Week 8 – Culinary Camp
Permaculture: Orchard Design, Row 7
July 30, 2015
Cynthia Murphy, Nicole Schmittou, Kathryn Furlow, Mary McBrearty, Kirsten Thomas
Permaculture is based on natural systems like ones seen in a forest. In a forest system,
there are multiple layers of vegetation growing together in a very diverse setting. All
components of the system support each other to stay strong. The concept of a Permaculture Guild
stems from mimicking natural systems and to provide for human needs. It is a grouping of plants,
animals, insects, and other natural components that work together to ensure survival (1).
The SLU orchard garden was designated as a stone fruit garden consisting of cherry,
apple, plum, peaches, apricots, and tree nut trees including hazelnut. Natural and chemical-free
solutions are constantly being explored to maintain SLU’s garden in being sustainable and
organic by minimizing chemical exposure to produce, and to attract pollinating insects which are
beneficial to the garden.
The pecan tree row in SLU’s orchard contains 5 Elderberry Plants and a Pawnee Pecan,
Lakota Pecan, Kanza Pecan and 1 Apricot Tree (possibly Wilson Delicious Apricot). Elderberry
trees can be planted in between other trees in the orchard to provide immediate protection to the
crop. The Elderberry also provides immediate habitat for pollinators and birds (2).
There are 7 components of a permaculture guild:
Food for Us – To maximize health benefits it is important plant a diversity of foods in the guild.
Food for the Soil – It is very important to have nitrogen for the soil. Adequate nitrogen keeps
plants healthy and growing.
Diggers/Miners – Deep rooted plants like trees reach deep into the earth’s soil and bring
minerals up to the surface. Examples include sweet potatoes and yams.
Groundcover - Examples include sweet potato vines, pumpkin, and cucumbers. They protect the
soil from the sun and help to keep weeds out.
Climbers – These help to maximize food production. They include beans, cucumbers, and
potatoes.
Supporters – These are stronger items that support the climbers and create space. These are
represented by the pecan trees in the orchard. Careful consideration must be taken when planting
since they can release toxins that keep others from growing around them.
Protectors – Examples include onions, chives, spices (basil, rosemary, thyme) flowers
(perennials & azaleas). These can control invading insects (1).
Permaculture Guild
*Bracket outside with Slender Mountain Mint and Missouri Coneflower
Thyme Kanza Pecan Thyme
Chinese Astilbe
*
Elderberry
Glade Coneflower
*
Elderberry
Azaleas
*
Rosemary Lakota Pecan Rosemary
Sweet Potatoes
*
Elderberry
False Aloe
*
Elderberry
Cucumbers
*
Chives Pawnee Pecan Chives
Blue Star Perennial
*
Elderberry
Butterfly Milkweed
*
2.
1.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Slender Mountain Mint
Missouri Coneflower
Glade Coneflower
Butterfly Milkweed
False Aloe
Chives
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
7. Rosemary
8. Thyme
9. Blue Star (perineal)
10. Cucumbers
11. Azaleas
12. Chinese Astilbe
References
1. Never Ending Food 2015 Retrieved from http://www.neverendingfood.org/b-what-ispermaculture/permaculture-guilds/
2. St. Louis Audubon Society. Bring Conservative Home, Site Visit Report. Non-Native
Invasive Plants, Naturescaping. August 2, 2013.