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Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. Permaculture is a word that was originally coined in the mid seventies by two Australians, David Holmgren and Bill Mollison, to describe the design system pioneered as a response to what they, and many others globally, saw as serious challenges to the survival of all of us. Originally derived from the words PERMAnent agriCULTURE, permaculture has gone beyond its roots in looking at strategies to create sustainable food growing methods to become a worldwide movement encompassing all aspects of how we as human beings can live harmoniously in relation to our Earth and its finite resources - A PERManent CULTURE. Permaculture now probably has as many defintions as there are practitioners, but one that is particularly useful might be- “creating sustainable human habitats by following nature's patterns” Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual - Bill Mollison
Landscape Plan The community's landscape design is based on the principles of environmental and ecological diversity, productive landscape and permaculture. 60 regional varieties of apple tree are growing in the nursery and thousands of trees grafted in the nursery have been planted throughout the estate in 2012. This is complemented by various varieties of herbs and fruit bushes as part of the community's edible landscape plan. The project's landscape plan uses mainly native species with important exceptions for plants that suit local conditions such as illiagnus, crab apple and plum. It is considered that lime trees (given the historic association of them with Cloughjordan) and beech trees (given their multiple advantages) will be promoted also.
Allotments Allotments are available on request for householders who wish to grow their own food. Standard plots measure 100sq m but larger or smaller plots may be allocated where required. They are clustered together to the east of the site, to allow for the easy sharing of tools and skills. For those who aren't green fingered, organic farming courses are regularly held. There's a blog on one previous course here. Photos of Cloughjordan allotments. Woodland In line with our Land Use policy, one third of the ecovillage is be devoted to woodland. The woodland area covers 6.1 hectares with more than 17,000 trees, mainly native species such as oak, ash, scot’s pine, birch, rowan, cherry, hazel and alder with small amounts of sweet chestnut and other non native species. The land is fenced to protect the young trees from animal damage but there will be gates and clearings and paths shaped through the woodland and we also plan to have a continous loop of pathway/cycleway running around the entire boundary. Read more here on forest gardens.
Community Gardens and Native Tree Circle There are four areas of community garden in the project. Nearby residents will work together and plan the character of the garden, sun spot or meditation space. Each design will be informed by permaculture zoning principles. Another aspect of the woodland areas is the new native tree circle, created using rowan, silver birch, wild cherry and whitebeam. |
