Simone asked what she could plant in the edge guild (the 1-metre strip around the edge of the mandala). We didn't know what to plant there when we set up the first mandala. The Permaculture home garden recommends sugar cane and lemongrass, but being in Canberra, those weren't suitable. Also, the chooks don't go on that part of the mandala, so you need a way to prepare the ground.
We started with potatoes - we covered the ground with large quantities of wet newspaper (at least 8 pages thick), cut small holes in it and put a handful of blood and bone and a seed potato into each hole. That seemed to create good soil - you get lots of worms under the paper, and the potatoes break up the ground.
We then experimented with various plants in the edge guild. Herbs have been good, we're now growing comfrey, curry plant, fennel, hyssop, lavendar, rosemary, marjoram, tarragon, thyme, oregano and sage. (We rarely use most of these herbs, but they look lovely and several of them attract bees). I also put in an asparagus bed (a long-term project!), mint (a disaster - had to rip it all out) and rhubarb. I've planted a dwarf lemon, several dwarf nectarines, fejoias, blueberries (very slow to grow) and even a few flowers. It's good to have different layers (e.g. the margoram is growing around the fejoias, and the comfrey under the fruit trees), and to have things thickly planted, to provide protection to the plants in the circles.
Hi Many congrats on your mandala permaculture garden. I live in Batemans Bay and am just starting to establish a 2 mandala system. Have marked out the mandalas and nearly finsihed a chook dome. Have Linda Woodrow's book and am beginning to understand the guild planting system but I must be lacking in creative intelligence, as Linda would no doubt put it, 'cos I'm confused about what planting guilds to use for the chook rotations in the 2nd Mandala. Would be most grateful for any advice. My Mobile is 0427 604 994. Many thanks, Mike
Posted by: Mike Grigg | September 22, 2011 at 11:07 AM