Hi all.

I’ve seen varying advice on this point.

Some say that leafy vegetables and herbs are not safe if you’ve got contaminated soil, but that fruit trees won’t pass on things from the soil in dangerous quantities.

I assume the safest route is soil testing and built up garden beds with fresh soil, but does anyone know the best research or have done any experiments themselves?

Thank you.

I would like book recommendations on permaculture, specifically ones that can be found in public libraries. I’m planning one acre garden and want to include permaculture methods. TY

Hello Everyone,

I recently got into growing food, Ive donegrow bags but Iwas wondering what would be the best course of action for growing in MY DIRT? the lawn hasn't been treated for 2 years, I would definitely amend the soil with some compost. Would fruits and veggies be safe for my family? I'm really enjoying this groups input of different subjects so I thought I would ask! Thanks

Finally dug out the root ball of an invasive holly and I don't know what to do with it. The rest of it got chipped and composted and I'd like to find a use for the roots and the root ball of another bush. Any ideas?

Im working on a backyard garden scale so I'd rather not have to store them for too long.

Greetings, everyone!

As a newcomer to permaculture with minimal gardening experience, I’m embarking on the journey of purchasing my first piece of land in the semi-arid region of Maharashtra, India.

Thus far, I’ve come across two types of properties:

1.	Fertile land utilized for monoculture, equipped with tubewells/water availability, albeit at a higher cost.
2.	Barren land devoid of amenities, yet attractively priced.

Both types of properties are accessible by road, and I’m planning to implement solar energy and construct my own mud house, eliminating the need for commuting and lodging expenses.

Now, the question arises: which type of land is the most suitable investment? Given permaculture’s potential to transform barren land into fertile soil, should I opt for the cheaper option and allocate the saved funds towards solar power, housing, etc.? Or would the effort required be too great, making it wiser to invest in fertile land with existing water sources?

Thanks in advance!

I started my first ever vegetable garden this year in zone 7b with heavy red clay soil. I added about 4” of composted horse manure, then another 4” of straw on top of that.

I have planted some things just under the straw and will see what happens this year.

As far as no till goes, do I just need to add another layer of mulch on top every year or would it be better to add more composted manure every year? Do I even need mulch on top of the compost, or can that act as the top layer?

I have an unlimited free supply of manure, so it’s actually the cheapest option for me; but I’m not sure if it can be used as a mulch or if it serves a different purpose.

I'm new/learning. I have a bunch of cover crops growing and will be chopping soon I'm assuming permaculture would say don't disturb the soil by flipping them under? Do I lasagna ontop instead? Or leave them on top as mulch? I'd prefer they stay where they grew and not use them in thr larger compost pile. It is oats, hairy vetch, red clover and maybe some peas.

I have both these varieties - can they pollinate each other?

Can they pollinate each other ? They’re the varieties I have and seems like they bloom different times of year

I am aware that the answer might be 'no plant does well in rapidly changing environments' - but of the ones we have worked with or are aware of now, do you know of any that may do well in a chaotic weather environment of the future due to climate change?

I am looking for a face to face permaculture design certification anywhere in the UK. I have had a look at the permaculture association and there's a good range on there, but I would love to read some personal recommendations from people who have done hands on courses. I am able to travel anywhere in the UK, any time in the next year.

I've just recently learned about fortress plants and I am curious if there's native ones to Michigan, as Michigan has a fair amount of forest I assume there must be, does anyone know or have recommendations

Hey all, I recently was looking at an NGO looking to help small hold indigenous farmers to retain autonomy and independence away from big companies in the seed sector. I know very little about this, and was wondering if anyone knew any useful sources for information about the seed sector and whether it can be compatible with the principles of permaculture?

Thank you :)

I am creating multiple 60-foot, no till beds from an area that had been tarped off to kill the sod. The soil looks decently workable but is very brown, which I assume is a lack of organic matter in the soil.

I have a robust pea cover crop starting to come in. Would it be helpful for me to generously apply coffee grounds to the soil surface now, or would that harm the cover crop? I plan on terminating the peas in early summer before they seed, and replacing them with tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and other heavy feeding summer vegetables.

I have enough coffee grounds to fill a 5 gallon bucket and can pick up large amounts at any time, so it's a resource I'd love to use generously in my garden if it wouldn't harm the pea plants.

What happens if you clone/graft/propagate an old tree? Would the new tree have the same lifespan left?

I bench grafted about 60 apple trees a few weeks ago and have them heeled in in pots. I’m planning to grow them in a raised bed for one year before moving them out to my orchard location.

Where I’m doubting myself is, what to fill the bed with? I have three yards of nice finished compost, but would that be too rich? Should I add sawdust or sand? Or just ditch the raised bed and till the native soil?

I have several dead looking trees and near dead. (Some activity) and I want to try and revive them all. I know sometimes dead is just dormant.

Hello! I was just wondering if one plant will do the trick? I’ve read that one will eventually and contrarily I need two for cross pollination. I believe it’s the aurora strain? Thanks!

How do I know how much to water my young fruit trees? I have just set up drip irrigation. The trees were mostly all planted last fall and they are covered with thick mulch. I live on Crete and summers are HOT! I don't want to water them too much. Any ideas?

When there is a new house being built, I have heard of people scraping the topsoil to protect it and then reinstalling it after construction. What is this process called? Do you know of any resources? Do you have to keep the scaped soil moist? Thanks!

Hi,

I don't have a farm, I have a garden, I have garden equipment.

Bromegrass is growing all by itself on the dry part of my land. But right now my chickens and rabbits already have all the fresh grass and leaves they can eat... So I would like to reap the bromegrass and make hay with it. Do you have any low tech/low cost ideas to to so ?

I have a small wooden shed (with big openings, the kind where you store wood) and we are soon going to have a plastic shed that can be completely closed (mainly to store tools and "I could use it later" things).

Any idea ? BTW my mother tongue is french, so please don't use vernacular names for plants or I could completely miss the translation !

I cleared a pasture and have bare ground. I want to plant little bluestem. Do I need to plant a cover crop like spring oats to give the bluestem time to establish?