The Refuge Permaculture Center
At Tara Farm and Nursery
Tag: observe processes
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Are You Among the Super Smart Earth-Life Folks?
Many, many of you have asked if you should “prune the dead raspberry canes” in your garden. Congratulations – no joke: If you have asked this question you are among the smartest ‘earth life’ folks out there! Why? When you saw the ‘dead’ canes you stopped because something didnt feel quite right about pruning them
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Closer and Closer: Seeds for Spring 2025 -Sainfoin
The raspberry patch is so packed full of plants that it is difficult to open the soil for restoration. And the grape vines have been producing so heavily the last few years it clearly is time to do something other than lay compost or mulch on top of the soil. Some research and some conversation
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New USDA Zone Map: Critical Thinking and Your Observations Are More Important
New USDA Zone Map: GIS and 30 years of data and over 30,000 collection points still requires that you use your elegantly evolved powers of observation. This map is “general” within the millions of years of the planet, and general to your personal portion of the landscape. But it is important for a trend, a
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Squashland… where pollen feeds the workers…
And the fall approaches… the pollinators and I are both preparing for winter. The Squash plants are buzzing, trembling with bee wings. This year will include some Yellow Crooked Neck Squash, a Yellow Winter Squash hybrid (seeds from last year) and firm, large zucchini. I love the hybrid. Easy to carve out and the skin
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Observe Nature: Currant Patch and Bumble Bees
Observe Nature… that’s the class title for a class I’ll be offering later this year. But for now here is such a great example. That heavy spring snow bent the lower branches of the black currant down to the ground. With the thaw, and melt, the snow got heavier and pushed them into the mud…
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Why Natives… when hanging flower pots of petunias are on sale… ugh…
Why Natives? The Wyoming SunflowerHelianthus maximilani or the Perennial Sunflower will soon be gracing everyopen space, every road barrow pit, and my garden. Why my garden? Nothing is like the warm, golden color of these natives. Fast Food for the Road: The flowers feed late pollinators, preparing themfor migration, hibernation or egg-laying. Seeded flower heads
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Permaculture Strategies: Restore, Conserve Resources & Observe Processes ~ Home Vineyard Cover Crop
Wedge shaped tap roots, rhizobium bacteria in alkaline clay soil, rotational grazing by African Geese, restoring the compacted space of The Refuge’s small experimental vineyard. This short video describes the use of appropriate – custom blended – cover crop. There is genius hiding in the warehouse of the local feed and seed store; just have
The Refuge Permaculture Center 