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The idea of growing tasty permaculture fruits and veggies makes me both smile and salivate.  

Incrementally over a lifespan, a gardener may journey from a few tomatoes in pots on a balcony, to a backyard suburban patch, to a community garden plot in the city, to their own blank canvas garden in the rural countryside... surrounded by equally hungry wildlife!

I'm currently thinking of rural Zone 1 possibilities for my friends' farm I am helping design, as well as my own future homestead.

I'm envisioning rural permaculture Zone 1 "gulag" gardens, but without that vegetables-are-serving-time-in-prison vibe.  Especially garden ideas and designs that:
1) Are well defended from wildlife,
2) Conserve energy in material and energy flows,
3) "Stack functions" through thoughtful integration.

If you currently have (or are dreaming up) a well protected Zone 1 garden:
  • What are you especially proud of, design wise?
  • What would you have done differently in your garden's structural design, relative placement, shape, layout, materials, elements, or whatever, if budget wasn't a concern?
  • What are nifty permaculture elements, patterns, or integration points and designs you'd love see more of in Zone 1 gardens? (Aka Permaculture demonstration sites)


  • Zone 1 permaculture garden dream list:
  • Garden is next to Zone 0 to save walking time and increase observation and ease of harvest.
  • Gravity-fed irrigation from rainwater water storage, collected from Zone 0 roof.
  • Garden beds are downhill from animal or mulching systems, enabling easy "kickdown" of materials and fertility.
  • Great solar aspect, and nearby structures or trees help reflect heat and/or enable shade for warm/cool-weather plantings, respectively.
  • Tools are stored nearest their points of use.
  • Kanban and "lean" systems help make scheduling and execution of work a breeze.
  • Thermal mass (rocks, water tank) helps moderate temperature extremes.
  • No frost traps!
  • Structures or functional hedges ameliorate adverse winds.
  • Sitting spots available for working or resting, especially on the side of raised beds.
  • Communal eating and celebration nooks within the garden.
  • Night path lighting.
  • Rot-resistant fence posts with no chemical preservatives.
  • Artful structural elements from natural, on-site materials e.g. wattle fences, baskets, trellising, stone mosaic pavers.
  • Manmade elements are durable materials... buy it for life.
  • Ponds for frogs and fountains for birds (for pest control).  Plus the sound of falling water.
  • Animal integration.  Make the animals do the work.  i.e. Chicken tilling, pig digging, sheep mowing.  Chicken moats for pest/weed barriers.
  • Evergreen vines "sector out" neighbors for privacy.
  • Pretty pollinator patches and flowers for bees = increased yields overall.
  • Summer sitting and eating areas...under trellised shading vines.
  • Handicapable raised beds and pathways for aging in place.


  • What else? (Crowd sourced list)
  • Incorporating perennials (e.g. asparagus as backdrop). Strawberries, garlic, walking onions, raspberries along path. Tea plants. (hat tip Robert R. below)
  • Locate garden beside well travelled paths for keen and frequent observation and upkeep.  Composting! (h/t Rachel L)

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    gardener
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    Location: Cascades of Oregon
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    When I think Zone 1 it has a relative small footprint. But one plant that I wish I would have planted in my zone 1 is my aspargus bed. It grows so fast once season starts you have to look at it every day if not twice a day. The feathery fern after the production cycle is a nice back drop in the landscape. Herbs, walking onions, garlic, raspberry vines and raised strawberry beds along the path to the main gardens. I've mentioned before I plant chamomile for garden paths, mints and other tea plants are in my zone 1.
     
    gardener
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    Location: Tennessee
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    Zone 1 is only space I have for a garden anywhere--and it is literally in front of the sidewalk leading to my front porch.

    My shadow has indeed been the best fertilizer, pest control, designer, and all over the last few years. I love how close everything is, because it has to be.

    I'm going to put in more perennials (herbs) this year, and composting is going in a pile full-tilt. (Thank goodness it's been very rainly lately making it break down faster. It is very visible for the neighbors and the road.)
     
    Posts: 184
    Location: KY
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    Hello and thanks for sharing your dream list.

    Here are a couple pics of one of my zone 1 gardens, I have 2, but I don't have great pics of the other.

    I also have a large "cash crop" zone 2 garden that has been a lot of work because it's on a greater slope.

    To answer your questions, I am especially proud I managed to make the gardens at all - 7 or 8 years ago I had basically 0 experience in permaculture but have focused and worked really hard, and also am just really lucky to be able to have the time and space to actually build my dream at age 41.

    The ponds are by far my favorite aspect, for a variety of reasons including wildlife habitat, and water retention. Every garden has one or two in it or around it! Without the purchase of a compact 4x4 tractor/loader/backhoe I would likely not have been able to do this, because these zone 1 gardens are on top of a ridge and very rocky. Every rock you see in the pics came from me digging out right there to create the space.

    I have done the best I can putting the beds on contour, adding topsoil, old leaves, hay, and woodchips - I would use way more compost on the beds if I had an unlimited budget like you asked!! But I'm working on making my own.

    I have visions of hedgerow style natural fencing, but have been using T-post and 7' poly for now - I take it down every late fall because I cant stand the look, and think Ill come up with a better option, but ultimately it goes back up! Maybe one day...so that would be another desire of mine is to have more natural or at least better looking, non-plastic fencing.

    Frogs and toads galore inhabit the ponds already, dragon flies in the summer - and none of them are even over 3 years old!!

    If you notice, yes there is a metal patio chair to sit in and admire the sights smells and sounds. All my tools are kept in the shipping containers close by, and my little house is just a few paces up hill the opposite direction. I'd like to install gutters on it like you mentioned and channel the water to another pond thats not visible in the pics.
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