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About Our Farm
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Permaculture &
Gardening Strategies
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Permaculture & Gardening Strategies
Both Shannon and Tom have independently completed permaculture design courses, and met on the Bullocks Permaculture homestead on Orcas Island, WA. Our broad interest in the botanical world began with growing plants very early for both of us. Tom’s interest in pumpkins, psychoactive plants, and organic gardening finally led to the study of permaculture and ethnobotany. Shannon’s early plant breeding experiments, at the age of 11, led her to a degree in genetics. While living in South America this interest expanded into a great enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture, community, alternative energy and raising children.
We have chosen permaculture as an approach to land and life for its ethics and principles which take into account our responsibility to the land. We are saddened by the massive degradation of environments through the lack of careful and long term planning strategies. Therefore, we must attempt to utilize less polluting forms of energy, and practice good land stewardship. We relate to the larger web of people and organizations with similar goals. The increasing global problems must be approached with a myriad of solutions.
Our primary emphasis is on increasing food through plant and animal diversity in perennial agroforestry systems while benefiting the overall quality and fertility of the land. Sharing and exchange include knowledge, food, and shelter.
Some personal definitions of permaculture:
Permaculture is about knowing the landscape. It is a deep awareness for elemental forces, seasonal gradations, points of interest and specificity locally and close by. Landscapes unfold and take place in time with many varied influences.
Is a way of reorganizing relations. It is a taking a step back and repositioning. When it concerns the garden for instance, some inversions take place. Instead of the garden put in a neglected place beyond all the other flower beds and everthing that might possibly occur, it is put right next to the closest door to the kitchen for instance. Take into consideration the needs of humans and patterns of movement to determine the layout and structure of an environment and not unquestioned aesthetics of good taste, manners and social acceptabilty. A new way emerges.
Permaculture is about overwhelming enthusiasm for nature, gardening, ecological thinking, webs of life, living communities, relationships, and design.
Good stewardship.
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