Hello Everyone

Hi my name is Shelia and I recently moved back to Southern Missouri after living in Springfield for 5 years. Is there anyone located near Southern Missouri or North Arkansas interested in Permaculture?
I became interested in Permaculture because I accidentally stumbled across it when I was looking up information on Aquaponics. I had a small 150 gallons aquaponic system for 2 years now. I should have a 600 gallon aquaponics system by this spring if all goes well. I just had a hoop house installed and I am digging a 400 gallon in ground pond for my aquaponics system and I am 3/4th of the way there. Part of the hoop house will have an aquaponics system and part of it will be a soil and a nursery for young seedlings.

I am a long time gardener over 20 years, but only became interested in organic gardening a few years ago and permaculture several months ago. I have spent many hours reading and watching videos on permaculture most of my spare time. One problem I have when I try to design or plan a Permaculture garden is that I look at my garden all I see are straight rows because that is what put in that space for 15 years.
I have attached a current picture the garden and how it looks today and one from early spring of last year before my husband plowed the rest of the garden. I would like to implement both swales and hugelkultur this year if possible. I wish here was a template available for those who are less creative...
I would appreciate any suggestions or ideas. Thanks.

Welcome to permies.com

There is plenty here to browse, and learn from. If you have any questions, don't be shy about asking.

swales and layouts are all about the direction water is moving. figure out the drainage directions of the land, and set up "eyebrows" to trap the water and let it seep in.

Thats all there is to it.

If you have drying periods, you are better off burying the wood, (in the bottom of trench, in front of the swales) or building pits, instead of piles.
That way, you trap and save the water and nutrients in the soil, where the roots can use it.

Hugels (hills) are to give dry feet to stuff in dark forests, and wet soils.


The only other real planning should be height, and fruiting. You dont want to have to step on stuff to get to stuff in back too much, but a few footprints wont hurt good soil.
The real value of permaculture is in laziness. you are building towards a low maintenence tree scape, so think about that as you lay this all out.

Make it simple, and easy, and leave yourself a place to grow in it too...

Thanks Morgan,
The land slopes gently towards the west- I tried to attach a couple of pictures but for some reason they did not attach- I will try again. We have a barn near the garden and I plan reinstall the gutters and direct the excess water toward the swales. I thought circles and curves supposed to be incorporated into the Permacuture design? Then I wonder if I should put a small pond (a few hundred gallon) in the middle to encourage more beneficial insects and frogs or just leave it because there is pond for live stock on the other side of the fence. These types of decisions are what has delayed me from starting to dig the swales including where to plant the trees. I have purchased several trees and fruit trees that will arrive in a few weeks and I am not sure whether I should put the trees just out side of the garden or try to blend them in the garden near the swales; we eat a lot of tomatoes, salsa almost every day when tomatoes are in season, and a fair amount of corn- our grand kids love corn on the cob. Several things that I grow every year require a lot of sun.

How far apart are swales supposed to be? I do not know if this makes a difference on the distance, but the soil is poor and clay mixture in most areas- there are a few areas I have built up that the soil is a little better quality .