Final ProjectThe Palmertree Homestead

The Palmertree Homestead

Goals ArticulationThe Palmertree homestead strives to produce enough food, year round, for a family of six. On 1/10th of an acre, we raise our own broiler and layer chickens and utilize chicken tractors on our gardens for tillage and composting. We have our blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in the front yard and honeybees surrounded by flowers in the back with the greenhouse and chickens. The entirety of our front yard is dedicated to growing food with of five, large double dug raised beds, trellises an herb garden and rainwater collection barrels are scattered throughout for irrigation purposes and to feed our animals. We know that 100% sustainability is a lofty goal but we try our best to do just that so we can stay healthy and happy!

Site AnalysisAssessing the current landscape and the effects that certain structures have on one another was crucial in the designing process. Using the base map I created from google earth allowed me to have proper measurements for elements that I wanted to include, adjust, or completely get rid of. Seeing how much sun certain areas of my home get throughout the year played a big part in how certain types of food will be grown to provide for the family and where raised beds should be placed. The way that was exits and enters the land helped me to decide where to place my rainwater collection barrels to maximize their capabilities to water crops and feed my chickens. Based off my initial ideas for this property, I wanted to include goats, I found that this would be increasingly difficult and I would need to cut down on the number of raised beds to give them enough room to roam, I instead changed quite a few aspects such as moving the bee hive to the back yard and increasing the amount of space dedicated to chickens. Goats are also incredibly mischievous and pose a lot of potential threats in the backyard such as, knocking down a beehive (yikes) and annoying surrounding neighbors. Overall, without this assessment I think some of my goals would have been unachievable and really caused me to get to understand my land better.

1. Raised Bed Tomatoes, Basil, Carrots, Garlic2. Raised Bed Okra, Eggplant, Peppers3. Raised Bed Zucchini & Squash4. 6 Trellis 5 Snap Beans Trellis 1 Cucumber Trellis 3 Sweet Potato Barrels5. 2 Raised Beds, Corn w/peas6. Dwarf Plum Tree7. 2 Blueberry Bushes 2 Raspberry Bushes 2 Blackberry Bushes8. Rainwater Barrels x49. Rainwater Barrels x3

Front yard

Herbs: Rosemary, lavender, oregano, mint, thyme, sage.

Front yard SummaryIn the front yard of my home, the biggest changes were the removal of shrubs along the front of the house and the additions of 6 berry bushes and a dwarf plum tree near the street. I found that I could realistically only include one type of fruit tree and my family would make better use of plums rather than apples. I also incorporated the planting of many different types of flowers to attract the bees from the backyard and beneficial insects to protect my crops. You can see the different colors surrounding the entire front yard, they consist of: on the southwest side of the yard (behind the plum tree), planted by height, Echinacea, bee balm and alpine strawberries, along the street is borage and marigold, along the driveway is just marigolds, and the lightly shaded red in the middle of the yard is red and yellow clover for chickens to graze over. The circular trellises in the northeast corner of the yard seemed like a better idea to maximize space to grow snap beans, and sweet potatoes in barrels to keep them contained instead of sprawling and potentially spilling into the neighbors yard.

1. Raised Bed Lettuce, Carrots, Garlic, Onions2. Raised Bed, Potatoes3. Raised Bed, Potatoes4. Raised Bed Spinach, Kale, Garlic5. Raised Bed Dill, Broccoli, Cauliflower6. Top Bar Beehive7. Workshop8. Chicken House9. Greenhouse10. Compost Containers x411. Rainwater Barrels x412. Rainwater Barrels x4

Backyard

Backyard Summary

I found a unique method of feeding chickens almost entirely on scraps and compost so I went with that idea when I decided on this layout. One quarter of the yard, which may be hard to see, is completely enclosed by chicken wire, even on the top. This section includes compost piles that are built from pallets that the chickens always have access to, a chicken house where they can sleep and lay eggs, my workshop and a greenhouse. The rainwater barrels in this section will be sectioned off because I was worried that the chickens may perch on them and put their valuable poo somewhere it doesn’t need to be. The crops being grown in the raised beds are all crops that do not need full sun and I found that I will need to trim the giant oak tree back considerably and remove a tree along the eastern fence to bring in some sunshine. Along the western fence, around the big oak, there are more flowers that would be beneficial for the bees located in the middle of the patio, those flowers are a combo of chamomile, marigolds, alpine strawberries and jasmine climbing the chicken wire in the northwest corner (not sure if that will work due to the chickens).

Permaculture Principles

1. Using and Value DiversityOne thing I never really thought of when creating a homestead but now value it perhaps more so than anything else is the use of beneficial insects and animals. Attracting the insects with crops and flowers isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it provides sustenance to some other kind of species that will benefit the environment. I welcome insects that want to eat my crops, I’ll feed them, and feed them to my chickens!

2. Produce No WasteCompost is one thing that has always excited me because I love to see the things I cannot use anymore be put to good use. I designed the chickens environment around eating all of our scraps and continually breaking down our waste into a state where it can be used in the gardens to produce our food and the scraps for the chickens again. I now look at water in a different light when I see it rain and think of all the ways that I can keep it for better use. Rainwater barrels are a great way to do just that and I love knowing that this valuable resource isn’t going down the drain.

ConclusionsOur family goal of being 100% sustainable isn’t quite possible on this rental property the way it sits. The modifications that I suggest would bring us closer to that but I believe there would need to be some major landscaping to allow for more crops and livestock. Overall I am amazed at what can be done in such a little amount of space and believe everyone should take advantage of what they are given to better their health and happiness. My larger than average family is a big reason this land isn’t perfect for us, we need a little more room. That being said, a bartering system in this neighborhood alone would have a lot of potential because everyone has a unique living arrangement that could prove to be beneficial for more people than just the family. If everyone used these techniques to get the most out of their lands food producing capabilities I think the worlds food situation would be completely different than what it is today.