A presentation by Jonathan Bates FoodForestFarm.com From Bare Ground to Urban Paradise on One-Tenth of an Acre
Aug 07, 2015
A presentation by Jonathan BatesFoodForestFarm.com
From Bare Ground to Urban Paradise on One-Tenth of an Acre
Holyoke, MA
Paradise Lot
Our neighborhood
Our families
Our book
Paradise Lot
A presentation by Jonathan BatesFoodForestFarm.com
* builds soil and restores degraded land
* provides ecosystem services like habitat and rainwater infiltration
* contributes to a just food system and self-determination for communities
* stabilizes global climate through carbon sequestration
We garden using permaculture design, that
* mimic the structure and function of forest ecosystems
* designed for low maintenance
* attract wildlife and expand habitat
* grow non-food products too:
~ construction material
~ livestock fodder
~ fuelwood
~ fertilizers
~ medicine
We garden with Edible Forest Gardens (food forests, home gardens)
We create food abundance by mimicking a young forest.
We pick a handful of fresh greens or fruit every day.
We are partners with the garden rather then managers of the garden.
Design goals Paradise Lot
Food ???
Site observations + Goals, Inform Design (regenerative)
Paradise Lot Final Design 2004
Challenges become opportunities... * Design with plants for shade* Poor soil grows good sheds
spring summerDesign in patches and through time
Use and value diversity... over 200 species of useful and edible plants, 50% native (super geeks!)
Multifunctional elements... perennial polycultures of multipurpose plants
Before
After
Abundance
We create food abundance by mimicking a young forest. infinite yield... - 400 pounds of perennial food created 2011 (not including annual vegetables)
We pick a handful of fresh greens or fruit every day. - meets 80% of our fruit and greens need during the growing season - meets 20% of our food needs year round
Evaluating the garden design goals
We are partners with the garden rather then managers of the garden. observe and interact... - weeds become eggs and compost (from the chickens) - abundance of baby plants generate income ($10,000 gross in four months)
- soil is thriving and mineralized, sequestering carbon (7.5 tons in 10 years)
Workshops,Tours,Plant Salesevery month
April - September 2015
.com
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Start spring out right with a freeRegenerative Landscape Transformation Session
First come first serve
www.FoodForestFarm.com/consult
Free Phone Consult
Permaculture Certification Course6 weekend sessions
September - December 2015
.org