Earth Gardens: Edible-Medicinal-Wild Habitats (Permaculture Network)

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Comment by Wendy Courtemanche on June 23, 2010 at 10:07am

Anyone growing medicinal plants in the area?

Comment by Chris Wolf on June 16, 2010 at 1:13am

Hello friends,
I will be visiting the Bullocks Permaculture Homestead on Orcas Island this weekend-- leaving early Friday morning (the 18th) and returning Monday (the 21st). I have room to bring at least one person with me, maybe more, so please contact me if you would like to go camp and work at this amazing Permaculture farm for a few days. You will need to contact them through their website (permacultureportal) and ask permission to visit, as they do limit the number of people at one time. My phone is 360 961 9028 or message me.

Comment by Heather K on May 15, 2010 at 10:19am

Hey Brian, I hope lots of folks come to the scythe workshop. I've been encouraging folks to attend. The scythe is a great handtool!

I'm finding that as a culture of oil-addicts, we can be very resistant to making simple changes to reducing our oil footprint, even among the organic gardeners & permi network!

On the land that I've cared for over 15 years, we do not use oil-based mowers or weedwackers.
Instead we manage grass either with a push mower, scythe, stand-up grass edging shears, creating shade with trees, or best yet, enjoying some patches on unmowed meadows! Animal grazing is another method that is used at Inspiration Farm, and recommended by Permaculturist Penny Livingston.

I long for the day when I can go outside to work and not hear some neighbors mower or chainsaw or weedwacker roaring in the distance. Our continents landscape has been dominated by humans overusing power tools. And our ego's continue to yield to the dominate paragram of fitting in, appearing manicured, and controlling nature.

Maybe we should start a discussion on incorporating meadows in our gardens/yards, that only need sything once a year to knock out the pioneer tree species. These meadows provide habitat for beneficial insects and food for birds, and add beauty that is beyond anything humans can create.

During the event, 'Walking Gaia's Gardens', we walked through a native grass meadow that Binda C created after removing all the reed canary grass. She aims to just have the meadow mowed or scythed once a year.
There are many other examples too. It is possible to have a beautiful functional garden & yard without gas-powered tools.

If there is someone interested in starting a business that uses hand-powered tools to maintain lawns & gardens and using a bicycle for transportation, I know someone that would consider making them a loan towards tools to set their business up.

If you like me, realize you are addicted to oil-energy, and are see value in providing each other “with strength, hope & support as we seek recovery from our addition”, consider sharing your walk on the group “Energy Addicts 'Anonymous”. http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/energyaddictsanonymous
We do not judge you. We share & listen.

Comment by Brian Kerkvliet on May 14, 2010 at 8:54am

There is still space in Scythes the Cutting Edge workshop.
for all you mowers and trimmers of grass, weeds and loathers of weed wackers. Follow this link for more information. http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/scythes-the-cutting-edge

Comment by Heather K on May 7, 2010 at 3:09pm

"Walking Gaia's Gardens"
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/walking-gaias-gardens

Garden-Visits & Garden-Service & Evening Meal by Christy.
. * Travel Together to 3 Local Gardens * Weds-May 12 * . 2pm-8:30pm

Explore & Learn from an Author, an Artist, and an Edible-Forest Gardener in their own Personal Gardens.
Please post any comments or questions on the seperate TW Events page.

RSVP Requested on TW Events page to attend 2 of the gardens, with limit of 12 folks,
Note one garden does not need an RSVP between 4:30-5:30 See Event page for details.

The Gardeners:

Binda Colebrook- Author of the local classic gardening books: “Winter Gardening in the Maritime Northwest” and “Maritime Northwest Vegetable Gardening Almanac”.
(Binda now also maintains a field of native grasses).

Jasmin Liepa & Lonnie Schang are artists who create a living garden tapestry of textures, colors, & fragrance within an urban garden abundant with edibles & medicinals.

Eli & Christy Nieto are permaculturists who are creating an urban edible-forest garden that integrates edible trees, shrubs, vegetables, flowers, and chickens.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bring your rain-jacket, rain-pants, umbrella, & boots.
Bring your garden gloves & willingness to help or learn.
Bring something to share towards the meal Christy will prepare in the evening (ie salad or dessert).

Any donations offered will go towards 'Center for Local Self Reliance” for fruit & nut trees for creating an edible-forest-garden.

Full Itinerary - Details are posted on TW event page:

http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/walking-gaias-gardens

2:00 pm: Meet-Up for Carpooling or caravaning-
Location: 'Forest Garden' - 905 E. Victor St.
(south of Cornwall Park off of Guide Meridian)

Sponsors Include: Earthcare Garden Designs, Nearly Wild Garden, CEAEE, Transition Whatcom, Inspiration Farm, BUGS, Sustainable Bellingham

(Our previous guest, Larry Korn, has postponed his northern travels until later).

Comment by Heather K on April 23, 2010 at 4:01am

Edible perennial seeds & plants are currently not that easy to find locally, except for going wild-foraging. Try - Plants for A Future: http://www.pfaf.org/index.php
Robert, you might check our local seed-saving farm, Uprising Organics, but I think their focus is more edible annuals. The edible perennial plants I've obtained are shared from gardener to gardener...ie if you come visit one of the gardens I care for & help out a bit, I can pass on a few items.(chives, sorrel, J.artichokes......)
Down in Skagit, Matt's Feral Farm has lots in his edible forest understory, and just tonight an edible forest gardener from there was at bloom cafe sharing she wanted to know where in an urban zone she could leave off some seeds & plants to share...I suggest she ask folks at the Foundry and also connect with the school gardens, and in future at CLSR in fairhaven.
Bountiful Gardens in northern CA has some edible perennial seeds like Good King Henry & abundance of cover crop seeds like alfalfa, vetch, oats, Tyron, etc.
As we all begin to growing more of these perennial edibles, they will become more in demand & available.

Comment by Robert Plant on April 22, 2010 at 7:22pm

What are some good local sources of non-typical perennials. Maximilian Sunflower, Maypop, Mashua, Bamboo, French Sorrel, Good King Henry, ect? How about Alfalfa seed?

Comment by mark huber on April 22, 2010 at 4:07am

Thanks Brian- and Rebecca- I hope all the rest of y'all will grab one of these links and add your names to a petition to stop another USDA and Agribusiness "business as usual" joint maneuver.

Comment by Brian Kerkvliet on April 21, 2010 at 1:24pm

Whoops, here is another one
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/label_gmo/letter.html?registere...

Comment by Brian Kerkvliet on April 21, 2010 at 1:14pm

I just signed this petition to Stop Obama's sneak attack on GMO labeling! If we intend to preserve our local food security we need to halt the use and planting of GMO products! Who is interested in forming a task force to prohibit the planting of GMO crops here in Whatcom Co?

If the U.S. government has its way, the powerful intergovernmental group Codex may soon make it impossible to label food "GMO-free" for any country in the world. Originally created in 1963 to design international food safety and labeling standards under the auspices of the United Nations, today Codex is recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to settle disputes regarding food and agricultural trade agreements.

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