Polestar Permaculture

Many of us love the idea of a dream backyard that nourishes our sense of well being. We’ve all seen images of such enchanting places that make our hearts long to sit in the shade of the trees and listen to nature unfold around us, provided there are no bugs, and there is a gentle breeze, and a soft hammock, oh yeah and a patio so my chair doesn't dig into the earth, and place to put my glass of wine, and maybe one of those cool natural gas fire pits, and maybe outdoor furnit...ure that's as comfortable as anything that I have inside my house I can buy it on-line, oh and maybe a pool for the kids, a hot tub for the adults, and a covered area so we never get wet.and on and on and on. I do not have one of those backyards. Im at the very early stages of transforming this space into a food forest not only for me but for my community as well. This year we only got to the berms and swales to help control the water. We built some bins from some free pallets for sorting soil as we have a large amount of gravel in the yard from when it was used for parking and storage. We created a compost bin out of the old deck rails, because we had them on hand and why not reuse them. We built a small fire place out of some cinder blocks that we found behind the garage. And chances are if you come over this is how our yard will look, shovels and rakes propped against the bins. Chairs directly on the ground with no patio. Piles of aggregate of varying types around the back of the property. And yet despite all this, this land nourishes my soul. I sit in the shade of a silver maple watching the squirrels, rabbits and groundhogs. I watch as in the spring pioneer plants make their home along the fence line. I listen to the sounds of my community, my neighbours laughing or working on projects. Every day that I spend on this land simply allowing it to be as it is, it tells me more of what it needs so I can create something that is not only beautiful for humans but is also beautiful for the land. So before you plan your backyard around the things you think you need. Take a year or two and ask the land what it would like. If you would like assisting designing a space that meets your needs as well as the needs of the land and the community please visit polestarpermaculture.ca At Polestar Permaculture we believe in meeting the needs of communities and land by offering sliding scale pricing and by our commitment to donating 1% of profits to land back initiatives to put land back into the hands of our original land caretakers. #permaculture design #creativityisanunlimitedresource #Gardening #landmanagement

Winter Permaculture It seems many of us spend the winter months dreaming about spring and what we will do in our gardens, and while that is an activity I greatly enjoy there is so much more to be done in winter. Winter in Northern climates gives us a unique opportunity to observe the landscape. We can more easily see where water pools and where we might need to move direct and store that water. We can see the barren soil under trees and shrubs which would benefit from some ...plant material layered on top to help prevent soil erosion. We can check trees for broken and damaged limbs, as well as see more clearly what needs to be pruned to give our gardens more light. We can go outside during storms to understand exactly how harsh the climate is, this will help us understand what our plants and even wildlife need to endure to make it through the winter. Perhaps using some of those pruned limbs to make piles for small animals, or stacks of leaves for overwintering insects. While winter is wonderful to look out from our warm homes, it is even more spectacular when you go outside and walk around. Because unlike the summer the winter is quiet, even in densely packed neighbourhood yards you will likely be the only person on your block enjoying the silence of a winters day. If you would like assisting designing a space that meets your needs as well as the needs of the land and the community please visit polestarpermaculture.ca At Polestar Permaculture we believe in meeting the needs of communities and land by offering sliding scale pricing and by our commitment to donating 1% of profits to land back initiatives to put land back into the hands of our original land caretakers. #permaculture design #creativityisanunlimitedresource #Gardening #landmanagement

I have been thinking a lot about trees, where I live there are so few, and it's a constant daily battle to get the local government to understand their worth. But at this time of year one tree stands at the heart of celebration for many, the humble pine tree. Whether it be decorated in a place of honour in our homes, or covered in a fresh blanket of snow in our yards it seems we can not get enough of what the pine tree brings us at this time of year. A connection to the... past, a connection to each other, a connection to nature. In Canada we ignore the noble pines all summer in favour of the showy deciduous trees which are ever changing and seem to constantly say look at me. But in the winter when the deciduous trees rest there is the magnificent pine that has captured the hearts of painters, poets, and artists for thousands of years. This mighty tree offers warmth, nutrition, comfort and beauty in the cold months. And without having to change form offers a dry spot in the rain, and a shade in our hot summers. So this spring I'd ask you to honour this beautiful tree by planting a majestic pine and seeing the abundance it brings into your life. If you would like assisting designing a space that meets your needs as well as the needs of the land and the community please visit polestarpermaculture.ca At Polestar Permaculture we believe in meeting the needs of communities and land by offering sliding scale pricing and by our commitment to donating 1% of profits to land back initiatives to put land back into the hands of our original land caretakers. #permaculture design #creativityisanunlimitedresource #Gardening #landmanagement

When we talk about permaculture design we often talk about systems. We don't just plant a tree or build a patio and plan our spaces around them. We look at the soil, and rainfall for the area. We examine the topography, and the existing plants and animals that utilize the space. We talk to the land caretakers to see what needs they have that the land can meet. We look at what supporting plants may be needed to give new additions all the nutrients they need. We look at h...ow any new additions will impact wildlife and human life and any systems already in place such as power, water, and sanitation. Everything is considered and evaluated before shovels go into the ground and after we change something we watch for the impact and adjust the plan to balance the system. We never stop looking for ways to close loops, to recycle resources, to stack functions. And even with all that things built for a purpose, with all considerations taken there is still the potential for something we’ve altered to become unnecessary. So we observe we ask questions, not just to ourselves but to our communities. What is here and what relies on it? What is needed here and how can we implement it while honouring the things already using the space? Can we incorporate this space as a part of public lands while maintaining diversity and habitat? Place making without observation and community consult is simply place taking. If you would like assisting designing a space that meets your needs as well as the needs of the land and the community please visit polestarpermaculture.ca At Polestar Permaculture we believe in meeting the needs of communities and land by offering sliding scale pricing and by our commitment to donating 1% of profits to land back initiatives to put land back into the hands of our original land caretakers. #permaculture design #creativityisanunlimitedresource #Gardening #landmanagement

Since I was a child I have always enjoyed exploring overgrown lots and abandoned properties. To see the beauty in something that has long been forgotten always leaves me filled with much appreciation for how these spaces were once used, before it was seen as just a grass filled lot. As nature slowly recalims the space, the energy of the people who once lived, worked, and played in the space seems content to live alongside the animals and plants. It's as though they ...know the secret the living have forgotten; that everything is connected to everything. When you take the time to appreciate the lives the land supported and stand still and listen to the earth you can see and hear that connection, and understand that land is more than a resource. It is a life giving, soul inspiring, connection to everything on this beautiful planet and we as humans are simply a part of the cycle. If you'd like the land you are blessed to be a caretaker of to have a regenerative design, that honours this connection to everything contact us at polestarpermaculture.ca #Permaculture #everythingisconnectedtoeverything #polestarpermaculture #landcaretakers