Problems are just opportunities waiting to be discovered

Permaculture is not about problems. Permaculture is about joy and abundance. Instead of focusing on what one needs to remove in order to feel “green”, one looks at what one can do to make their life more rich and effective while being local and sustainable (remember sustainable is not just about the environment…. what is sustainable for you means what you can afford money and time wise as well as what is good for the environment).

When approaching the world through the lens of permaculture you must be positive and proactive. Adjusting your thinking is the first step so that you can react to issues differently.

Normal Reactions to today’s challenges:

-      Denial “what problems?”

-      Defer “future technology will fix it.”

-      Instant gratification “quick fix without permanent change”

-       Global “this problem is larger than me, I can’t do anything about it”

Permaculture Focused Reactions:

-       Redesign “how can we correct the system?”

-       Substitute “what can we do instead?”

-       Lifestyle “how can I change myself, my place to make an impact?”

-       Grassroots “what can I do where I am?”

This thinking is born out of the Ethics of Permaculture:

-       Care for people

-       Care for earth

-       Create/share/sell surplus

-       Intrinsic value of all living things

-       Reduce consumption

As always, remember that permaculture is not an all or nothing approach…educated yourself, then take what you want and apply it.

Happy Thinking,

Kate Higdon
Landscape Designer and Certified Permaculture Designer
Perfect Lawns and Landworks

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Don't forget to follow the watering schedule mandated by the City of Austin.  No watering between 10am and 7pm for irrigation systems or sprinklers but hand watering is allowed anytime.

City of Austin Summer Watering Schedule

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Now is the time to prune your oak trees in order to avoid oak wilt.

Oak wilt is a fungal infection affecting oak trees. All species of oak are susceptible with red oaks being particularly vulnerable.  There is currently no known cure and the best way of dealing with oak wilt is to isolate and then destroy the affected trees. The Texas Oak Wilt Information Partnership is dedicated to providing information to homeowners about this disease.

Oak wilt is caused by a fungus (Ceratocystis fagacearum) which clogs the vascular system of oak trees preventing the flow of water and nutrients. Once infected, the entire tree literally wilts and dies.

Oak wilt is spread largely in two ways, insect transmission and root transmission and is a dangerous disease.

Pruning oak trees in the proper time of year is imperative to avoiding oak wilt.

The Nitidulid beetles that carry the fungus that causes oak wilt are most active from February through May. Their activity declines as the summer temperatures rise and also subsides during the colder months November through January. Definitely, do not trim your trees from February through June. The very hottest months—July, August, September—would be a reasonably safe time to trim as would the coldest months in the winter. No matter when you trim be sure to paint the wounds IMMEDIATELY with pruning paint or even latex paint to prevent infestation.

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A single red rose universally signals love. Other than that most of us do not understand the lost art of floral symbolism. According to the website VictorianBazaar.com the language of flowers is called "floriography”, which saw it’s heyday in the Victorian Era. During the reign of England’s Queen Victoria, not only did the flowers themselves have meanings but also the way in which they were arranged or handed to the recipient.

Throughout history flowers and plants have been used to invoke a sense of romance or intrigue. There are numerous references to specific plants in both ancient and modern literature from around the world. Secret messages created with flower arrangements have been used in playful ways (to reveal an admirer or secret love use Gardenia or Mimosa) or in heartbreaking ways (Mock Orange speaks of deceit while an Orange Lily symbolizes hate). The symbolism can be romantic or friendly. If you want to say thank you a nice bouquet of dark pink roses is a good choice. Color can have meaning as well. A red rose is love as we all know while a peach colored rose symbolizes the closing of a deal.

Sending a floral message can be as simple as one small bloom or as extravagant as a whole garden. In the English Garden Mystery series ROSEMARY AND THYME, the episode named THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS revolves around the restoration of a waterfall that was planted with a botanical message which helps the main characters solve a murder. Meaning in the garden is also very common for religious gardens in cloisters and at memorial gardens. The Christmas Rose is related to the infant Jesus while the Lily Flower symbolizes the Trinity. “Mary Gardens” are rich with meaning and flowers.

Using flowers and plants to send messages is not as common these days, but it with a little effort it can be a fun and playful way to flirt with the one you love:

- Aster Flower: dainty, love

- Baby’s Breath: happiness

- Daisy: loyal love

- Hibiscus: delicate beauty

- Calla Lily: majestic beauty

- Primrose: young love

- Coral Rose: desire

- Rosemary: fidelity

- Tulip: symbol for perfect lover

- Spider flower: elope with me

Or send an affectionate or thankful message to a friend or family member:

- Zinnia: thinking of an absent friend

- Sweet Basil: good luck

- Pale Rose: friendship

- Red and Yellow Rose: congratulations

- White Jasmine: cheerfulness

- Gladiolus: strength of character

- Dahlia: good taste

These have been gleaned from the following two lists:

http://www.iflorist.com/en/gifts/meaning/

http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html

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Event Review: Worldwide Maniac Foundation Launch 6-19-10
by: Kate Higdon

Art. Fashion. Music….and permaculture? This sounded like an event custom tailored to my interests! Saturday night I had the pleasure of attending the launch party for a new foundation that promotes “conscious capitalism” and “a pay it forward mindset” in fashion, entertainment, humanitarian efforts, and environmentalism. Michael Torres hosted the event to launch his new eco-conscious Worldwide Maniac Foundation, based in Austin, Texas.

All forms of art were showcased at the Austin Music Hall. Artist Leanne Venier’s color therapy studies were on display in the entrance to the Hall. The beautiful abstract paintings came with explanations of the effects of color on the mood and personality. As Josh Charles played his piano drive, jazz inspired music, I got lost reading the color therapy descriptions and discussing the effects with a local interior painter I met at the event. Did you know that violet promotes creativity? Good to know, as that is my favorite and most worn color.

Soon the piano paused and we made our way to the catwalk to hear Michael Torres explain the creation and purpose of the foundation and watch a sneak preview of a permaculture promoting movie called “Back to the Garden”. I was especially excited to see that permaculture was included in this event – many people who would never have heard of it otherwise got to see how exciting permaculture can be and that it relates to all things – even fashion and music.

With images of overflowing vegetable gardens and permaculture principles in action dancing in my head, the eco-friendly fashion show began.

First to float down the runway were the exquisite designs of Maggie Norris Couture. The collection was that of a true fashion designer – beautiful silhouettes and details, exceptional fabrics, and a true sense of drama without going overboard. I was quite taken by her line and must admit, I wished I could have seen a lot more of her long, shapely jackets and beaded bodices.

Up next, Carson Case, a conceptual designer who displayed body hugging, Grecian styled dresses and outfits in bold, solid colors. The designer, who looked much like a model herself, tango-ed down the runway, much to all of our delight, in one of her own “fit like a glove” creations. She looked fantastic!

The final show was Richie Rich. His line was a flirty, glitzy look which the models played into, dancing down the runway and tossing glitter at the onlookers. Loud fun music got the crowd dancing and many cheered when Richie Rich roller-skated out at the end of the show.

In between each run of the catwalk we were entertained by Blue Light Lapis (think Cirque de Soleil) as well as tango dancers. The Blue Light Lapis acrobats danced in the air as they wrapped themselves up in hanging fabric, capturing the undivided attention of the party goers.

All in all the event was incredibly entertaining and showed that everything is connected (a permaculture “rule”) – even gardens and fashion, music and food, capitalism and eco-consciousness. I wish Michael Torres and the rest of the foundation my best wishes as they “pay it forward”.

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If you are like the majority of Central Texans, you spent some part of the last weekend in the sun, probably near water.  As some of us fail to reapply sunscreen properly and pay the price, it begs the question:  Why don’t plants sunburn?  They are living.  They are in the sun quite a bit.  They don’t use sunscreen.

Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, so the idea that they would burn from the sun sounds silly.  In actuality, they produce a waxy cuticle on their surface which protects them in many ways, including the sun's unforgiving rays.  It also provides a barrier to pathogens and prevents plants that live in wet climates from getting too wet and plants that live in drier ones from getting too dry.

Keeping your plants hydrated helps them produce this cuticle, made of cutin.  In rare instances, I plant can get ‘burned’ or have bleaching (photo oxidation) when there is not enough moisture to produce chlorophyll, which will make it lose it’s color.

So in other words:  Water your plants, they can protect themselves from this Texas sunshine.  Unfortunately, it’s not so easy for humans!

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Mount Vernon was the first home in North America to incorporate landscape into it's original design plan (according to The Lady Bird Wildflower Center).  Since then, we have taken great time and energy to produce a landscape we are proud of.  In Central Texas, something as simple as grass can require more work than in other, moisture rich parts of the country.  Native Grasses are important for that reason; they grow best here.

The dry, rocky soils of Central Texas are home to a wide variety of native grasses and plants that thrive in the alkaline soil and summer heat. Many of these native plants are popular with homeowners in the area because of the plants' ability to thrive with little care or water.

Some examples of grasses that do well here are:

BUFFALO GRASS (Buchloe dactyloides): a native turfgrass that is the perfect selection for those who don't like to water, fertilize, or mow. It spreads by above-ground runners, has a thin leaf blade, and grows to 6", sending up a thin, male flower about 2 inches above the leaves.

BIG MUHLY (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri): a native Central Texas grass that is often used as an ornamental in home landscape. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall, big muhly likes a sunny location. It has delicate blue-green spikes that produce feathery blossoms in the fall.

MONKEY GRASS or MONDO GRASS (Ophiopogon japonicus): a non-native, adapted grass that does well in shady areas.  It is an evergreen variety and is also available in a dwarf form.  It grows to about 4”-8” in height and spreads nicely as well.

Austin is also home to a great resource for native plants. Besides our city source for native plants, we also have The Lady Bird Wildflower Center. It is not only a great way to see these native plants in their habitat, it also has a native plant database on their website.

Austin is good at 'Going Local', so think about your lawn in that way as well.

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As part of an ongoing series, I will post quick summaries about the elements of Permaculture. For an introduction to it's theory and practice, please visit my previous post "What is Permaculture?".

Permaculture focuses on sustainability, not just environmentally but also economically. The two are entwined – you cannot create systems that are not financially feasible, nor can you consume so much that you run out of resources. Permaculture endorses the reforestation of the earth, reclaiming and restoring the soil, and the ethical use of resources. Education is crucial – we teach people the importance of these issues so that they can make informed decisions, we do not force ideas on them. The advent of the urban farm is a great example of permaculture as it brings food closer to the users and helps restore soils in the area. If designed correctly and maintained sustainably it should benefit the environment as well as the local economy.

Long term sustainability is a key point. We cannot think so short term (whether economically or in regards to the environment) that we end up causing larger issues down the line. Think about what is ecologically and economically viable, meet needs for growth and maintenance produce a surplus so that you can eventually reinvest. Respect people as well as nature. Everything is connected – for humans to thrive we must practice good stewardship of what we are given be that money, land, etc.

This information is taken from my notes which I took at the Austin Permaculture Guild. They also offer free seminars on Wednesday nights which supplement the lessons taught in classes as well as introduce new materials. Enrollment for Fall 2010 classes is open also. If you are interested in learning more about Permaculture or if you want to become a Permaculture designer, I highly suggest visiting their website and/or taking the classes.

Kate Higdon

Landscape Designer and Certified Permaculture Designer

Perfect Lawns and Landworks

Austin, TX

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I have always been playing in the dirt--as a little girl days were spent experimenting with growing random plants, scurrying around the woods behind my childhood home, replanting as I saw fit. Little did I know that I was skirting the principles of permaculture.

A decade later I was introduced to the concept by one of my professors. I ignored it at first but soon the word was popping up all around me as the world began to seriously consider the ecological impact of my childhood misadventures and the extrapolating. I began to research this subject that was both cutting edge and yet deeply rooted in ancient farming and lifestyle practices.

Permaculture is a growing design field based on ancient, time-honored agrarian principles and studies. In the 1970s Bill Mollison and David Holmgrem coined the term based on the idea of creating a permanent agriculture system (PERMA – CULTURE). It is an ethical design system for ecological living that focuses on producing ecologically-minded, environmental self reliance. In today’s eco-political climate many people feel that to live in an “eco-friendly manner” they must restrict themselves and live an austere life. Permaculture focuses on joy and abundance rather than restriction. As you design, think about the long term sustainability goals, look for natural cycles to teach you about life and living abundantly.

Permaculture is not an “all or nothing” landscape design theory, practice or methodology. It is an extension of your personal choices – you quickly learn the basic principles of permaculture then by trial and error you “find what works for you”. After acquainting yourself with the principles you start to study patterns in nature and other’s designs to help fuel your own designs. The relationship between elements is key. For instance, as you design think about the most important item in your garden. If you are a chef focusing on your herbs and vegetables then the veggie garden should be the closest thing to the door. If you are a florist, then your exceptional cut flower garden will be the closest. Many people want to hide their compost bin far away, but if you have to haul fresh compost a long distance back to your garden you will quickly abandon that task. A Wildscape should be placed along the perimeter of your backyard. This attracts wildlife to the back and keeps them away from your veggie garden.

While permaculture has a set of goals and principles, it is a living philosophy. As people learn more about natural patterns in nature, plant relationships, and our own relationship with the world around us, the practices transform to keep up. In our age of mass personal media sites like YouTube, successful (and failed!) experiments are shared for the world to learn from. If you are interested in learning more about this design practice search YouTube for the hundreds of videos showcasing permaculture works. Also, I will be spending the next few weeks outlining the goals and principles while providing practical examples of permaculture at work! So keep tuning in to the PLLW blog!

Kate Higdon

Landscape Designer and Certified Permaculture Designer

Perfect Lawns and Landworks

Austin, TX

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What does your front yard say about you?

As a designer I hear the words "Curb Appeal" at almost every initial consultation meeting I attend. We all know that having a beautiful front yard can be very important. Many homeowners’ associations even have tight regulations about what can and cannot be seen from the street.

What is the goal of the front yard? A lot of that depends on the size of your lot and whether or not you spend time in the front yard. For most people it is their window to the neighborhood and not much more. Frequently the front yard just needs to be tidy: a few evergreen foundation plantings and a trim lawn and you are good to go.

But what if you want more?  Here are a few tips on how to make your front yard, the threshold to your property, look great without too much effort.

1. The bones of the garden

The layout of the garden needs to be clean and simple. Unless you are a fantastic, full time gardener who can ID a plant by the veins on it’s leaf from a yard away, then don’t try to create some extensive cottage garden or prairie with 63 different species of rare native plants. Just get the bones right. Lay out your beds using simple lines (whether curved or straight, follow the rules of geometry).

2. The foundation plantings

First get a basic plant pallet that is made up of structurally beautiful evergreen plants that will look good all year. Dwarf yaupon is an excellent choice because it keeps a fairly uniform shape even if untrimmed and has a delicate and thick leaf structure. Viburnums are wonderful if you need a bit of height. If you want some color, dwarf loropetalum is the way to go. Want to be unique? Then plant a row of soft leaf yucca to add some drama. Dwarf bottle brush is also a fun and different evergreen plant.

3. Fill ‘er up!

After you’ve got the structural basics in place (kind of like architecture…define the rooms and then get the right furniture), then fill in spaces with complimentary textures and colors. This is where you can try new and exciting plants. Look for bold color. Be adventurous. It’s just a plant and fairly inexpensive.  When choosing plants to fill in a bed, look for colors that are across from each other on the color wheel (“complimentary colors”). Orange and blue. Purple and yellow. Green and Red.   These colors “pop” when placed together. If you are just starting out ask for help at the plant nursery. The independent nurseries in Austin all have knowledgeable, helpful staff to assist you.

4. Accessorize.

This is where your personality really comes out. Are you an elegant minimalist? Then plant a few structural cacti in some light colored pots and line the front porch. Over the top? Then go crazy with the multi-colored pots and figurines. Want to recreate a cool Zen garden? Set a few rocks in a bed of gravel and hang a gong in the tree. Trying to recapture the feel of Tuscany? Plant lime trees in terra cotta pots and use pea gravel for mulch. An interesting plant, a smart sculpture, or a funny garden gnome can create a focal point. Hide something special in the flowers (my mom bought me some cast iron fairies that guard the terra cotta pots).  And above all, don’t forget a nice bench or set of chairs to invite people to sip that southern sweet tea and enjoy your reclaimed curb appeal.

Make sure you check your neighborhood rules before transforming your front yard, especially if you decide to create something a bit out of the ordinary. If you are a DIY-er then let your personality shine and do not be afraid to try new things or make mistakes. If you hire a designer, be prepared with examples of gardens you like when you meet with him/her for the first time.

Remember when gardening that it’s just plants and some rock. Experiment. See what develops. If a plant dies, oh well. I’m sure you’ll find a funky succulent or sophisticated yucca just waiting for you at the nursery.

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