds or onto sheet mulch, re-establish bin new

position Source and install large water storage containers, giant diverters, and hosepipe for

water capture system, raised platform in side garden, check tanks filling over winter or are gutters blocked?

Install Raised beds - fill with waste soil and compost, placing soaker hose 3 inches below surface

Keep fruit garden mulched, shredded prunnings from privet hedge after berries eaten by birds – late January/February?


Spring 2014 Should be ready to start full blown annual vegetable bed production! See helpful

planting ideas & permaculture tips below. Keep moving on compost bin Connect hosepipes from water tanks to soaker hose and start watering when

necessary to keep soil moist below mulches Continue topping up all mulches Enjoy a full season of production!

Annual Veg Planting Guide and Tips

Early Spring (Feb/March) Start off early peas, salad, spring cabbage, tomatoes, onions in greenhouse

Sow parsnip, early carrots, beetroot, onion sets outside if soil warming Tip: Do not disturb soil by raking– simply sprinkle seed on soil and cover with a fine layer of sieved homemade compost or bought compost or even sand

Start chitting potatoes in frost free/light indoor space

Late Spring (April) Sow pots of summer veg – beans, courgette,marrow, squash,cucumber in

greenhouse Sow trays winter brassicas, leeks in greenhouse Sow swede and turnip, more carrot seed in

Tip : pull mulch away gently and sow in mixture of compost/sand on surface to avoid dormant weed seed germinating

Plant out peas/salad/spring onion/summer cabbage seedlings if big enough Late April plant chitted potatoes out under mulch

Tip: Use a sheet mulch on areas which have become weedy/overgrown to re-establish bed and get a crop.

Make Nettle Juice to feed green growing summer crops like courgettes/squash and tomatoes

Early Summer (May/June)


Plant out beans, courgettes/marrow,squash if no danger of frost, plant on beds where the compost bin has been emptied maybe last autumnPC tip: Plant out when really big plants to help guard against slug damage, water hole before planting , mulch well once established ie week later if growing away.

Plant tomatoes in greenhouse Make comfrey juice to feed tomatoes once fruit flowering Move compost bin and leave new area covered to receive winter brassicas Top up mulch on potatoes to stop going green Plant out leeks/winter brassicas once large enough

Tip: Sowing green manures like white clover/vetches in patches under crops as you plant out big brassica plants, means you have a patch of seedlings underneath as ground cover as the plant stands in winter and then green manure to cut & mulch once brassica harvested; feeds the next crop.

Late Summer – July Sow another batch of peas and salad for September Top up potato mulch to stop going green

Autumn Harvest! Tomatoes/beans can be frozen if you have a surplus Squash and onions can be stored in a frost free place. Courgette/ marrow –best roasted and frozen ready for soups/stews Store any surplus carrots/beetroot in boxes of sand, potatoes in paper sacks in a frost

free place, parsnip/swede/turnip can stay in the ground. Empty compost bin on next area – maybe cover with old carpet to allow worms to dig

in the dark and keep tidy Spread mulches as much as possible on any soil showing Plant autumn broad beans to overwinter

Winter Read seed catalogues Eat your frozen & stored surplus! Keep composting all the kitchen waste with bin in new place ready for spring use.

Monitoring/Maintenance


No Monitoring or maintenance has been possible on this project as the implementation stage has not yet occurred and probably won’t be due to the reasons given below.

Evaluation and Tweaking Evaluation of the effectiveness and appropriateness of this design to Isabel’s specifications has been hindered so far due to Isabel having to undergo unexpected surgery on her wrists and a general lack of implementation as a result. She did start collecting bottles and started on a raised bottle bed around the laburnum in the front garden in order to deep mulch it, but this had to stop when her wrists proved too weak after the operations. Also the builder/landscaper who was supposed to be building the front garden terrace and walls was unable to do the work this summer for some reason.

I have a feeling that further implementation of this project will be very gradual if done at all, perhaps only with the greater involvement of Isabel’s husband when he retires in a few years. And I think that here has been a learning experience for me, I can do a great design but if it is not matched to the health and capabilities of the client it is not a sustainable system design.

Despite the lack of implementation to date the actual process of listening and working with a new client and working on a typical small gardened property with all the difficulties of aspect, conventional layout etc. has been very interesting and taught me some significant things about designing for other people. In many ways the project was similar to Tracey’s Garden in that it was a small conventional garden with a novice gardener. There was more existing hard landscaping in this project however and a slightly older but equally enthusiastic client. This has been the biggest learning for me on this project – to be aware of that initial permaculture excitement and enthusiasm that a person first displays – it may not be sustainable when health, energy, time and reality sink in!

However despite the lack of physical progress so far, perhaps the main reason Isabel wanted this garden design was to feel spiritually connected to her garden, and if anything I would like to think this project has helped us both really understand how permaculture can make this connection . Things I have learnt from this project

Teaching Permaculture to the client The client wish list at the beginning, especially the type of food listed was quite conventional and restricted. Also the client had very little conception of permaculture


but Isabel wanted to be much more sustainable and most of all spiritually ‘in-tune’ with nature and very much stop the ‘battle’ of gardening.With Tracey’s Garden project I felt I had not really conveyed what Permaculture was all about well enough, so that decisions were often made for neatness and convention. With this project I think I was more successful in trying to instil what the ethos was by slowly increasing understanding of the underlying thoughts behind permaculture through the following:

1. A long explanation of permaculture and its principles at the time of the client interview with much more emphasis on the ethics and underlying putting humans back into the eco-system thinking.

2. A site visit to my own house and garden to see my ‘permaculture’ style and methods , explaining the philosophy behind all decisions, pointing out the ‘systems’ in operation.

3. A site visit to Tracey’s Garden to show development of permaculture principles as well a practical ‘vision’ of what things look like, asked Tracey to say what she had gained from it so far, problems etc, changes she would have made if she knew then what she knew now….

Isabel’s learning about Permaculture principles especially the natural laws of eco-systems and the spiritual insights these give has been a hugely important discovery for her. She no longer feels in a state of constant battle with her garden and therefore has enhanced her own spiritual relationship with Nature even if she hasn’t yet been able to implement the design. It was like watching a light turn on in her when I explained how I was using the properties of weeds to tell me what the soil needed, what would grow there and what the weeds purpose was for the whole system. I really felt that she got it! It was a spiritual awakening for her and if this project has done anything this was its main purpose, I have no doubt at all.

To be very aware of ‘Onset Permaculture Enthusiasm’ From early on Isabel was very enthusiastic about retrofitting her garden to a more natural and sustainable environment. She was excited about food growing and wanted to really feel at one with her plot. However I think this coloured her wish list making it more ambitious than she could actually implement and perhaps I failed to convey that amount of effort that might be needed before the designer could become the recliner. Even though I suggested sheet mulching parties with friends and that I could come and help with the physical work of planting fruit trees and


bushes she obviously felt a little over whelmed once reality of her health and energy kicked in. I over estimated her time and energy in the end and failed to ask questions about any health problems. I also took her at her word about her husband’s willingness to make any changes as she saw fit!

So I have coined the phrase Onset Permaculture Enthusiasm – make sure you take this early stage overenthusiasm into account so you don’t end up with a project that has too much unrealistic ‘OPE – make sure it is ‘Honest’ Onset Permaculture Enthusiasm and has some HOPE of being implemented instead!

Isabel’s Feedback Alison came and viewed our garden in March 2012. It’s not as easy or ’comfortable’ site being split into three; with limited access, heavy clay (and a conventional husband).

The possibilities of permaculture made me look long and hard about what we wanted/needed from our garden and what we were able to give it. Alison had opened doors for me with regards to this area of my life.

I would really like to embrace all of the plans and suggestions made. Alison’s plans, explanations and suggestions enabled me to visualise how things could look and also to empathise with our piece of land.

The overwhelming, rather saddening’ conclusion that I came to was that time was against me. Alison had quite correctly worked on the basis of ‘time per week’ after setting up and had kept labour to a sensible outgoing, but the whole thing had made me look at my time and how it needs to be spent in the foreseeable future with my other work for Spirit.

The great gift Alison has given me be doing this design is enabling me to ‘understand’. I can now move forwards and enjoy the garden (after a little work) without continually feeling guilty that it isn't tidy. I can now see possibilities but I was unaware of and accept limitations harmoniously.

I find myself passing on tips and explanations that have come from Alison; also I look for more ideas from other sources. It has given me a completely different aspect of life-mentally physically and spiritually-a life changing experience-really!

My regret with all of this realised is that I did not meet Alison and permaculture 10 to 15 years ago!

I wish to thank never had time, patience and understanding. She makes a good teacher, ambassador for permaculture and an inspiration for all of. Thank you Alison.


€¦ · web viewproject 10. isabel’s garden (2012) summary and lessons learnt. this project...

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