Permaculture & Edible forest gardening

Permaculture is a design system that works with nature to make a better world for all. When observing the natural world this set of governing principles can be seen. Permaculture aims to mimic these principles in all areas to provide our food, water, shelter and energy needs.
Core permaculture principles are:

• Earth Care: enabling all life systems to continue and increase.
• People Care: enabling access to the resources people need for a good quality of life.
• Fair Share: to share the earth’s resources for all its’ inhabitants.

“What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet”. -David Suzuki

Permaculture is both and an ancient and modern concept. As many elements of an eco-system are taken into consideration as possible. It helps reconnect you with your food, nurtures biodiversity, saves resources,  is less time to maintain, and , best of all, give you a beautiful space to reinvigorate yourself as well as the earth.

Edible forest gardening is a form of permaculture that mimics a woodland setting. Trees and shrubs are the anchors of the landscape. The surrounding plants all work together as an ecosystem to revitalize the earth below.

Permaculture truly lets you "Eat Your View".

How Does it Work?

A pattern emerges while assessing the land and its’ elements. This helps to inform the placement of  both annual & perennial plants, trees, and paths. Human & animal needs, activity water flow, soil needs are also incorporated into the design. An edible landscape requires less upkeep and fewer inputs while increasing soil health,  biodiversity, and of course providing food. Like a natural eco-system, an edible landscape is always evolving and teaching us.

 Design Packages

The Walk and Talk: $95

This is a walk around the garden with you to look at it with a Permaculture perspective. We'll discuss options for your space, what you want out of your garden, and what your garden needs from you. This option is great for those that want to change their style of gardening or are just beginning their gardening adventure.

• Up to a 2 hour walkabout of your property.
• Information about the function of the plants on your plant list in a food forest.
• Information about what you can use the plants  on your plant list for.
• Where to buy the plants.

 The Walk, Talk, and Write: $210

In addition to the Walk and Talk this option also includes photography and a written plan. The Walk, Talk, and Write includes your favourite ideas and my recommendations, a plant list of both existing and suitable permaculture plants to add to your garden, and a time-line to implement your plan.

• Up to a 2 hour walkabout of your property.
• Pictures of your property.
• List of plants on your property that pertain to permaculture forest gardening.
• List of permaculture plants that would be suitable for your property.
• Information about the function of the plants on your plant list in a food forest.
• Information about what you can use the plants  on your plant list for.
• Where to buy the plants.
• Time-line of how to carry out your plan
• Design package in either digital or paper format. Your choice.
• On-line picture gallery of pictures taken.
• Pictures of identified plants.
• Private tour of All Sorts Acre and what we are doing here.

 The Walk, Talk, Write and Doodle: $420

This consultation has the same elements as the Walk, Talk, and Write, as well as having the added dimension of having a design drawing of your property with the new plans. The Walk, Talk, Write and Doodle includes your favourite ideas and my recommendations, a plant list of both existing and suitable permaculture plants to add to your garden, and a time-line to implement your plan. There is also a landscape plan* to explain where things are placed.

• Up to a 2 hour walkabout of your property.
• Pictures of your property.
• List of plants on your property that pertain to permaculture forest gardening.
• List of permaculture plants that would be suitable for your property.
• Information about the function of the plants on your plant list in a food forest.
• Information about what you can use the plants  on your plant list for.
• Where to buy the plants.
• Time-line of how to carry out your plan
• Drawing of your property.
• Design package in either digital or paper format. Your choice.
• On-line picture gallery of pictures taken.
• Pictures of identified plants.
• Private tour of All Sorts Acre and what we are doing here.

SAMPLE PACKAGE: A full consultation package will average between 7-12 pages. This is an example of a package. Some of the pages have been removed to protect the privacy of the client.
* Landscape plan is not to scale.

Full Design Package:

This is a full permaculture plan and will take more than one visit. A full site assessment, analysis, inventory, budget, and scale plan and elevation drawing are created. Please contact me for complete details.

 Coaching:

If you want to plant your own design but don't feel confident enough to do it all yourself we can help you along the way.

Want Livestock too?

 We also do micro-farming consultations for those who want to bring livestock into your life. Contact us for more information.

We can travel within 1.5 hours of Guelph into the GTA and the Golden Triangle of the Kitchener Waterloo Area. If you are in a different area then please contact me and we can arrange something else.

Deposit required for all consultations.