Permaculture is best explained as a way of farming that seeks to work with nature instead of against it, and has three ethics: earth care, people care, and fair shares, and will ensure a legacy of sustainability for now and for future generations.

It includes the right balance of fruits, vegetables, trees, and livestock, which is very different from the typical farms of today, many of which are monoculture farms. Permaculture was conceived and developed in the 1970s by co-workers Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia. Originally the term was a contraction of ‘permanent agriculture’, for that is what it is.

Working in both rich and poor countries, individuals and groups are contributing to a worldwide network movement, largely unsupported by governments or businesses.


Food Forests


These are based on the permaculture model, being a diverse range of edible plants that mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature, and extend in all directions – upwards, downwards, and outwards. It results in high-yielding planting regimes, with forests and gardens using perennials that need not be planted each year. In a nutshell, food forests are self-mulching, with fallen leaves and fruits, with natural plant cover or shade, that will retain moisture and improve water conservation. No chemicals are needed, they have natural food predators and they are incredibly resilient. Overall, food forests are less work, more natural, and can provide a wealth of food for a growing population. But adjusting the design to the climate is not that easy, as all plants have specific needs – some need more water or less, some grow better in one soil than another, etc., and of course, our climate is changing, making it even harder.


The seven layers of the food forest


The seven layers of the developed forest are a helpful plan, and the layers and their density will vary depending on the climate. You might be able to understand what is going on in the ecosystem by trying to visualise the layers but don’t take the specifics about these layers as ‘cast in stone’, as each layer has a role as it imitates the natural, most resilient system in nature. Picture a cross-section of growth - more plants for food can be fitted into a specific area without causing failure to any because of competition for nutrition or space.


Top Layer – Canopy (or Overstory). This will give shade for the rest, and give food of some description, perhaps figs or olives for example.


Second, The Understory. This is made up of smaller trees and saplings of canopy trees.


Third, Shrubs. This could include things like blueberries and bush plums.


Fourth, Herbaceous. These will be soft-stemmed, and include herbs and most grasses.


Fifth, Underground. Carrots and potatoes for example.

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Sixth, Groundcover. Although not necessarily growing food for humans, it will provide food for insects and birds, etc.


Seventh, Vines. Grapes of course, plus things like melons or peas, etc.


And Optional Eighth. Edible fungi.


Though they're all connected, these different types of species all have different needs with regard to soil, sun or rain. The foundation of the food forest is noticing and monitoring which plants thrive together, working with the landscape rather than trying to tame it.

We should learn not only about temperature and rainfall differences, but maybe about plants out there that we could use that we hadn’t thought of before as being useful. Everything in permaculture comes with practice, and observation is the best habit to have. The late Bill Mollison is credited with saying: ‘Sitting at our back doorsteps, all we need to live a good life lies about us. Sun, wind, people, buildings, stones, sea, birds and plants surround us. Cooperation with all these things brings harmony, opposition to them brings disaster and chaos.’

The good life is possible, we just need to learn together how to get there, not just for us today, but for the ‘us’ of our future.

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan