Permaculture Lab Class

by Glenda Stoneman

The Permaculture Lab class garden was designed and planted in May 2023 by the CGR4M Environment and Resource Management students as their Summative Project.

Following Permaculture Principles, students selected a location on the site and decided on a Tree Guild as the first addition to the Lab. A Tree Guild is a community of plants planted around the tree to support it. These plants include nitrogen fixers, dynamic accumulators, compost makers, and pollinator attractors; all performing different functions that aid the growth of the tree.

As a part of the Summative Project, students decided on a Plum Tree for the centre and then, based on careful research, selected native plants to plant around it. Permaculture Designer Adrian Hodgson guided students through the process of removing the existing grass, ameliorating the soil with natural fertilizers and bone meal, and then planting and mulching the garden. The result was a Swallowtail Canada Plum Guild that repelled deer and aphids while attracting Swallowtail Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators.

The Swallowtail Canada Plum Guild was cared for over the summer by the summer camp students, who watered it once a week. We had a hot summer with plenty of precipitation and the first addition to the Permaculture Lab thrived!

In September 2023 the new CGR4M students spent several classes at the Permaculture Lab, where they identified the plants and removed unwanted weeds. While the Canada Plum sapling did not survive the summer heat, the rest of the guild grew well and noticeably improved the soil. Covered by non-native grass for many years, the soil in the area was generally barren of life and benefited from the ecosystem services provided by the tree guild plants.

In early November Adrian Hodgson returned to teach the new group of students how to plant fall garlic. It took a lot of effort to remove the mulch and prepare the soil for the new seeds. Each student had a shovel and gardening tools and worked one part of the Permaculture Lab to expand it for this additional planting. Many hands made light work, enabling us to plant more than 90 garlic seeds on the perimeter of the existing Swallowtail Canada Plum Guild. We covered the lab with straw and left it for the winter months.

In the spring we will be out to harvest the garlic scapes, clean up the garden, and continue the design process during the Summative period. In addition to replanting the Canada Plum, we plan to expand the Permaculture lab and allow this year’s class to make their contribution to its development.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Glenda Stoneman- Teacher, Social Science Glenda has been teaching Social Science at Appleby College for 18 years. Her focus has been on Canadian Geography Environment and Resource Management. An avid environmentalist, Glenda is a member of the Climate Action Acceleration Program team that is creating Appleby's sustainable and regenerative response to climate change.