Permaculture as an Ecological Alternative

Piney Woods Submission 2017

Several months ago I commented on “naturescaping” and some advantages associated with cultivating native Louisiana plants on our farms and residential properties. Many of us are familiar with various gardening and horticultural activities, and we might even spend significant time with these. The term, permaculture, is probably an unfamiliar one, though, for most folks.

Permaculture is a set of ancient techniques for land usage, soil practices, and plant cultivation. Its strategies, principles, and ethic are often found in indigenous regions of the world. Instead of reliance on typical Western farming/production technologies and application of commercial fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, those practicing permaculture focus on more traditional and natural methods to improve soil quality and promote plant life. Permaculture, as formally developed and described by several Australians back in the late 70’s, encourages more sustainable, ecological, and low-cost landscaping designs. There is usually emphasis on no-till cultivation, perennials versus annual plants, and mutually supportive plant arrangements for nitrogen feeding and soil improvement. Certain composting and recycling practices are important, as well as landscaping and contouring approaches that allow more water retention and natural irrigation. Landscape design and plant layout are strongly influenced by the direction of the sun and prevailing winds. An outside band of existing, natural vegetation often provides a buffer zone for inner circles of carefully-considered trees, bushes and plants.

Interest in permaculture as an alternative life-style ethic has been growing. Various states have their own permaculture societies with regular meetings and Facebook sites. In Louisiana, there are area groups, such as the Acadiana Permaculture Guild in Lafayette as well as enthusiasts meeting in and around New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

The Brockoli Patch is a chemical-free fruit and vegetable farm near Lafayette. Brock Barker has about seven acres of land and has created an incredible biodiversity there. He graduated about a decade ago from ULL with degrees in management and horticulture and is committed to permaculture, its ecological principles, and sense of community. He travels occasionally to places such as Guatemala to teach and learn with those engaged in indigenous farming. Brock has a converted bus on his property in which a visitor interested in permaculture and willing to work and learn can stay for a month or so.

Beyond those like Brock Barker who have created a life style heavily influenced by permaculture principles, there are many more of us with family farms, orchards, and gardens who could greatly benefit from learning the basics of permaculture and experimenting with some of the more simple and personally adaptable suggestions found in the permaculture literature. Just a short listing of a few books that might help you learn more about permaculture ideals and practices are found below: Bill Mollison’s Permaculture: A Designers' Manual (2012); Toby Hemenway’s Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, 2nd Edition (2009); & Christopher Shein’s The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture (2013).

                                                             Brock's Compost Pile

                                                          Pond with Irrigation Canals

                                     Surrounding fruit trees with supportive plants for nitrogen feeding