permaculture

[Steve Diver <steved@ncatark.uark.edu>]

A second workshop I'm putting together is on phenology,
the cycles of nature.

In preparation, I have completely updated and expanded
the ATTRA phenology resource list on the web.

Phenology Web Links: (1) Sequence of Bloom, Floral Calendars,
What's in Bloom; (2) Birds, Bees, Insects and Weeds
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/phenology.html

To me, phenology dovetails really nicely with permaculture as
a multi-faceted medium for observing and connecting with nature as
well as monitoring ecological conditions such as pest emergence, etc.
Locally, we planted a roadside flower bed that doubled as a phenology
garden using a geotextile weed barrier to create a super low-maintenance

production bed.  It was 100' long and 10' wide, and included about 15
flats of wildflowers, herbaceous perennials, native prairie plants,
herbs, and annuals.
It was located on a rural, yet heavily traveled black top road.  It
functioned
as a roadside flower bed for beautification and aesthetics, a phenology
garden,
an herbary, a butterfly garden, a seed producing factory, a habitat for
lizards,
and an insectary/refugia for moths, butterflys, and assorted insects, as
well as a demonstration garden all-in-one.  It remained on that site for
5 years.

Steve Diver