Many growers apply permaculture design principles because they work for large farms and smaller gardens. After completing her Permaculture Design course in 2008, Flo decided that her semi-detached house could also represent these principles and support her family with an abundance of food in the long term.
She has turned her front garden into a food forest, which now sparks conversation with curious passers-by; even the neighbours have caught the bug and started growing a few vegs in their own space. The hard work of redesigning the house to be more energy-efficient, with insulation, utility and indoor growing space, will pay off in the long term. The back garden is also being turned into an edible landscape with room for pollinator-friendly flowers, perennial and annual veg and fruit, all using local suppliers and craftspeople in the process.
All this work is the base for a low maintenance garden with good harvests, as due to illness, Flo’s energy and ability to do what she loves is limited. Lessons taken from permaculture taught her to live more efficiently and resiliently, with the ability to design and implement systems that support and nurture the whole family. As it comes with excellent gardening, the surplus of crops is shared with the neighbours, building the connection with the broader community.