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Lisa's Backyard Permaculture Garden

Details

Commenced:	01/03/2012
Submitted:	12/04/2012
Last updated:	07/10/2015
Location:	9838 - 81 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Phone:	403.923.5090
Website:	http://www.genesispermaculture.webstarts.com
Climate zone:	Cool Temperate

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Lisa's Backyard Permaculture Garden

Project Type

Urban, Residential

Project Summary

A backyard garden transformation in an urban community in Edmonton Alberta.

Project Description

This project was a collaborative effort between Rob Avis with Verge Permaculture and his spring PDC Class, Kenton Zerbs and my company, Genesis Permaculture.

I had met Lisa at a Birthday party and she said that she wished for a Permaculture Garden and Food Forest but thought that it would be a couple of years down the road - well, when Rob said that he was looking for a project where his Spring PDC students could get some practical experience, that is when Lisa's plans came to life a little quicker than expected.

Kenton and I worked out the details for the yard along with some great help and insight from Rob.

Lisa and Ted have a backyard that faces north but with the solar reader, we established that they get some pretty amazing exposure to the sun right throughout the day. We started the garden back far enough so that the shade from the house did not interfere; painted the neighbours rickety and old white painted garage with a fresh coat of brillian sun reflecting white paint (what a coup that was) and created this beautiful reflective surface that throws sunlight back onto the yard with such beautiful brilliance.

Rainwater harvesting systems: leaf litter catcher and first flush system along with a diverter so that rainwater can go into her rain barresl or down into the weepeing tile and into the garden. Each neighbour said that she could use their garage roof for additional rainwater collection from both sides of the property so there is more than enough water resources there.

We dug the entire backyard ditch on contour down to about 12" and then filled in the ditches with wood chip to create all of the pathways.

We built a Hugelkultur bed below the spruce tree and planted this with Blueberries and potatoes.

Instantly, wildlife appeared all around us - it is like they are just waiting for us to create these polycultures, this diversity for them to appear, happily flitting about enjoying their new habitat - it is amazing and it gives me goose bumps cause it happens with every installation that I do.

Additional elements:

Food Forest

Companion Planting & Pollinators

Side by Side Compost Bins

Hugelkultur

Herb Spiral

Wood Chip Pathways

Space for a Cobb Oven

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