brewongle eec permaculture design-1

2015

ByStevenBody

BrewongleEnvironmentalEducationCentre

3/5/2015

PermacultureDesign

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GoalsandEthics

Ethics

• Toworkwithnature• Reduceour‘ecologicalfootprint’• IncreasethesustainabilityelementsatBrewongleEEC• Fosterandvalueaconnectiontonatureinstaff,visitingadultsandallstudents• Respectalllifeforms• Producenowaste• Practicewhatwepreach

Goals• Tocreateasustainablepermaculturedesignasaneducationtool• Tocreatepermacultureelementsthatenhancethevisual,practical,edibleandteachingfocusofBrewongleEEC.• Tofosteraloveofnatureandgrowingfood• Tolinktocurriculumandprovideaqualityteachingelement• Tomanageandretainwaterinthelandscape• Tocreategardensthatareself-sustainingandrequireaslittlemaintenanceaspossible.

ToquoteBillMollison,oneoftheAustralianfoundersofpermaculture:

“Permacultureisadesignsystemforcreatingsustainablehumanenvironments”.

Permacultureaimstoproduceecologicallysoundsystemsforliving,producingfood,avoidingpollutionandproducingnowaste.Permacultureusesobservationsofthenaturalworld,includingnon-livingcomponentslikesoil,water,climate;builtenvironmentsandlivingthingstocreateabundanceandself-sufficiencyinalandscape.

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PermacultureDesignPrincipals• Workwithnature,notagainstit.Observeandinteract.• Theproblemisthesolution–cooperationnotcompetition• Makeleastchangeforgreatesteffect–minimisemaintenance• Yieldisunlimited• Everythinggardens–thegardenecosystemcanhelpreduceworkload.• Multiplefunctionsforeachelement• Aimforlongtermsustainability• Avoidwaste.

BrewongleEECiswellplacedtobeginusingpermaculturedesignelementstoshowcasehowsustainabilitycanbeusedinourschools,homesandworkplaces.Situatedon6acresofpartlyforestedridgetoplandabovetheHawkesburyRiver,Brewongleincludesanoldschoolhouseandnumerousbuildings,gardensandoutdoorteachingelements.

Thispermaculturedesignwillincludethefollowing‘zones’:

Zone0–theoldschoolhouseandsurroundingbuildings–traditionallythe‘house’inurbanpermaculturedesign.

Zone1–Thiswillincludethecurrentvegetablegardenandfuturegardensinanintensivelycultivatedareainthe‘backyard’oftheschoolhouse.Thisareaisclosetozone0forstafftomaintain.

Zone2–Thisareawillcontainthefoodforestelements.Itwillbecloselyplantedwithmanylayers,withmeanderingpaths.Itwillincludeanorchard,bushtuckergarden,otherfruitandshadetrees.Swalesforwaterretentionandaself-sustainingfocusarethekeystothiszone.

Zones3&4–Thesezonesareusuallyforlargerscaleagricultureandanimalsaswellasproducingfirewood,timberforsustainablebuilding.ThereisnoscopeforthesezonesatBrewongleEEC

Zone5–Thisisthenatural,indigenousforestareas.Permacultureseekstoconserveandenhanceournativebushland.BrewongleEECissurroundedbyShaleSandstoneTransitionForest(anEcologicallyEndangeredPlantCommunity),andGreyMyrtleDryRainforest.BrewongleisalreadyengagedinLandcareandwillcontinuetomanageweedsandnativevegetationinzone5.

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Element1–Zone0–rainwatermanagementBrewongleEECisreliantonrainwaterforallwaterneeds.Duetothehighvolumeofstudents(5000-7000peryear)passingthroughthecentre,rainwatercatchmentfrombuildingsiscrucial.CurrentlyBrewonglespendsover$1000dollarsayeartobuywaterandtruckittothesite.Thisiswastedmoneyandwastesenergy,resourcesandcreatesgreenhousepollutioninthetruckingprocess.

Currentlylessthanhalfoftheschoolhouseandveryfewoftheothersurroundingbuildingscatchandstorerainwater.Thisplanoutlinestheneedtoinstallrainwatertanksandensureallwateriseitherdivertedintoexistingtanksorfallsintonewtanksystems.

Element2–Zone2–stormwatermanagementCurrently,allstormwaterisdivertedviadrainsandpipestoflowawayfromthecentresbuildings.Someoftheseoutletscreateerosionproblemsonthesouthernhillside.Standingwaterinholdingpitscreatesmosquitobreedinggrounds.Muchrooftopwaterisalsoendingupinthestormwatersystem.Guttersareoftenblockedandsomeretainwaterandencouragemosquitos.

Thisplanwillprovidesolutionstoretainthiswaterinthelandscape,providewaterforfoodforestsandreduceerosion.

Element3–Zone1Herbgardenandshadetrees.Existinggardenbedsclosetotherearverandahofthehousearewellshadedandcouldprovideidealherbgrowingbeds.Ashadetree(deciduous)needstobeplantednearexistingvegebedstoprovideshadefromextremesummersunintheafternoon.

Element4–Zone2FoodforestsThiswillutilisepreviouslygrassedareasandanexistinggardenbedtotheeast,southandwestoftheschoolhouse.Meanderingpathswillleadstudentsbetweenorchardfruittrees,abushtuckergardenandnuttrees.Swaleswillbeincorporatedintothelandscapetoretainwater.

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Element5–Zone2BananaCircleAbananacircle,mangoandavocadotreeswillbeplantedintheareathatreceivesthemostsunandwaterrunoff.Thisisanexistinggardenbedtothenortheastofthehouse.

Element6–ChickensTheexistingfreestandingsolarpanelscanprovideaperfectcoveredareaforchickens.Byenclosingthisareawithmesh,providingnestboxesandperches,collectingwaterofftheroofofthesolarpanels–asustainablechickenhousecanbecreated.Chickenscancomplementthefoodforestsbyforagingforbugs,turningthesoilandfertilising.Eggsprovidedwillfeedcampprogramsandchickenscanhelpdisposeofcamporganicrubbish.

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SiteandSectorAnalysis

HighPoint

N

10%

8%

12%

8%

Firethreat LowPoint

Ponds

Coolmoistwind

Hotdrywind

Slope Stormwateranderosion

SoilSample Potentialrainwatercatchment

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SunArc

Asunarcallowsustoseethepathofthesunallyearround.TheareashowninYellowisthearcofthesunwiththeupperlimitbeingthewinterarcandthelowerlimitsummer.

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Climate

RainfallThefollowingtableformeanrainfallinmmisfromtheBureauofMeteorology–datacollectedatSackvillefrom2001-2011

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual

Mean 47.3 100.8 68.7 45.2 46.3 57.8 25.8 21.8 33.1 71.8 63.5 59.4 627.9

AscanbeseenthewettestmonthsareFebruaryandMarchanddriestmonthsareJuly,August&September.Thereisaneedretainwaterinthelandscapeforthedriermonthsandtocatchasmuchrainwateraspossible.

Temperature

Averageminimumtemperature(1994-2014)(Richmond)

Statistic Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Mean 17.6 17.7 15.6 11.5 7.5 5.1 3.6 4.4 8.0 10.9 14.1 16.0 11.0

Averagemaximumtemperature(1994-2014)

Statistic Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Mean 30.0 29.0 26.8 23.9 20.7 17.9 17.6 19.8 22.8 25.2 26.9 28.5 24.1

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FutureClimateFromCSIRO‘ClimateAnaloguesExplorer’-http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/climate-projections/climate-analogues/analogues-explorer/

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ThedataonthepreviouspageshowsthatafutureclimateforRichmondwillbe1degreewarmerwithlittlechangeinrainfall.Townswithasimilarcurrentclimatearelistedunder‘AnalogueTowns’.Thisfutureclimatewillneedtobeconsideredwhenchoosingappropriatespeciesforplanting.

SoilBrewongleislocatedonasandstoneridge90mabovesealeveladjacenttotheHawkesburyRiver.Soilsweretestedaroundthehouseinzone2closetopossiblefoodforestlocations(seemap).SoilpHwas8atallsites.Soilisloamysandwithaloworganiccomponent.Soilwillneedtobebuiltupwithorganicmatterandmanure.Soilhasgooddrainagearoundthehouse.

FireBrewongleissurroundedbyforest,includingmyrtledryrainforesttothesouthwest,anddrysclerophylltotheeastandnorth.Currentfuelloadsareestimatedat10tonnesperhectare.ThemainthreatoffirewillbefromthesouthwestaspectuptheslopefromtheHawkesburyRiver.Plantingsnearbuildingswillneedtoconsidertheuseofplantswithlowflammability.

WindDuetothesurroundingforest,themainareasforgrowingfoodhavegoodnaturalwindbarriersalreadyinplace.Noextraplantingswouldbeneededforwindprotection.

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MapofPermacultureElements.

Swaleordraindivertstormwatertoponds

Slowdownanddivertstormwatertogardenbedsandnewfoodforest

FoodForests–citrus,tropicalandnuttrees

Bushtuckergarden

Deciduousshadeandfruittrees.

Herbs

Chookshed

RainwaterTank Swale Divertrainwatertoexistingtank

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Recommendations

Zone0Themajorfocusforzone0(house)willbetomanagerainwatercollection.Ascanbeseenfromthesiteandsectoranalysis,muchrainwaterislostfromroofspaces.ItisrecommendedtoinstallrainwatertanksinthelocationslistedontheElementsmap.Mostofthesetankscanwaternearbygardenbedsviagravityfeedtodriplinesorsimilar.Apumpmayneedtobepurchasedtowaterthefoodforestofcitrus,tropicalandnuttreesoneasternsideofhouse.5000Lslimlinepolytanksandround20,000lretailforapprox.$1500each.Colorbondmetaltanksmayhelpkeepthevisualheritagelookofthehomestead.DECAssetstoassessandfinance?

Zone1Thebackyardandexistingvegetablebeds.Smallalterationsareplannedforthisarea.Adeciduousshadetreeisneededtoprovidesomeprotectionforgrowingvegetablesduringextremeheatdaysinsummer–possiblenativespeciesare;whiteorredcedar,oraflametree.Shadelovingherbscanbeplantedingardenbedsadjacenttoverandah.Spaceisneededforstudentgroupstomovearoundinandforvisualamenityoftherearofthesandstoneschoolhouse.

Zone2Stormwatermanagement:Swaleswillbethemaintooltodivertstormwaterandreduceerosionoccurringonthesouthernhillside.Aswaleisaplantedmoundconstructedalongcontourlinestoreducethevelocityofwaterflowandchannelittowardsplants.Thewatercancollectinthelowpointabovethemoundconstructionandfilterslowlyforplantuse.Thislowpointisoftenfilledwithmulchandmakesagoodaccesspath.Seemapforswaleplacements.

Existingdrivewaystormwaterproblems:Somewaterwillbedivertedtopondsviaaswale.Waterfromdrainscouldbedivertedintoexistinggardensaroundbigtreevianewpiping,insteadofcurrentrunoffdownsouthernhillsidecausingerosion.WatercouldbedivertedtoanewundergroundtankintheconstructionofproposedCoveredOutdoorLearningArea(COLA)

Bushtuckergarden:Theaimofthisgardenistobeateachingelementshowcasingnativebushfoods.Itcanbeincorporatedintoourexistingbushresourcewalkasanexampleofcultivatedbushtuckerplants.Plantscouldbeacombinationoflocalandnon-localnativespecies.

FoodForests:(seebelow)

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Allfoodgardenswillbemadeupofasmanylayersaspossible.Compostingcouldoccurviabottomlessbucketsundertrees–kitchenscrapsdroppedinherewithsomeworms.Bucketsremovedandrotatedperiodically.Achopanddropapproachcouldbeusedforpruningandprovidingmulch.

BushtuckerGardenPlantlistGroundcovers:

Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesWarrigulspinach-Tetragoniatetragonoides

Edibleleaves–raworcooked

Groundcover NA Likesmoistfreedrainingsoil,partshadecanbecomeweedy

Nativeviolet–Violahederacea

flowersedibleinsalads groundcover Allyear,denseinspring Likesmoistandpartshade

Nativeraspberry-Rubusparvifolius

Edibleberries,leavesmaketea.

Groundcover Dec-April Fullsun,welldrainedsoil.

BlueFlaxlily–Dianellalongifolia

Berriesedible Tuftinggrass Spring/summer Welldrainedsoils.

Shrubs/smalltrees

Plantname Use Height Fruitingtime NotesLemonmyrtle–Backhousiacitriodora

Teas,lemongrasssubstitute,cheescakes

3-8m Fullsun-partshade

Midgenberry-Austromyrtusdulcis

Ediblewhiteberries 2mspreadingshrub Moistwelldrainedsoils

Nativerosella–Hibiscusheterophyllus

Budscooked,jam,raw,petalsinsalads

3-8mshrub November/dec Moistwelldrainedpartialshade

FingerLime–Microcitrusaustralasica

Limesedibleinjamschutneys,saucesanddrinks

Upto10m Summer Rainforestplant

Climbers

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Plantname Use Height Fruitingtime NotesAppleBerry–Billaderiascandens

Fruitsedible Growswellunderlargetrees

Summer Toleratesrangeofsoils

Wombatberry–Eustrephuslatifolias

Fruitsandrootsedible Climber Summer? Localspecies

Hardenbergiaviolacea Birdandbeeattractor Climber Spring? WaterVine

Trees

Plantname Use Height Fruitingtime NotesBunyaPine??? Nutseatenrawor

cookedHuge–30-40m LateJanuary/febnot

everyyearPotentialhazardfromfallingcones

LillyPilly–Syzigiumsmitthii

Fruiteatenraworcookedinjam

Upto20m Autumn/winter Rainforesttree

PortJacksonFig–Ficusrubiginosa

Figsedible Up20m Feb-july Slowgrowing

Macadamianut Ediblenuts 12-15m Graftedvarietiesbest.

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NEfoodforest(inexistinggardenbed)Allfoodforestswillutiliseplantguilds–anassemblyofharmoniousplantsthatassisteachotherinhealth,bufferingenvironmentaleffectsandpestmanagement.

Thisplantguildwillutilisetheexistingelementsofplentyofsunandgoodwaterretentionandexistingwatertanksandpumpaccessnearby.

BananaCircle–plantinacircularswaleabout2-3mdiameterwithplentyofsunandgoodsoil.Lotsofcompost!Mayneednurseplantstocreatefrost/windfreemicroclimate.

Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime

Notes

Banana Ediblefruit,leavesforwrappingandservingfood

Dwarfvarietieseasierpicking-Cavendish

About9monthsafterplanting

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-bananas.htmlPlentyofwater,richsoil,protectionfromwind,frostandcold.

PawPaw/Papaya Fruitedible Smalltree–5m? Allyear Asforbananas.Plantseedsfromripefruit.Sweetpotato Tuberandleaves

edibleTrailingvine Harvesttuberslate

autumnafterdiebackhttp://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/Information/SweetPotato.htmlPlantinspring–whenwarmer.

Pepino-Solanummuricatum

Crunchymelonlikefruit

Upto1metresprawling

Fruitsoverwarmermonths.

http://www.deeplivingproject.com.au/plants/pepinos/Sunandplentyofwater.

AvocadoTree Ediblefruits Canbepruned Summer Mayneedtwoplantsforpollination.

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EasternSideFruitandNutFoodForest.Thereisplentyofspacehereformeanderingpathsandallthelayersinafoodforest.Atleastoneortwoswaleswillhelpretainwaterontheslope,andastormwaterdrainfrombelowtheSolarPanelscouldberedirectedhere.

ThefocusofthisgardenisCitrusandNuttreeswithclimbersalongthefence

Trees.

Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesOrange–ValenciaorNavel

Fruit 4m Sept–April Soilwillneedimprovingmulchingcompost.Usegraftedvarieties

Mandarin–Imperialoremperor

Fruit 2-3m

Lemon–Meyer,Eureka Fig–blackorgenoa Fruit 2-3mormediumtreeif

notpruned.Summerfruit

Macadamia,Pecanorothernuttree

10-20m

Shrubs

Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesBorage Attractspollinators

edibleflowersgoodforchooks

Halfmetre Spring

Comfrey Nitrogenfixerandcompostacceleratorchookshealth

Halfmetre

Lavender Attractspollinators Smallshrub Fruitsaladsage Edibleflowers

pollinator

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EternalSpinach Perrenialherb Artichoke–globe Daikon Rocket Rhubarb

Climbersandgroundcovers

Plantname Use Height Fruiting/floweringtime NotesGrapevineonfence Ediblefruit Climber Summer Nativeraspberry-Rubusparvifolius

Edibleberries,leavesmaketea.

Groundcover Dec-April Fullsun,welldrainedsoil.

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DeciduousShadetreesThesewillprovideshadeforvegetablebedsintheharshsummerheatandshadeforstudentseatingonoutdoortablesduringsummer.Thesewouldpreferablybefastgrowingandnative–RedCedar?

ChickenShedChickensareapossibleadditiontothispermaculturegardenandwouldbeincludedattheveryend,whengardensarewellestablished.UsingtheSolarPanelsasarooffortheshedmeansthatlittleinfrastructurewillneedtobeconstructed.Waterforthechickenscouldbecollectedintoasmalltankviarunofffromthepanelsthemselves.Timberroosts,nestingboxes,meshenclosingandadoorwouldallneedtobeconstructed.Issueswithchickenswouldbecareduringholidays,destructivenaturearoundgardensandfeeding.Benefitsareeggs,compostandpestcontrolingardens.

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ImplementationTheworksproposedcouldbecarriedoutinseveralways.Aschool/schoolscouldbeenlistedtohelpuscompleteelementsviaa‘permablitz’day.MtDruittTutorialSchoolstudentsandstaffmaybeperfectforthisandtheycouldhaveongoingownershipofthegardenandhelpwithmaintenance.Theyareregularvisitorsalreadyforbushregeneration.

Anotheroptionwouldbeforacommunity‘permablitz’dayorweekend.WecouldenlistthehelpofSydneyWestPermaculturemembersorlocalresidentstohelpwithearthworksandplanting.Thelocalscouldthenhaveaccesstotheproducefromthegardenasawayofthankingthem!

Priority1Watermanagementshouldbethefirstpriorityforimplementation.Theinstallationofrainwatertanksanddiversionsofstormwatershouldbecompletedfirstasadequatewaterwillbeanecessityfortheestablishmentofnewgardenbeds.FundingfortankscouldcomepartlyfromthePrimezonegrantmoneyandDECAssetsmayhelpout?Diversionofstormwaterwillrequiresomediggingandre-routingofpipesinboththedrivewayandeasternsideofhouseareas.Timeline–terms2-32015

Priority2Earthworks.Thebuildingofswaleswillworkinwithpriority1tomanageandretainwaterinthelandscape.Thiscouldalsoincludetheenrichingofsoilwithcompost(wemayneedtopurchasethis)andmulchingofpaths.Theseworkswillneedtobecompletedbeforeplanting.Term32015.

Priority3Plantingofalltreespecies.Term32015.Theendofwinterwouldbeagoodtimeforplantingasitisnottoohotonworkersandwillgivetreestimetoestablishbeforethesummerheat.ThisisthedriesttimeatBrewongleandadequatewaterwouldneedtobeavailabletowaterintheplants.Iftherehasnotbeenenoughrainfalltofillnewtanks,thenwemayneedtobuysomewaterinitially.

Priority4Plantingofallgroundcovers,shrubsandclimberstomakeuptheremainderofthefoodforest.Term42015.Theidealtimeforthiswouldbeearlyterm42015.Springplantingwillallowhelpestablishmentandgivestafftimetomonitorprogressbeforethesummerholidays.

Priority5ConstructionofChickenShedandadditionofchickens.2016.Thisisalowpriorityandsubjecttodiscussionwithstaff.