Permaculture – Earth Care, People Care, Fare Share

Week 3 – as the routine starts to take place, there is again the capacity to learn new things. During the morning gardening I like to listen to podcasts about permaculture. Here, the garden care follows the permaculture principles. Permaculture is a design system for agriculture that creates self-sustaining ecosystems. What differentiates permaculture from traditional farming is the idea of creating diverse ecosystems, where there is a variety of flora and fauna, supporting the natural ecosystem. Compared to traditional agriculture, permaculture does not try to achieve maximum harvest, but rather aims to create a sustainable environment where you can produce sufficient items for yourself with minimal energy and labor. It is essential to follow more ethical principles of utilizing resources and the environment in a way that is sustainable and does not produce waste.

“Only create what you need with the resources you have.”

Here, the permaculture design is everywhere. Just to give a few examples: there are different levels of growth (ground, bushes, trees) to utilize all the fruitful soil and create shadows for more delicate plants. There are different species of fruits and berries that grow at different times, so they can be picked and utilized throughout the summer. The design requires a lot of knowledge and work. One can see that the work has been consistent for years now. I must say, it feels that the growth of new raspberries is unbelievable, almost endless!

The perfect place to learn

To work in the garden is to constantly learn more about permaculture, garden care, environment, and sustainability. I am very thankful to learn these new skills in this environment. As seen below in a photo, there is lots to do. Gladly, there are many of us and the tasks are divided according to the resources everyone has. And as seen in the other photo, the fruits of our labor are delicious!

-Inka