Some notes from the current issue of UK Permaculture magazine: http://www.pcmagazine.co.uk The Synergistic Garden. An article on gardening using ideas from Fukouka. This is a raised bed system being used in France. The four principles are: 1. keep the soil undisturbed and uncompacted 2. Use soil's self-fertility as fertilizer 3. Integrate the litter zone with soil profile 4. Plant for beneficial relationships Discussed was a three year cycle of intensive planting. Chicken Forage Shrubs. An article on gardening for chickens. Listed plants for temperate climates include: Bladder senna Colutea arborescens Siberian pea Caragana brevispina Colutea arborescents The Yeoman's Follies column discussed six rules for rough gardening. 1. Plant vegetables that laugh at weeds 2. Create your own micro-plots (climate adjustments by planting) 3. Mulch with everything, cardboard, paper, etc. 4. Don't plant small seeds in traditional rows. 5. Eat your pests. 6. If the garden looks like a jungle, that's good. jeff
