Why Study Permaculture Part One

Permaculture is a holistic, nature-inspired design methodology that can be used grow food, build businesses and create communities.

There are a number of reasons why a permaculture course is valuable. Permaculture design can assist you to reduce your ecological footprint while saving you money, time and energy. This illustrates a permaculture concept- taking one action and accomplishing three or more tasks.

If you are interested in learning more about permaculture, I recommend that you begin with an introductory course. This allows you to find out if you are intrigued enough to develop you knowledge and skills further or if you just want to take what you know and apply it your yoru daily life and work.

Unless you want to become a teacher or permaculture design consultant, the intro course is all you need.

However, if you seek more and want to consult and or teach then further work and learning is required.

If you have your own land and want to grow all or much of your own food, the intro course will help you decide whether or not this is a realistic goal. If you are convinced that you can indeed grow the food you need than it is time to take a closer look at the permaculture design certificate (PDC). The PDC is also essential if you wish to become a permaculture teacher or to take more advanced permaculture design courses.

Lawns

Large or small we do love our lawns. We value them so highly we curse the so-called weeds without realizing they are doing us a service. But, I will talk about this service in another column.

Our passion, perhaps for some an obsession, with our lawns, dates back to a time when not using space to grow food was a sign of wealth.

People still devote hours and dollars to maintain a lawn that may look good but requires constant attention and far too many people rely on toxic chemicals to keep the green, green.

Lawns are important. They provide a place for BBQs, family gatherings, a playground for the children and space for pets to roam. Lawns are needed but not in all cases and perhaps, in some, they could be smaller.

Considering how people use lawns, picture children and the family dog rolling on the lush, green grass, why would anyone want to spray any toxic chemicals simply to control weeds. There are healthier ways.

The first step in going chemical free is to determine what uses the back-yard serves, i.e. what does your family do there? 

Excerpt from last week's Campbellton From My Garden column. Stay connected for details about my coming ebook.

Bee City Campbellton

 Bees are pollinators, not the only ones, but the honey bee is most likely the best known. Bumble bees also help the plants they visit grow. You can see both honey and bumble bees going about their business in any thriving garden.

The City of Campbellton has recently undertaken a major step in recognizing the value of the bee and the services they provide us.

City Council has passed a resolution that names Campbellton a Bee City. By becoming a Bee City, we have agreed to join with other communities across Canada, to protect, promote and celebrate pollinators. The Galerie Restigouche Gallery is coordinating the Bee City efforts through this Facebook page.