Designing an Eco-Friendly Permaculture Backyard
An eco-friendly backyard can reduce your environmental impact while still having a beautiful and functional outdoor space. Permaculture is a method of gardening that focuses on creating self-sustaining ecosystems by mimicking natural patterns. Using this approach, you can create a beautiful and functional backyard that looks great and contributes to a healthier planet.
Photo by Martin Martz
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture's all about designing a sustainable and self-sufficient ecosystem in your backyard. It’s based on twelve key principles that range from catching energy and producing no waste to growing a diverse range of plants. These principles guide everything from the garden layout to the selection of plants and animals that are grown or raised.
A key point of permaculture is its emphasis on creating an interconnected system. As mentioned above, permaculture want to plant a variety of crops with different needs and functions. This helps to promote healthy soil, reduce pest problems, and increase overall productivity. Permaculture gardens may include fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, flowers, bees, or chickens, all working together.
Make a Plan
Planning your garden layout with native plants is a great way to create a low-maintenance and sustainable outdoor space. You’ll want to consider the types of plants you want to grow, where you want to grow them, and any other structures or features.
When choosing native plants for your garden, consider soil type, light requirements, and water needs. You can reduce maintenance by selecting plants adapted to your local environment. Additionally, native plants provide food and shelter for local wildlife like birds and butterflies, which helps support biodiversity.
In addition to plant selection, planning also involves thinking about the overall layout of your garden including pathways, seating areas, composting bins and water features. Taking time to plan will pay off, whether you’re starting from scratch or updating your current backyard.
Avoid Using Chemicals
When maintaining your garden, it’s crucial to avoid using pesticides and chemicals that can harm the environment. Instead, consider using natural alternatives that are just as effective without negatively impacting your backyard ecosystem. For example, companion planting involves growing different plants together that naturally repel pests and attract beneficial insects.
You can also use compost as a natural fertilizer instead of chemical-based ones. Remember that compost is made from decomposed plant matter and other organic materials, providing essential nutrients for your plants while improving soil quality. This means you both avoid harmful chemicals and reduce waste by recycling biodegradable materials.
Don't Create Waste
Reduce your waste output and contribute to a more sustainable environment by being mindful of the materials you use. Some ways to do this include:
Reuse materials: Before heading out to buy anything new, look around your home and backyard for items that can be repurposed. Old pallets can become raised garden beds, and empty containers can be used for planters.
Avoid single-use products: Single-use items like plastic bags and bottles create unnecessary waste. Opt for reusable alternatives like cloth bags and metal water bottles instead.
Choose durable products: When purchasing tools or equipment for your backyard, choose high-quality items that will last longer and require less frequent replacements.
You’ll also want to make sure that if you’re growing crops, you don’t let any of them go to waste. If you know you won’t have the time to tend to them, then don’t plant them.
Collect Resources
You can start collecting resources for your backyard by setting up compositing and rainwater collection systems. Installing a rain barrel is a great way to collect rainwater from rooftops or just from the sky. The collected water can then be used during dry spells, reducing the need for hiking up your water bill.
Composting is another crucial resource that can benefit any eco-friendly permaculture backyard. Kitchen scraps, leaves, grass clippings, and other organic materials can be converted into nutrients for the soil with a compost bin or pile. This reduces the waste sent to landfills and helps keep your soil healthy.
Keeping Your Garden Eco-Friendly
The biggest key to a permaculture garden is to take advantage of the natural resources around you. Following these principles allows you to create a garden that’s sustainable. From making a plan for the plants to keeping them healthy with collected water and soil boosted by compost, you can design an eco-friendly permaculture garden that benefits you and sustains the planet for future generations.
Author: Tony Gilbert
Cover image by Creative Vix on Pexels
