Farming – Page 6 – School of Permaculture

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Regenerative Rice Fields

By nicholas
August 5, 2014
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There are very few sustainable and regenerative farming methods in known recorded history that can be modeled after for long term food and water abundance. Thailand has been known to bear highly productive rice fields that have existed for over 5000 years. At first glance of the abundance it is easy to think “why don’t we just build rice […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Property Purchasing Part 1

By nicholas
July 29, 2014
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There is a multitude of factors to consider when purchasing a property: soil type, water catchment, pasture vs wooded areas, history of the property, etc.. However “The Primary Factor” to consider when purchasing property is… Is there adequate, well distributed, reliable rainfall? *Note that even if you are already on a property where your evaporation exceeds […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Poison for Dry Lands

By nicholas
July 22, 2014
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In permaculture we learn a truly remarkable arsenal of techniques, strategies, and patterning that is at our disposal for permaculture consulting and design. It would probably lift a few eyebrows if I said that if a farmer truly needed a chemical such as fungicide to save a crop which will provide money and food for his […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Permaculture Potting Mix

By nicholas
July 21, 2014
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The greenhouse is a staple in any permaculture design. Even if we are only designing for a patio, a partition of space should be dedicated to the seeding of plants. In permaculture we definitely look to our property for material to supply to any element in our design and potting mixes for seedlings is no exception. This mix […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Winter Livestock Grazing & Feeding

By nicholas
July 16, 2014
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In an agricultural system that is built with organic fertilization, grass fed animals, abundance, and nutrition at the forefront of thinking, then we will, on most occasions design a system that moves grazing and herding animals in a paddock/cell shifting way. Whether it be rotational, rational, or other grazing type, a problem occurs in regions […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Rain Infiltration Percentages

By nicholas
July 15, 2014
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On land that is not forested we can gauge the amount of rain that soaks in or infiltrates the landscape, as well the amount of rain that will run off and erode the soil, with the appropriate amount of vegetative cover. 1.2% rainfall will soak in at 5% vegetative cover 1.5% rainfall will soak in at […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – What Goes in My Orchard?

By nicholas
July 10, 2014
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Orchards vary in species widely depending on which climate region they reside in. We can use a stone fruit orchard as an example which will be at ease in a temperate climate region. As well as stone fruits, this region grants room for pomes, nuts, and a myriad of berries. Below are some very crucial […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Temperate Climate Soil

By nicholas
July 9, 2014
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The richest soils in the world are in cool and cold temperate forests. It was once said that a squirrel could travel from Washington state to Maine without ever touching the ground. In the northern part of the United States there still can be found rare pockets of top soil that go to depths of […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Light Albedo

By nicholas
June 30, 2014
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There are only a few things in nature that are constants. When designing landscapes and structures such as houses it is very important to design not only to solar aspect, but to light itself. Depending on climate region we may want to design “to absorb the light” or design “to reflect the light”. Both reflection […]

Permaculture Tip of the Day – Wind Breaks as Nutrient Traps

By nicholas
June 24, 2014
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Photo: Ian Scanlan www.igivetrees.com When two environments come together we usually can prepare to see the edge effect in full effect. When a prairie meets a forest, a rain of nutrient in the form of pollen and insect parts and feces falls on the inside edge of the forest. To capture that nutrient we can utilize […]

Category: Farming