What is a permagarden?
A permagarden is a sustainable, high-yield garden using permaculture techniques to grow food year-round, even in harsh climates.
What factors have caused some permagardens to fail, and what are you doing about it?
See our “lessons learned” page
Aren’t there times when you have to water a permagarden? What about regions where droughts are becoming longer and longer? Will those permagardens just die?
The deeper you dig into the soil when first creating the garden, and the more organic carbon materials are incorporated at that time (compost, bio char, leaves, old wood chips, etc), the more water it can hold and the longer the water will be available in the soil. If the garden is in place before the rainy season and then captures that rain deep in its soil, then the dry season that follows would need hand watering just 2-3x per week. This is much less than what a regular garden needs because regular gardens that are mostly shallow-tilled have infertile subsoil and form a hard crust on the surface which sheds water away (hydrophobic soil). Whereas in a permagarden, the water soaks deep without running off and it goes right to the root zone. With each subsequent rainy season, a permagarden will need less and less frequent hand-watering because its moisture retention ability and overall soil health is cumulative.
What crops can be grown?
Depends on the region. Common ones are collard greens, cauliflower, okra, potatoes (on berms, not in beds), onions, spinach, tomatoes, kale, eggplant, carrots, cabbage, peppers, fava beans, bush beans, beetroots, leek and amaranth.
What percentage of a family's food can a permagarden grow?
After a family’s 4×4 meter permagarden is fully grown and established, it can provide 45% of the volume of a family’s food, very easily feeding a family of four
How much money can a family save thanks to having a permagarden?
The figure of 45% actually also applies here, as on average a family can save 45% more money thanks to having a permagarden
After how much time can you typically harvest various types of vegetables (given a warm climate)?
- After 3-6 weeks: amaranth leaves, lettuce, eggplant
- After 6 weeks: Sukiwiki (collard greens and kale), spinach, bush beans
- After 9-13 weeks: carrots, tomatoes, sweet peppers, fava beans
Does the permagarden method include crop rotation?
Yes, crop rotation is a must and is very beneficial. For instance, beans can perform nitrogen fixation in the soil
What do permagardens use for insecticide?
Natural pesticide can be made from neem trees, which are usually locally available and free
What about carbs, protein, and fats?
Non-grain carbs can come from the permagarden’s potatoes and from the two fruit trees we give each family who we train. As for protein and fats, since a family with a permagarden doesn’t have to spend money buying vegetables at the market, they’re more able to buy necessities such as livestock, which can provide good protein and fats.