Permaculture Orchard
We chat with orchardist Stefan Sobkowiak who replaced an organic apple orchard with a permaculture orchard at Miracle Farms.
“Imagine an orchard that doesn’t look like an orchard.”
Stefan Sobkowiak at Miracle Farms, a permaculture orchard. (Photo by Myriam Baril Tessier)
We talk about:
Why he prefers a permculture planting to a monoculture organic apple orchard
How can an orchard be a permaculture?
The system of “trios” he uses as a basic design unit
Minimizing external inputs
Using sheep in an orchard
Timelines for establishing a permaculture orchard
Using fruiting shrubs under trees
Planting perennial flowers, herbs, and vegetables underneath fruiting shrubs
When it comes to the idea of permaculture, Sobkowiak says, “It’s just applied common sense.”
More on Growing Fruit
If you’re interested in growing fruit, check out our No Fuss Fruit Masterclass. We brought together all our favourite tips, ideas, techniques and crops. All for home gardeners in cooler climates.
Covering more than 20 fruits, the focus is easy-to-grow fruit suited to northern gardens. Fruits include cherry-family crops, currants, cane fruit such as raspberry and blackberry, elderberry, serviceberry and saskatoon, haskap, plum family, medlar, melon, husk cherries...and more! Find out more about No Fuss Fruit Masterclass.
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