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02 November 2011
Not only is fall a time for replanting, it is also a time for reinvention. The permaculture class at Hayes Valley Farm is in the midst of redesigning the central berms on the north slope (Fell St. side). Last Friday, a quiet day on the farm, there were six students in class, two of whom had volunteered on Thursday and enjoyed the compost workshop so much that they returned on Friday and helped rebuild the berms.
Kevin, a veteran student, explained, meandering slowly through potted plants and tools, that the berms had all been in north-south parallel lines – not on contour – and had become waterlogged. One by one, the class has been reshaping the mounds downwards towards the greenhouse, following the contour of the land, so that rainwater will flow better and distribute water more evenly through them. He enthusiastically articulated the permaculture principles applied through the redesign:
1. Multi-stack Food Forest: perennials provide structure and annuals produce more food. Together they provide stable ground.
2. Water Flow: reshaping to contour allows us to "slow it, spread it, sink it" – water, that is.
3. Water Management as Pest Control: preventing saturated areas takes the insects' breeding grounds away.
4. Nutrient Mining: planting sunflowers best achieves this; comfrey and yarrow will also support this goal.
Perennials and annuals will be planted, so that the berms won't require high maintenance, he explained, as berms degrade less with perennials in the soil. The group is still deciding which perennial foods to plant.
Nell, who's also been in the class since July, moved to the Bay Area from Costa Rica, where she was living on a permaculture farm. "Hayes Valley Farm is so different," she said. "There's an abundance of resources there! The permaculture principles are the same, but the application is vastly different. It's been very interesting to see how permaculture works here in the urban jungle. It's all about minimizing your inputs. It's a challenge, but it's fun." Nell began the class with the goal of managing a CSA or directing an ecological farm.
This permaculture class cycle ends in December, culminating with a final project. Aimee Hill, who co-instructs the permaculture class with Jay Rosenberg, said, "This class is all about learning by doing. These are their designs. I'm just here as a resource. Their projects throughout the course are practical applications of their understanding of permaculture."
The next permaculture class starts in January and runs through June. To get a sneak peek of the fun, feel free to drop in for a class during this cycle – Fridays, 12–5 p.m.
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Over a thousand volunteers, neighbors, and community members have helped coordinate the farm efforts.