Permaculture & Garden Design Articles

Permaculture Design Tree
a diagram of the process

By Aaron Jerad / 0
A diagram depicting the permaculture design process.

In this diagram I liken the design process to a living tree. The process starts with a ‘seed’ of inspiration and develops in complexity as it grows. The seed is expressed as a combination of the vision that reaches inward and a goal that reaches outward. Surrounding the seed are … Read more

How to build soil like nature does – soil science basics for beginners

By Aaron Jerad / 0
The Soil Food Web. Image from USDA National Resources Conservation Service

Its dark. You are surrounded by giant flesh eating amoebas. You can’t move very fast… Welcome to the world of the bacteria, the smallest but most abundant member of the soil food web. Often feared but essential, whether directly or indirectly, for the survival of almost all other living organisms … Read more

Choice Edible Mushrooms in the Wild

By Aaron Jerad / 0

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of finding a number of these amazing edible mushrooms, Boletus edulis, also known as Porcini. They are very meaty and delicious! We saved half of them for fresh eating and dried the rest.  

Finding breakfast in the forest garden.

By Aaron Jerad / 0

I paused for a moment in my forage for breakfast to watch the first ray of sun wash the mulberry tree in liquid marigold. It reminded me to eat a handful of the just-ripe berries. They tasted like honey. A cheeky robin, berry in beak, scolded me: “What are you … Read more

Growing in Cold frames, a jumpstart on spring

By Aaron Jerad / 0

Growing in cold frames by Aaron – November 18th, 2012 (edit) It is completely possible to be eating fresh veggies year round.   The idea is to get most of the growing done before the really cold and dark months, December and January. Across those months we’ll just harvest. I … Read more

Didgeridoo or Didjeridoo healing, music and instruments.

By Aaron Jerad / 0

The didjeridoo has been a part of my life for many years playing for myself, for others in single and group healing sessions and in performance. I have played professionally with bands like: Kan’Nal, Lunar Fire, Beth Quist, Tierro and others for the past 15 years. Anyone interested in more … Read more

Aaron’s top 10 Permaculture plant resources

By Aaron Jerad / 0

It is tricky sometimes to pick out a good nursery to buy plants. Having ordered from many different places, I put together the following list for my ‘go to’ sources of seeds and plants that I used when installing permaculture style edible forest gardens here in the arid temperate steppes … Read more

Internship at PRI Australia

By Aaron Jerad / 0

I spent 4 amazing months from January 2009 interning with Geoff and Nadia Lawton mostly on their farm in the Channon NSW, Australia, but I also got to travel with them to some other locations as well. Zaytuna Farm has been in the hands of Geoff Lawton for 9 years, … Read more

An Introduction to Permaculture, ethics and principles

By Aaron Jerad / 0

(moved from wellspringpermaculture.com) Origins and meaning of Permaculture The term Permaculture originated from the work of two Australians: Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. The term itself was derived from permanent and agriculture or culture. While not the first to write about permanent agriculture they were the first to develop it … Read more

Living Rhythm Farm

By Aaron Jerad / 0

(moved from: wellspringpermaculture.com) We decided to call our property the Living Rhythm Farm because in addition to enjoying and appreciating the natural rhythms and cycles of life, most everyone here is also a musician or dancer. In fact for some of us, farming and growing things is a relatively new … Read more