The beginnings of our transition from lawn to a productively beautiful mutually beneficial space for all beings started with an idea.

co-creating with nature

Rethinking how to use unproductive space and the time we invest to make that rethinking a reality. What are the ways we can co-create with nature to minimize the effort needed to change our surroundings for the better. This long-term project is an ongoing experiment that uses permaculture practices to change the space while taking advantage of premium sunlight hours for through the growing season.

A large part of this project includes harvesting rain water from the roof and spreading it over a wider area giving it more time to penetrate the ground. In preparation for future rain water diversion we’ve created straw bale gardens in areas that will need additional fill, so why not take the opportunity to compost straw into beautiful nutrient soil. This allows us to have usable growing space while bales break down into mounds of soil that will help redirect water once connected to the ponds overflow.

All kinds of things can be grown in straw bale gardens and they aren’t complicated to set up. Set aside 2 weeks at the beginning of your gardening season to start the straw bale seasoning process and you can enjoy fresh veg all summer long. For our situation we’ve used brown cardboard as a sheet mulch layer and then wood chips to help clear the area of grass while protecting the soil below. You can use straw bales in many areas whether its on concrete, asphalt, gravel, degraded compacted soil, patio stones just to offer a few. Once the bales are ready for planting i like to add a light soil or compost/quad mix on top to give seeds a little extra sprouting support, but you can also just transplant seedling directly into the bales.

As the project progresses we plan to add more pond area, create pathways, bring in fruit baring bushes, dwarf trees, edible flowers and other medicinal plants. If you’re interested in contributing time to this transformation, consider applying for a Fee Free agricultural residency. You can also subscribe to the newsletter for updates.