Permaculture Garden
A sustainable garden system that mimics natural ecosystems, featuring diverse, multi-functional plants arranged in mutually beneficial relationships. Based on principles developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, permaculture gardens are designed to be productive, resilient, and regenerative, working with nature rather than against it to create systems that sustain themselves with minimal external inputs.
Key Features
Polyculture Plantings
Diverse mix of plants grown together in guilds or communities that support each other through nutrient sharing, pest deterrence, or physical protection, replacing monoculture approaches.
Layered Vegetation
Multiple vertical layers from canopy trees down to root crops that maximize growing space and mimic forest structure, creating different microclimates and habitats.
Water Management
Thoughtful systems for capturing, storing, and distributing water using swales, ponds, rain gardens, and other features that slow, spread, and sink water in the landscape.
Soil Building
Ongoing practices that enhance soil fertility naturally, such as composting, mulching, cover cropping, and minimal tillage to support soil life and carbon sequestration.
Functional Zoning
Strategic arrangement of elements based on frequency of use and maintenance needs, with intensive gardens near the home and less demanding systems farther away.
Closed-Loop Systems
Design that minimizes waste by turning outputs from one element into inputs for another, creating cyclical rather than linear resource flows within the garden.
Design Variations
Urban Permaculture
Adapted for city settings with vertical growing, container systems, community connections, and space-efficient techniques that apply permaculture principles at a smaller scale.
Food Forest
Multi-layered edible landscape modeled after woodland ecosystems with fruit and nut trees, berry shrubs, perennial vegetables, and ground covers creating a self-maintaining food production system.
Homestead Permaculture
Comprehensive system integrating home, garden, and small livestock with energy-efficient design, productive landscapes, and appropriate technologies for greater self-reliance.
Tropical Permaculture
Adapted for warm climates with emphasis on perennial food plants, water conservation during dry seasons, and design strategies to manage intense rainfall and heat.