‘Phases of Abundance’

I came across this great article written by Bill Mollison for The Permaculture Research Institute about the Phases of Abundance. It’s a quick read, please take a moment to explore the article at https://www.permaculturenews.org/2009/02/09/phases-of-abundance/. In this article, Mr. Mollison recommend following a 3 year plan to establish a permaculture garden on 2-5 acres. This will work great for us because we are trying to establish a permaculture system on our 7 acres and it seems very overwhelming to think about getting enough plants to create the Garden on Eden that we have dreamed of. Establishing steps to mark our progress and listing some achievable goals will help us get there!

Mr. Mollison sets out the plan as follows:

Year 1: Abundance of Species

In this phase, the recommended goal is to plant at least 300 plants, representing 240 species and 70+ varieties. So far this year, we have planted 66 plants, representing 24 varieties. If we add this to the plants we already have installed over the past few years, we are well on our way to achieving the Abundance of Species. In essence, we are making progress! Here is the list so far.

Planted in 2020:

• Paw Paw (4)

• Brown Turkey Fig (4)

• Bing Cherry (2)

• Magic Kiwi (2)

• Honeycrisp Apple (1)

• Fuji Apple (1)

• Persimmon (2)

• Chestnut (2)

• Hazelnut (6)

• Service Berry (2)

• Elderberry (4)

• Concord Grape (2)

• Mars Grape (2)

• Bur Oak (2)

• Red Oak (2)

• Dogwood (4)

• Willow (1)

• High Bush Blueberry (2)

• Plum (1)

• English Hawthorn (4)

Planted (and surviving) in previous years and plants that were already here, keeping in mind that we have not identified all of the trees on the property:

• Osage Orange (5+)

• Black Walnut (4+)

• Raspberry (2)

• Blueberry (4)

Year 2: Abundance of Propagation Material

Over the next year, we will observe how the plants react to their new environment. Hopefully, we have placed them all in the best locations that will allow them to thrive and produce an abundance of propagation material. We will also attempt to learn as much as possible about propagating plants in order to best utilize the plants we have already invested in. Note: We have a lot to learn.

Year 3: Abundance of Yield

By year 3, we are hoping to obtain a great deal of fruit and seed from the trees to further propagate and share with the community.

With these plants, in combination with the annual food garden full of fruits, veggies, and herb, we will be well on our way to having a sustainable food source for our family and maybe allow us to market some of our food products to the community.