Permaculture Project Objective:
The main objective of this project is to think through, design, organize and prioritize the daily operation and future development of a local 7 acre vegetable farm near Paonia, Colorado, using permaculture design methods.
The resulting design includes:
- Maps with structural and species placements.
- Detailed project timelines
- Detailed plant species sources
- Option/decision evaluation of multiple conceptual idea
Main objectives:
- Create an overall farm plan and map
- Update the vegetable farming methods
- Improve the windbreak / edible hedge
- Chicken zone design and perennials
- Generate income
- Choose and develop plans for perennial crops
- Develop a plan for implementing education on the farm including internships
- Choose and plan the vegetable crops
- Must be ready for spring planting
Additional objectives include:
- Develop a cover cropping rotation
- Identify general inefficiency and reduce waste
- Identify and develop products for value adding in the commercial kitchen
- Manage and update the irrigation system
- Find a farm manager
- Develop weed control strategies
- Update the green house with a climate battery (Gerome)
- Assess and develop the orchard
- Add forest garden areas
- Update the website
- Plan and locate structures including housing and vehicle parking
- Add goats or other appropriate farm animals
- Develop materials for grant applications
- Integrate and encourage community participation and involvement
Tools:
Permaculture Design as the primary tool for site assessment, mapping, analysis and development.
Some of the methods :
- Zone and Sector analysis
- Mapping
- Option & decision analysis
- Input & Output analysis