Designing Permaculture Elements Into the Landscape-Getting Started
These homeowners wanted to create an outdoor space that was functional and beautiful. Their vision was of a permaculture landscape design with homesteading features incorporated into their landscape. With poor drainage, and no comfortable place to enjoy their outdoor space, a redesign of both their front and back yards was in order. A space was required for chickens, fruit trees, herb and vegetable gardens, native plants, perennial edibles, a fire pit, and an area for a grill and a smoker.
Outdoor Kitchen and Patio Design
We started by designing a Colorado red flagstone patio to replace a concrete slab that was in disrepair and causing water to drain toward the house. The new patio was large enough to provide a nice seating area for family dinners, as well as ample space to fit the grill and smoker.
Permaculture Features: Earthworks, Re-purposing Materials, and Edible Plants
Permaculture design elements were added next. A keyhole vegetable garden was constructed with repurposed pieces from the concrete slab. Bioswales (“dry creeks”), which slow and sink water into the ground, were dug to channel drainage away from the house. Fruit trees, berries and other non-xeric plants were planted around the bioswales to make use of the water.
Fire Pit Patio Design and Chicken Tractor
We designed a smaller, informal Colorado red flagstone patio away from the main patio to create an area for the fire pit. The homeowner opted for a mobile chicken tractor that could be moved around the yard as needed instead of building a more formal chicken coop.
More Permaculture Elements In The Front Yard: Sheet Mulching, Native Plants and Ground Cover
More permaculture principles were used in the front yard. We used dirt that was removed from the the bioswales in the back yard to create a berm. This feature gave the otherwise flat front yard some contour. Sheet mulching was used to suppress unwanted thirsty grass and to build the soil. The plant design includes native and xeric shrubs and perennials. We then filled the sheet mulched spaces with ground cover options that provide a more water-wise alternative to turf grass.
