Put time aside to be a Sustainability Spy in your garden. While you’re observing the areas for your Permaculture Project ensure you’re not going to be disturbed. You may decide to take the phone off the hook, ask your partner or friend to look after the kids, or explain what your’re dong and invite your children to join you.
Remember to wear a hat and sunscreen (an eco-frendly one, of course) as well as a shirt that comes down over your pants. Sound finicky? You’ll probably be bending over to observe things closely in your garden, and your shirt will more than likely ride up your back slightly. Outcome? Sunbuuuuuuuurn – ouch! It happened to me recently, and it’s always on that spot where your waistline is… and depending on the fashion… exactly where your pants will rub. Trust me – wear a long shirt.
If you’re new to observing your garden or land you may decide to cut your spy-time into segments. For example, check out what happens early morning, when the sun is high in the sky, and then again late afternoon or early evening.
Use all of your senses to observe:
- look
- listen
- smell
- touch, and
- taste.
Obviously don’t taste anything inedible or poisonous, or that you can’t identify! You want to be a living Sustainability Nut, not a dead one.
Consider all of the elements that affect your land and project:
- soil
- wind
- water
- wildlife
- sun
- shade
- neighbours habits, and
- nearby structures
Here are some examples of questions you might ask yourself as you undertake your Sustainability Spy Mission. You might even like to break these down further or think of others.
Soil:
Where do things grow well? (even weeds)
Are there areas where nothing ever seems to grow?
Is the soil bare of vegetation and dry in spots?
What areas become waterlogged?
Wind:
What places receive strong winds?
Are there areas that become to stuffy during hot times? What is stifling airflow?
Water:
What areas miss the rain because of house eaves?
Where are plants suffering from a lack of water because of water restrictions?
What plants are water hardy, or water dependent?
Is your water feature achieving its purpose (looks, water for wildlife, or a frog pond) or is it simply a breeding ground for mosquitos?
How healthy is your dam? Does it support noxious algae?
Sun and Heat:
What path does the sun travel?
Are there sections that become too hot during summer?
Shade:
What areas are constantly in shade?
What vegetation is growing happily in dappled shade?
What are the shade patterns due to the sun’s movement?
Wildlife:
Do large trees or shrubs in your garden house wildlife?
Are there round holes cut from tree leaves in your gareden to suggest you’re lucky enough to have a Leaf-cutter Bee living somewhere?
Do skinks, lizards, beetles, etc. love to frequent the leaf litter you’ve maintained?
Is that ‘hop, skip and jump’ you hear on the roof at night some secretive little possum training for the next Olympics, who sleeps in a tree nearby?
Are those fallen pawpaws under your tree due to beautiful Flying Foxes foraging at night?
Neighbours Habits:
Are your neighbours fond of spraying pesticides, etc. along the fence?
Does water travel down from a neighbour’s sloping land into your garden? Do they use fertilisers and poisons?
Permanent Structures:
Does your house or your neighbour’s create shade on parts of your land?
Is there a creek running through your property?
Where are the sewerage pipes, etc.?
And while you’re looking around remember to listen. Are there bees buzzing around your garden? You may even be lucky enough to have some native bees visit. Can you hear frogs calling at night or on wet days? If you do, consider yourself lucky. In the majority of city suburbs and places where biocides and fertilisers are used freely, there is a sad lack of “croaks”. Not surprising! Considering that the presence of frogs is a good indication of how healthy the immediate environment is. No frogs – more than likely a not-so-well environment full of poisons. Frogs present – you’re doing something right! Keep up the good work! And like any aspiring Sustainability Nut, keep improving.
During its flowering time, is there a particular plant that gives off a delightful scent? Or is there another smell that you just can’t abide… maybe a sewerage line needs looking at, or is there a tom cat prowling at night and spraying on your outdoor furniture?
If you already grow some type of fruit or vegetable on your land – what does it taste like? Is it bitter, or just right?
Observe and make some notes – maybe even create a rough map of your land and jot down what you’ve discovered. Don’t pre-judge anything or do a ‘sweeping’ once-over from the back or front doorstep. I guarantee you’ll miss something that will save you hours in the future.
Next we’ll discover how to use this information to help in the design process of your Permaculture Project.