Glastonbury Festival - Permaculture Garden

Permaculture Garden

07 Aug 2003

The permaculture garden was set up by a group from Bristol organized by Mike. The garden has been going 10 years and is maintained by many different people. Mike runs permaculture courses here over the summer to set up and maintain the garden.

Permaculture consists of plants grouped together that compliment each other well. What plant goes where is defined by their characteristics of growth and strengths against different "pests" for example. Basically by process of experimentation and existing knowledge, they have worked out which pants get eaten and which survive. As well as the garden here, they also have various projects going in Bristol. These projects include taking over abandoned allotments (that would otherwise be sold off), building children's gardens in schools, and some local food projects.

Here follows an outline of the contents of the garden at the time of the festival. Notes were taken from the labels placed around the garden.

Companion Planting: Permaculture is always looking for beneficial connections. Some plants grow well with each other and can prevent disease and attack by pests. There is a bed that uses strawberries and onions for example. Onions hell stop 'rot' in the strawberries and 'hopefully' deter munching by slugs.

< B>Medicinal Herb Bed: Herbalism is based on relationship, the relationship between plant and human, plant and planet, human and planet. Using herbs in the healing process. The herbs in this bed are a small example of how herbs can be used to heal.

Children's play & shade space: Willow has been bent and interwoven to create a cool spot in the midday sun so the children can chill.

Sleepy time: The herbs in this bed have a wide range of calming and soothing properties and can help t promo te a good night's sleep.

There is naturally a diverse mix of plants...

Elder (honeysuckle family) all parts of the tree can be used. The leaves, flowers and berries are beneficial in cases of cols and flu, as they expel toxins from the body. They are good for trating all catarrhal illnesses, e.g. hay fever and sinusitis.

Mint bed: Many varieties of the same mint family, giving a variety of many different aromas, tastes, and textures.

Calendula: Annual or perennial, the leaves are rich in vitamins A & C. They can be chopped and added to salads or used as seasoningin sops and stews. It is excellent for skin problems, bites, stings, varicose veins, sore eyes and wounds. The plant is also insect deterrent and reduces the soil eelworm population.

Hawthorn: The berries are used to treat heart and circulatory probems.

Love in a mist (buttercup family) attracts beneficial insects including the hover fly which feeds on aphid. The seeds and white flowers are edible, the blue flowers are poisonous. It is used medicinally as an expectorant and is good for coughs, bronchitis and wheezing. This is an excellent plant to have growing in between vegetables as a soil cover.

Broom (pea family) is a nitrogen-fixing plant, the flowers and buds are edible but part of the plants are poisonous. It is used to treat heart and culinary problems.

Lemon Balm (mint family) is effective against agitation, insomnia, irritability and nervous complaints of the stomach and intestines. It is a tonic to the circulatory system and can help lower blood pressure.

Marjoram has a delicate flavour which is excellent as a flavouring in salads, vegetables etc. It is a good general tonic for digestive and respiratory disorders and has an effect on the nervous system. It is not to be taken whilst pregnant as it can promote menstruation. Marjoram can also be used to disinfect beehives.

Evening Primrose

Jack-in-the-hedge has edible leaves in spring.

Plantain (plan tain family) has leaves and aerial parts that can be used to treat respiratory conditions such as chest colds and catarrhal problems. He juice form the leaves can be applied to wounds, as it is an anti-inflammatory and soothing.

Roman Chamomile (d aisy family) has a good anti-inflammatory properties and is calming, both physically and mentally. It is a gentle sedative and is safe for use with children.

Soapwart can be used against bronchitis, dry cough and gall disorder. It can also be add ed to bath water as a remedy for excema and other skin eruptions. For this the roots are used, also the leaves can be used as a soap substitute.

Pot Marigold and Afghan Marigold companion with tomato.

Lime Tree flowers can ma ke an excellent tea which is a gentle sedative. Good for nervous tension, the tea will induce sweating, which reduces colds, flu, headaches and may lower blood pressure.

White Beam (sorbus family) has berries that can be eaten when they are very r ipe, almost rotten.

Borage has flowers and leaves that can be eaten in salads or mixed into summer drinks. The leaves are rich in potassium and calcium. Borage has a calming effect on both damaged tissues and the mind and is mildly sedative. The plant repels insects and blue dye can be obtained from the flowers.

Comphrey (borage family), also known as knitbone, it contains allantoin which stimulates cell renewal. It heals fractures, bruises and sprains. It has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes healing both internally and externally.

Fat Hen (spinach family) is very rich in vitamins and contains more iron than cabbage. It can be cooked as spinach but best not eaten raw, as large amounts can be toxic. The juice of the stems c an soothe sunburn and a poultice of the leaves is helpful for bites, rheumatic joints and swollen feet. The fresh crushed roots are a mild soap substitute.

Feur Feu is good for migraines.

Hawthoorn (rose family) has berries that ar e used t o treat heart and circulatory problems. The berries will move the heart to a normal function in a gentle way. The berries can be eaten, but under guidance if you have a heart or circulatory condition.

Stinging Nettle (nettle family) is ri ch in iron. New and fresh shoots can be made into tea, soup and beer. It improves circulation, lowers blood pressure and expels toxins from the body.

Bean Support: Beans are grown next tot the willows to give support for climbing plants.

The permaculture garden was easily one of the most relaxed (and naturally shaded!) places on site with a group from Bristol running a chai tent. I didn't really get round to checking it out until sunday, but I wish i'd have got there earlier.

If there are any questions or comments regarding this article, please e-mail redfish@thefreeparty.org.uk

Green Fields 2002

Green Fields Rambling Competition

Permaculture Garden

Articles

Related Areas

News Stories

General Links