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)