Designing layered, perennial gardens that mimic the structure of a young forest while producing fruits, nuts, and herbs. Shopping and Availability
Viewing the yard as a collection of interconnected parts where every element—plants, soil, water, and wildlife—serves multiple functions.
In Gaia's Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture , Toby Hemenway challenges the idea that ecological gardening is only for large-scale properties, offering a practical framework for creating self-sustaining "backyard ecosystems" in urban and suburban settings. Core Philosophy and Themes Gaia's Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-...
Hemenway outlines several practical methods to implement these principles:
The book’s central message is that working with nature, rather than fighting against it, creates more resilient and abundant gardens. It advocates for: A preferred "no-dig" technique for building healthy, living
Emphasizing that a diverse range of species prevents waste and provides natural pest control through the presence of beneficial insects and birds.
Groups of plants that support one another, often centered around a fruit tree to maximize yield and soil health. living soil by layering organic materials.
A preferred "no-dig" technique for building healthy, living soil by layering organic materials.