Permaculture is ideal for the allotment garden, as the space is optimally used here and peripheral zones are included. Maximum yield in a small area - a concept that benefits allotment gardens. Find out more about the characteristics of permaculture and how to use them in the allotment garden below.
Permaculture is great for growing in small areas
Characteristics of a permaculture garden
- multifunctional elements such as fruit trees (bearing fruit, providing shade, falling leaves in autumn serve as mulch)
- perennial crops
- Cultivation of native plants and use of existing plants
- different degrees of cultivation of the areas
- Preserve or increase biodiversity (mixed culture!)
- absolutely no chemicals
- long-term planning (over several years)
- is mainly used on small areas and is therefore very suitable for allotments or allotments
- Use of edge zones
- everything is used, nothing is thrown away
You can read the 12 principles of the permaculture garden in this article.
Permaculture in the allotment garden
While it may not appear so to the untrained eye, there is a lot of planning and a sophisticated system behind a wild-looking permaculture garden. The planning does not only extend over one year but over several years. For example, crop rotations are taken into account, raised beds and hill beds are planned and perennial plants are cultivated. An important point in permaculture is to know and use all the elements that are present.
Therefore, the first observation in the permaculture garden in the allotment garden is:
1st observation
Get to know your garden well:
- Which plants and animals occur naturally?
- Which parts are in the shade, where is there a lot of sun?
- Are there embankments or natural height differences?
- Where is the water connection?
2. Planning
Before you start planning the actual planting, you should be clear about your goals: How much fruit and vegetables do you want to harvest? Should animals also be cared for? When should what be harvested? Planting must be staggered to ensure a continuous harvest.
Once you have clearly formulated your goals, you can start sketching: Make a sketch of your garden with the local conditions (buildings, trees, differences in height). Then use the sketch to plan how the beds should be laid out in your allotment garden and what should be planted where. Pay attention to which plants get along with each other and which do not and avoid monocultures.