A presentation by Jonathan BatesFoodForestFarm.com

From Bare Ground to Urban Paradise on One-Tenth of an Acre

Holyoke, MA

Paradise Lot

Our neighborhood

Our families

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Paradise Lot

A presentation by Jonathan BatesFoodForestFarm.com

* builds soil and restores degraded land

* provides ecosystem services like habitat and rainwater infiltration

* contributes to a just food system and self-determination for communities

* stabilizes global climate through carbon sequestration

We garden using permaculture design, that

* mimic the structure and function of forest ecosystems

* designed for low maintenance

* attract wildlife and expand habitat

* grow non-food products too:

~ construction material

~ livestock fodder

~ fuelwood

~ fertilizers

~ medicine

We garden with Edible Forest Gardens (food forests, home gardens)

We create food abundance by mimicking a young forest.

We pick a handful of fresh greens or fruit every day.

We are partners with the garden rather then managers of the garden.

Design goals Paradise Lot

Food ???

Site observations + Goals, Inform Design (regenerative)

Paradise Lot Final Design 2004

Challenges become opportunities... * Design with plants for shade* Poor soil grows good sheds

spring summerDesign in patches and through time

Use and value diversity... over 200 species of useful and edible plants, 50% native (super geeks!)

Multifunctional elements... perennial polycultures of multipurpose plants

Before

After

Abundance

We create food abundance by mimicking a young forest. infinite yield... - 400 pounds of perennial food created 2011 (not including annual vegetables)

We pick a handful of fresh greens or fruit every day. - meets 80% of our fruit and greens need during the growing season - meets 20% of our food needs year round

Evaluating the garden design goals

We are partners with the garden rather then managers of the garden. observe and interact... - weeds become eggs and compost (from the chickens) - abundance of baby plants generate income ($10,000 gross in four months)

- soil is thriving and mineralized, sequestering carbon (7.5 tons in 10 years)

Workshops,Tours,Plant Salesevery month

April - September 2015

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Start spring out right with a freeRegenerative Landscape Transformation Session

First come first serve

www.FoodForestFarm.com/consult 

Free Phone Consult

Permaculture Certification Course6 weekend sessions

September - December 2015

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