Welcome to the Permaculture Association Blog
You can find a wealth of news and knowledge that follows the work of members and partners.
There is a piece of paradise disguised as a campsite in Southern Hungary called Hunza Ecolodge. It is located between lush green hills, in the heart of Baranya county near a town called Pécs with a rich cultural life.
After three weeks in Glasgow under the rain, I headed towards Tombreck, my very last stop before the Scottish Permaculture Gathering (the end of my journey)!
As you may remember, my last article on the Concrete Garden, an urban permaculture project, argued for a stronger standpoint on the subject of land and public space.
We asked new members Gea Viva about their project, their use of permaculture, and what they hope to gain from joining the network.
Gea Viva is an eco camp on the Croatian island Brac, that invites people to delve deeply into nature.
Located in a tranquil olive grove with ten minutes’ walk to the sea, it is a place to unwind, find inspiration, meet like-minded people, take part in one of the courses or events. We connect Permaculture, eco living, art and communication with the creative forces of the Earth.
I’m back where it all started for me – Glasgow, its pubs, the rain, Kelvingrove park, the persistent smell of fish and chips, and the nicest people I have ever met. I was a student at the University of Glasgow last year through the Erasmus program, and absolutely loved my time there. So after two months of travelling in the Scottish countryside, it was time for me to come back to my favourite city, to see friends and to volunteer with the Concrete Garden, a community garden based in the north of Glasgow which uses permaculture principles.
For about 15 years now I’ve been experimenting with fruit tree guilds: after planting fruit trees I like to underplant them with a diverse herb layer. Most of the plants I use are edible and/or medicinal but they fulfil other functions, too – some fix nitrogen or accumulate nutrients from the soil, attract beneficial insects or provide nectar for bees.
Here are some of my favourite plants to include in the herb layer and their functions.