What's happening Permaculture wise in Texas?

Has Geoff ever been to Texas and if he has I'd like to know how it compares to Australia. I've lived here in North Texas (Dallas area) and in North East Texas all my life. Thus I've never had the opportunity to visit Australia. From what I've read about it however it seems that parts of Australia are very much like parts of Texas.
Would I do well to go to the Australian Permaculture web site to look for ideas to use here, after of course I figure out which part of Australia most closely resembles N.E. Texas?
I do know that Emu do well here. Big, smelly, birds so darn ugly they're down right cute. Tasty too.

I was thinking about this as well. I live in Central Texas and wanted to know which permaculture books or courses could i look into
for proper permaculture design with land that has mostly clay, and plenty of mesquite trees. I guess the search begins...

"Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Volume 2: Water-Harvesting Earthworks" by Brad Lancaster http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/books/volume2/

Thanks Tyler for the recommendation! Wow, another central Texian I just finished watching "Introduction to Permaculture Design" by Geoff Lawton last night.
Then I started thinking that I don't live in a Tropical area like shown on the video. I've been thinking of taking some Permaculture course in Texas,
would you have any recommendations on courses or books? Are there books and videos I can purchase to help me stay on the right track? What are you using for
better understanding of permaculture in Central TX? I am excited about this and overwhelmed at the same time. I guess I just need to hang around here and keep
learning. Thanks again!

Mark, I hope I can make some helpful suggestions. I can probably help with what NOT to do, as I have made many mistakes... First of all if the Permaculture Design DVD is anything like the Food Forest DVD then the techniques are translatable to our region, I believe. The basic design principles of permaculture apply no matter where one lives. Planning in zones, installing rain harvesting earthworks, etc all apply here. We do share with the tropics extremes of high temperature, potential drought and flood, and intense sun. The main challenge we face in Central Texas I think is our erratic climate, going from extreme drought to catastrophic flooding. Our rainfall is unpredictable, without a typical rainy season or monsoon like much of the Southwest has. So we have to be especially mindful of planning for the extremes. This is what I didn't know to do at the outset, and now have to make up for it by putting in rain harvesting earthworks after having already built house, sheds, etc. See my project thread for my planning struggles. A few things I've found especially helpful have been the video and map of Geoff's farm Zaytuna, which shows how the water harvesting works with the total landscape: http://permaculture.org.au/2012/06/01/zaytuna-farm-video-tour-apr-may-2012-ten-years-of-revolutionary-design/ I keep going back and studying it more. For those of us who can't afford to hire the big machines for installing dams and swales, or for working in smaller spaces, I can't recommend highly enough Brad Lancaster's "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands Volume 2": http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/books/volume2/ Also helpful for small scale rain harvesting structures: http://www.drylandsolutions.com/dryland.php?i=4

I can't recommend any courses because I'm not part of the Texas permaculture loop which seems to be centered in Austin. Those folks don't seem to hang out on the messageboards. There used to be a teaching permaculture farm a few miles from me. Unfortunately it closed right after we found out about it and visited once. We hope to get some permaculture teachers presenting here at our place next year but that's just in the planning stages right now.

I would bet that Jack Spirko has something in the works to get Geoff Lawton to Texas for a project.

Oooooh, great thread! Wonderful questions and great answers!

Mark Lipscomb wrote:

I would bet that Jack Spirko has something in the works to get Geoff Lawton to Texas for a project.

That's the rumor!

Whoo-hoo! I finely started a thread that got a lot of comments. Especially like the answers to my questions. If Geoff Lawton ever does come to Texas I just might be willing to spend the time money and even the carbon to get to where ever he's doing his thing. A friend got three of his video's from Australia and she let me borrow them to show to folks here in Lone Oak.
Sigh.
Only one other person besides me from Lone Oak showed, though we did have some other folks from a further away. Not many of them either though. Just can't seem to get folks around here interested. They are so IN to the so called "modern" farming they can't see there is a better way.
Of course a lot of them make their living off of the various things that "modern" agriculture needs, so I can see them not being willing to go with the PC ideas.
Thanks everyone who's answered.
Though I still would like to know if there's much likeness between area's of Texas and Australia. Sure looks like it from pictures I've seen of the out back in particular. I'm also betting that some spots in deep south east Texas could, with a little work, look a lot like some of the food forest on that DVD.

I think there are a lot of similarities between Texas and Australia. The main difference I think is that none of Texas is truly tropical.

True, but with the way things are warming up frost in the Brownsville area may soon be a thing of the past. If it isn't already. I do know that the hardiness zone for my area has changed in that it is now less convoluted and a bit warmer besides. Or it was last I looked.

Hi Betty
yes I have been through Dallas many times on route to Minden near Shrevport where we worked on the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant redesign when it was decommissions, it was a brown fields project and one of my students got the contract. I was one of the main consultants and went back and forward over 4 years, the events of 9/11 brought it to a close but we had a eco-industrial park already in action by then.

I used to really enjoy flying into Dallas on a late afternoon flight if I was on a window seat because I could see all the farm dams (ponds) reflecting in the sunset.

I almost got an invite to go and talk to Caterpillar too, which would be dream come true if I could talk to there research and development team.

There are many parts of Australia like where you live in Texas as Australia is the size of the US without Alaska, I have also worked in 30+ countries world wide and I can assure you applied permaculture design in Texas works fine.

I do hope to be working with Jack in Texas and am just waiting for the details.

Cheers Geoff Lawton

Check out www.permaculture.org.au/permies

Wow, Thanks Geoff for the quick answer! Especially about the activity down near South East Texas. I didn't know anything was happening down there related to Permaculture. Of course that was also before I caught the Permaculture Bug.
I hope I'm able to find out when and where your next project here in Texas will be. Especially if it is any where near North East Texas.
I have flown in and out of DFW a time or two as well and also really enjoyed looking down at the land forms (possibly due to my training in the Earth Sciences) and the water storage. Did you know that there is only one natural lake in Texas. All the rest are man made. I'd tell you which is the natural one but I've forgotten.

stumbled upon this site, forum and topic in my search for info on Dallas Permaculture. Am wondering if Goeff Lawton has plans to teach in the Dallas area? hope I didn't miss him!

thanks so much.

Candi,

There are a few of us "crazies" (what my wife calls me) building a permaculture garden (food forest with embedded gardens) in the Dallas area. I've got about 150 fruit/nut trees over 1/2 acres dedicated to this "project" on a 1.7 acre homestead.
My planting started just about a year ago. So, the food forest garden is still young. I'm also putting this together alone, with my shovel and wheel barrel. I'm also following certain differences in my philosophy, such as:

1) Genetic diversity. Even though I have multiple types of certain trees, they are all genetically different cultivars.
2) I'm using "back to eden" wood chips *everywhere) as a tick mulch. This solves a number of huge problems growing in the DFW area, such as:

josh: thank you for your response. I'm glad to know there are others in the Dallas area who are interested in Permaculture. I'm new to the system of thought. Thanks to the internet:) Wish I'd known about it 15 years ago-but better later than never, right?

Is there a group that meets in the area?

Any upcoming local symposiums or conferences?

Did you take a Permaculture Course?

Have you heard about the Ecovillage that is starting up in the Greenville area? They are offering a course next fall, which I'm considering taking,

I'd also like to learn and participate by helping others with their projects.

There are tons of books out there, which are your faves?



Your project sounds very interesting....I'd love to see the rest of your post....looks like it got cut off midstream.

Thank you again for sharing...would love to hear from others as well:)

Candi

There are plenty of people involved. To Betty's question, Geoff has been to Texas. You can see a picture of him here http://workingwithnature.org/nicholas-burtner.html with Nick Burtner. Nick has classes in and around Dallas and will consult with you one-on-one by appointment. I have not worked with Nick. I am simply reading from the site and posting this opportunity for you to investigate.

Another tool to DIY is watching Peak Moment TV on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/peakmoment
There are 30+ videos for catching rainwater, building with solar power, composting toilets, recycled materials, eating/buying local, networking for resources etc. I will admit, most of the people in the videos are in OR, WA, CA or Canada; however, the information translates to our region in Texas. I am originally from Commerce (area) and it's not easy working in black, sandy or clay soil. I do know that you can make improvements to the land one step at a time using compost, natural fertilizer and irrigation from your gray water.

I am currently working overseas, but can't wait to get back home to Texas and garden for fun, flowers and food!

Looks like this thread died a while back, but I'd be interested to hear of any new projects or PDCs available in the north east Texas area. I'm just outside of Longview and would love to get in with a group of like minded individuals. We are trying to build a permaculture farm here in Big Sandy and would love any advice.

Josh -

I live in Colleyville, also on 1/2 acre. I am in the process of completing my swale system and start planting.

How's your system going? Your last post on this thread was in 2014. It should be starting to look pretty good this spring, no?

Do you have any pictures to post? Is your place open for tours?

Thanks.
Tim

Quinlan, TX here about 75 miles east of Dallas. Building our homestead based on permaculture and Eden techniques. I get free mulch from tree removal companies, so I am more Eden than permaculture, but blending both philosophies as they compliment each other for our particular climate. Currently raising chickens, quail, rabbits, ducks and fish. Our website is www.sunfunfarms.com or on FB: https://www.facebook.com/TexasSunfunEdibles

I would like to start a project up here in Gaines county south of Seminole now that I am out of the army and have 30 acres to play with paid off. Only real thing slowing me down is 25k credit card sucking the money away. though thinking of getting people to buy caliche off me to help pay that off since my land has about 40' deep or more caliche laying on it. But in the few years I have been back down in the draw portion of my land I have seeded it with many clover, vetch and rye grasses that have really taken in that I don't water. since that has came I have many rabbits and quail that are populating it. Another thing I have been doing is when I see mounds of tree branches and logs and even grass clippings I have been building up areas with them to help absorb some moisture and they in turn are collecting dirt that blows around here. Over all on my days off I am collection what I can to get as much organics to grown and get soils to form over the caliche as I can till I can find help and even a source of wood chips from landscapers in the area.

Howdy Texas folk!

Anyone near Nacogdoches? Theron Beaudreau has 260 acres. He'll be hosting Darren Dougherty's REX course in June.

http://www.integratedacres.com/


Think there is also some really unique traditional natural building of Caddo grass houses this spring at the Caddo mounds.

https://m.facebook.com/visitcaddomounds/

I'm moving back to Hawkins in June and interested in getting to know others working on permaculture in the area. Anyone close?

Hey Deborah, I'm in Big Sandy, that's pretty close to Hawkins.

I am on the other side of the state. Up in the dry high plains near new mexico here.

Greetings all,
Moving to five acres in the Davis Mountains, here in about two months.
Going to implement permaculture concepts to raise me up a crop of dental floss...

I'm just getting started with a permaculture... conversion(?)... here in the grapevine area. I've done a lot of reading and some video watching, but I have to say that I am stymied about where to start.
Just when I think, oh, I'll do this... I get lost in trying to decide what plants to remove, what to plant, and what will actually grow around the mature oak trees on my lot.
I am very curious about dwarf fruit trees and vine-ing berry plants.
Does anyone have experience with these?
Anyone else near Grapevine?

Well Kristen, let me ask you this: what gets you up in the morning?

Kristen

I am in the Rockwall area. There are a couple meetup groups in the area. One in Plano and one (I think) in Denton. Try meetup.com and search for permaculture or Purple Moosage me and I will try to find the groups I am familiar with. Oh! here is the one in Plano.  https://www.meetup.com/DFW-Permaculture-Sustainability/  Nick was one of the instructors in my PDC course. I get notices usually every week about group meetings, but I have not bookmarked the groups. There may have been meetings in Southlake or Farmers Branch, too.

Elizabeth Rose wrote:Well Kristen, let me ask you this: what gets you up in the morning?

i'm not sure what you're asking- in general? relating to gardening?  

i can tell you that pulling up the grass constantly is not want gets me going.

in general- teaching; i am a first grade teacher by trade and passion

re: gardening? i'd love to have a place that has fruit trees that take advantage of the canopy of existing oaks, vegetables to eat often, the ability to let the chickens forage throughout the garden without fear that they'll destroy the 'bones' of the garden... all of this without worsening the drought, furthering the destruction of habitat in the area, or angering the neighbors. tall order, i know!

I think oaks cast too dense a shade to grow fruit trees but I think blackberries might grow there, some perennials, and some vegetables - especially leafy greens.  I'm sloooowly building a food forest under oaks which have died from wilt, and cedar elms, which cast less dense shade.  My first fruit plantings will be blackberries and plums.  Native plums grow as an understory fruit tree in this area, but sadly all our wild plum trees died during the terrible drought.  I expect to get almost no fruit from a food forest because of our tremendous critter pressure.  I'm not prepared to kill and eat critters, so I'll have to share and hope they leave me a few fruits.  I'm also going to try growing other edible plants in the food forest such as native Canada Onion, Devil's Claw, and others I'm not remembering right now, some tuber things.  The few things growing there now seem to benefit from the shade.

i was worried that the leaf coverage might be too dense. :/
i was out looking today and there is more dappled sun at the edge of the canopy than i was thinking there would be. but still, like you said, dense. i'd like to try blackberries since i love them and they do grow as volunteers easily here. i managed to train a volunteer mustang grape this year and get some fruit, so perhaps i can do the same with blackberries.
i am going to go get toby's new book on urban permaculture from the library and i'm hoping that will have some good insight into how to convert what i have into the most useful space possible.
i am learning a lot by reading here, though.

This is my third summer to be a member of permies.  

I am trying to learn what I can and put this into practice with my Monarch Garden.  Each year I have added more perennials.  Last year I added Lavender, Rosemary, Echineasia, Lemon Balm and Parsley.

This year so far I have only added Egyptian Walking Onions because it has been too windy to plant seeds.

My husband has been the vegetable gardener up till now but no longer feels like doing this so I am planning to take over doing this. He did plant two tomato transplants that he bought. Since it has been too windy I think I will have to go with some transplants when we go to the big city.

Betty Montgomery… I am in East Tawakoni.  I would love to have a garden friend.  I’m new to permaculture but just got a small piece of land not far from my house I want to place all my gardening ventures.  I am new to this thread so I don’t know what to do to reach out.  I hope you get this.

I sent her an email to notify her of your post. It seems she has not posted on Permies in a few years.

Anne Miller wrote:This is my third summer to be a member of permies.  

Wow, that was written in May of 2018 and now it is almost 2022 in a few days.   What a fun ride it has been.

Also, a lot has changed since then.  I know so much more about permaculture.

For those wanting to know "What's happening Permaculture-wise in Texas?"  These threads might be of interest.


https://permies.com/t/110120/Major-earthworks-starting-central-texas

https://permies.com/t/53556/Creek-repair-rock-dams

At least what is happening with some of our members.

Email from Betty.

Hey, Shella!
   You found me! I'm not presently doing much gardening myself though I have plenty of land. Seems some where between working to pay off the land, learning about Permaculture, taking one PDC and finely paying off that land I managed to get old and get several medical issues going. I'd love to hear what you plan to do with your new land.
First bit of advice: If at all possible do not, DO NOT put off building or planting your garden(s) until you get the land paid for! That was my biggest mistake. All kinds of plans made. Then either "no time" because of work or "no money" because of NOT working. Find a way. MAKE the time. Just DO IT.
So tell me, fellow Permie, what will your garden grow? Is it just to supplement you and your families meals? Add fresh greens and spices to your salads or recipes? Or do you want to go all in and try to raise fifty percent or more of your own food? Are you going to 'hire' some feathered and/or furred 'helpers'. I'd love to know. Not sure I'd be able to help physically but I'm good at dreaming ... uh, I mean planing. Emoji
I live in Lone Oak across the lake from East Tawakoni. I'm not good at keeping up with my e-mails. I often don't go through them for a week! I just happened to pick today to do the job. Glad I did!
My land line phone is (xxxxx) and Please leave a message! I don't have caller ID and don't carry the thing around with me. Call If you'd like to talk gardens or Permaculture. Just not before noon! I picked up some bad habits working third shift. Like staying up late and sleeping in.
So glad to know there's another Permaculture person around here!

Betty.

Jerry Sledge wrote:Email from Betty.

I am so glad you heard from Betty!

I hope you will encourage her to come back to this thread and post a reply.

And maybe even suggest that she give the forum another chance by coming and asking questions or just being part of the fun.

Really enjoying this thread.  Attempting to do a mix of aquaponics on my top acre where cotton root rot reigns, and a permie food forest in my healthier wooded back acre that is bursting with worms! So neat to see so many people trying to get things growing in what can be a challenging area.