Nature 101 – Nature Lab 2017 - En route pour le …...5 NATURE 101 – NATURE LAB 2017 What is permaculture? Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking

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NATURE 101 – NATURE LAB 2017

Contents What is permaculture? ............................................................................................................................ 5

Permaculture Ethics ................................................................................................................................ 5

Permaculture Design Principles ............................................................................................................... 6

The Origin of Permaculture ................................................................................................................. 6

The Design System .............................................................................................................................. 7

The Movement .................................................................................................................................... 7

Permaculture Ethics & Design Principles............................................................................................. 7

Some useful wild plants........................................................................................................................... 9

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) ................................................................................................... 9

Mallow (Malva sylvestris) .............................................................................................................. 10

Nettle (Urtica dioica) ..................................................................................................................... 10

Plantain (Plantago sp.) ................................................................................................................... 11

Willow (Salix sp.) ........................................................................................................................... 12

Useful websites and books for plant uses: .................................................................................... 12

Bees ....................................................................................................................................................... 13

Some facts about bees ...................................................................................................................... 13

The queen bee ............................................................................................................................... 13

Products of the beehive ................................................................................................................ 13

Beehive construction ..................................................................................................................... 13

Permaculture gardening techniaques ................................................................................................... 14

Mulching ............................................................................................................................................ 14

Mixed Culture .................................................................................................................................... 14

Composting Methods ........................................................................................................................ 14

Keyhole garden bed ....................................................................................................................... 14

Wormery........................................................................................................................................ 14

Other tips ........................................................................................................................................... 14

Eco Construction Methods .................................................................................................................... 15

Clay based .......................................................................................................................................... 15

Wood cordage ............................................................................................................................... 15

Daub .............................................................................................................................................. 15

Straw covered in clay..................................................................................................................... 15

Lime based ......................................................................................................................................... 15

Hemp fibre lime mix ...................................................................................................................... 15

Whitewash ..................................................................................................................................... 15

Natural Building – in detail ................................................................................................................ 16

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Natural Building Materials ................................................................................................................. 16

Recommended books ............................................................................................................................ 18

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 19

Appendix A: TOP BAR HIVE Design Plan ............................................................................................ 19

Appendix B: Ideas for making a bird feeder ...................................................................................... 24

Appendix C: Insect Hotel design ideas .............................................................................................. 27

Appendix D: Nettle Soup Recipe ....................................................................................................... 28

Appendix E: Plants as soil indicators ................................................................................................. 29

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Beehive construction workshop (sketch by Maria)

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What is permaculture?

Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and

design principles that feature on this site.

This approach guides us to mimic the patterns and relationships we can find in nature and can be

applied to all aspects of human habitation, from agriculture to ecological building, from appropriate

technology to education and even economics.

By adopting the ethics and applying these principles in our daily life we can make the transition from

being dependent consumers to becoming responsible producers. This journey builds skills and

resilience at home and in our local communities that will help us prepare for an uncertain future with

less available energy.

The techniques and strategies used to apply these principles vary widely depending on the location,

climatic conditions and resources that are available. The methods may differ, but the foundations to

this wholistic approach remain constant. By learning these principles you can acquire valuable thinking

tools that help you become more resilient in an era of change.

Permaculture Ethics

Central to permaculture are the three ethics:

The ethics earth care, people care and fair share form the foundation for permaculture design and are

also found in most traditional societies.

Ethics are culturally evolved mechanisms that regulate self-interest, giving us a better understanding of good and bad outcomes. The greater the power of humans, the more critical ethics become for long-term cultural and biological survival.

https://permacultureprinciples.com/ethics/earthcare/

https://permacultureprinciples.com/ethics/peoplecare/

https://permacultureprinciples.com/ethics/fairshare/

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Permaculture Design Principles

Permaculture ethics are distilled from research into community ethics, learning from cultures that have

existed in relative balance with their environment for much longer than more recent civilisations. This

does not mean that we should ignore the great teachings of modern times, but in the transition to a

sustainable future, we need to consider values and concepts outside the current social norm.

The foundations of permaculture are the ethics (centre) which guide the use of the 12 design

principles, ensuring that they are used in appropriate ways.

These principles are seen as universal, although the methods used to express them will vary greatly

according to the place and situation. They are applicable to our personal, economic, social and political

reorganisation as illustrated in the permaculture flower.

Each principle can be thought of as a door that opens into whole systems thinking, providing a different

perspective that can be understood at varying levels of depth and application.

The Origin of Permaculture

Permaculture is a word originally coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the mid 1970’s to describe an “integrated, evolving system of perennial or self-perpetuating plant and animal species useful to man.”

Mollison, B. and Holmgren, D. Permaculture One published by Corgi 1978 and since published in 7 languages (now out of print).

https://permacultureprinciples.com/ethics/

https://permacultureprinciples.com/flower/

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The Design System

More precisely permaculture is a “design system based on ecological principles” (see below) which provides the organising framework for implementing the above vision. In this more limited, but important sense it draws together the diverse skills and ways of living which need to be rediscovered and developed to empower us to move from being dependent consumers to becoming responsible producers.

In this sense, permaculture is not the landscape, or even the skills of organic gardening, sustainable farming, energy efficient building or eco-village development as such, but can be used to design, establish, manage and improve these and all other efforts made by individuals, households and communities towards a sustainable future.

The Movement

Permaculture is also a worldwide network and movement of individuals and groups working in both rich and poor countries on all continents. Largely unsupported by government or business, these people are contributing to a sustainable future by reorganising their lives and work around permaculture design principles. In this way they are creating small local changes but ones which are directly and indirectly influencing action in the wider environment, organic agriculture, appropriate technology, communities and other movements for a sustainable world. After 30 years Permaculture may rank as one of Australia’s most significant “intellectual exports”.

Permaculture Ethics & Design Principles

In this presentation, David Holmgren explains permaculture ethics and design principles as thinking tools for creatively responding to the energy descent future on a limited planet. Following a brief but insightful coverage of the three ethics…

https://www.holmgren.com.au/about-permaculture/permaculture-network/

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Interesting fact

The permaculture garden acts like a complete ecosystem itself, combining edible landscaping, native plant cultivation and wildlife inclusive gardening.

Different plants can serve different purposes such as containing pest issues, improving soil quality and human consumption, all this while being able to harmonise and sustain one another.

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Some useful wild plants Be very careful when using wild plants to eat or for health. There exist plants which are toxic for human

consumption, and many plants can easily be confused and some edible plants may be similar to those

which are harmful, or have harmful parts. Also, be certain sure of your identification and the

information sources.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Mælkebøtte - pissenlit - dente di

leone - dente de leão - diente de león

Very common plant in most lawns,

pathsides, gardens and fields.

Dandelions are distinguished by

having all of the following

characteristics – uniform yellow

flower (see picture) or head of seeds;

hollow stem with milky latex; and

tooth shaped leaves.

Edible: the leaves and flowers can be

eaten raw as they are in salads. Young

leaves are the best. Older leaves can be

blanched briefly in boiling water to remove

their bitterness. The root is especially bitter and some people claim to make

coffee from it.

Recipe: Japanese fried dandelion roots

Ingredients: 2-3 medium dandelion roots, washed (peeled if you

want); olive oil; soya sauce/tamari

Finely chop and fry the dandelion roots in olive oil for 3 minutes.

Add 1-2 table spoons of soya sauce and stir. Continue to fry

for another 2 minutes until the sauce evaporates and it

begins to stick. Allow to cool before tasting. The

bitterness of the dandelion roots are removed by the

frying and the saltiness of the soya sauce.

Properties: dandelions are very bitter and may help digestion.

They also have a diuretic effect which works on the kidneys,

which gives them many of their common names, such as piss-

in-beds.

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Mallow (Malva sylvestris) Katost - mauve - malva - malva – malva

Species in this family include the marsh mallow

which was the original ingredient in Marshmallow

sweets (now gelatine is used instead). Most species

in this family have similar properties.

Edible: The young leaves and stems are eaten in

salads. They have a sweet taste and mucilaginous

texture. Clean them carefully, removing any brown

patches. The leaves, chopped finely, can be used in

soups too. The flowers can decorate a salad.

Properties: the leaves and flowers emit a mucilage

when chewed which is sometimes used to soothe a

sore throat.

Nettle (Urtica dioica) Brændenælde - ortie – ortica - urtiga - ortiga

These plants can sting you. Best to gather them with

gloves.

Edible: The stinging nettle can be eaten in early spring

before it comes into flower. The leaves are picked and

rolled or crushed to remove the sting. The leaves can

also be used to make a pleasant tisane or used to

make nettle soup (recipe in appendix A). In cooking,

the taste of nettles combines well with nutmeg,

shallots and ground pepper. Some people make a

beer from the leaves

Properties: Nettles are a good source of protein,

vitamin C and Iron. Some people consider them useful

for arthritis.

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Plantain (Plantago sp.) Vejbred - plantain - piantaggine - Língua de ovelha - llantén

There are two common forms with similar

taste and properties:

Narrow leaved Plantain – P. lanceolate

Greater Plantain – P. major

Edible: the leaves are eaten, they have

a mushroom taste and can even be

used in a mushroom soup. The ribs can

be removed from the narrow leaved

species to make it more pleasant in

salads. They can be nice in a salad

Uses: leaves of both species,

especially the narrow leaved,

are astringent and can be good

for open cuts. They have a

cooling property good for

sunburn and they are also very

good for most bites and stings

to relieve the burning sensation

of nettle for example.

To use the leaves, the leaves are

crushed and rubbed between

the hands/fingers until some

juice comes out – this juice is

then applied to the cut, burn or

sting to relieve it. An alternative

method is the chew the leaves for a few

moments and apply the mixture to the site.

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Willow (Salix sp.) Pil - saule - salice - salgueiro – sauce

Most willow have similar properties. Some willows are difficult

to distinguish. The following properties are found in the

weeping, white, crack and goat willows. Willow was

apparently the original source of the aspirin compound now

synthesised in pharmaceuticals.

Properties: The bark especially is anodyne, useful for pains

(especially headaches) and maybe fever. Best consumed as a

tea. A tea can be made of the leaves for a calming effect, to

help sleep in the case of nervousness. May cause nausea.

Avoid using willow if pregnant!

Useful websites and books for plant uses: Plants For A Future: www.pfaf.net

Burrows, Ian La Nature Comestible (2005) delachaux et niestlé

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Bees Traditional/industrial beekeeping is known for not respecting the wellbeing of bee colonies. For

example, some beekeepers add sugar to the nest to improve profit – this may impact the health of the

bees.

In permaculture, a common type of hive used is a so called “top-bar hive”. This kind of beehive allows

the bees to build and organise the nest as they naturally would, while still giving enough space for the

beekeeper to freely observe and manoeuvre the hive.

Some facts about bees Each bee lives for around 45 days, although it is longer in winter, while changing its role in the

beehive every week in the following order: nurse, air conditioner, builder, security guard,

gatherer

The guards use their sting to protect the hive, even though this can cost them their life.

The bees will only gather pollen from one type of flower by day so as to not mix the types of

pollen. This also has the effect for example that dandelion pollen doesn’t end up on daisies.

A beehive population can consist of three to thirty thousand bees. The bees instinctively

reduce their numbers in the winter to conserve resources.

Bees are capable of constructing a honeycomb structure of about 15cm² in 2 hours!

The last plant to provide nectar and pollen in the autumn is ivy. After this, the bees consume

what honey they have stored in their hive until spring comes back.

In recent times, the Asian hornet was accidentally introduced into Europe. It feeds on honey

and honeybee colonies, posing a threat to European honeybees.

The queen bee

Common practice of bee keepers is to clip the wings of the queen so she will not leave (swarm).

Queen bees are regular female bees who have been raised on royal jelly.

Queens, once fertilised, lay three to eight thousand eggs per day, choosing which ones to

fertilise (to choose how many males). There is only one queen per hive. When the queen is

getting old, or the population too big and ready to split to found a new hive, several queens

are bred – the strongest of them will lead the new colony or succeed the old queen.

Normally a queen bee can live up to 6 years, but in recent times, perhaps due to pollution,

they tend to live only about 4 years.

Products of the beehive

Raw beeswax can be made into candles, used in cosmetics and can also be used as a starting

structure for a new hive.

Honey itself has been used for many things besides consumption, including direct application

to burnt skin – a practice which is beginning to be accepted in hospitals. This further increases

the demand for honey, thereby further promoting bee exploitation.

Other beehive products include: Propylis, royal jelly, pollen and venom (used in bee therapy).

Beehive construction For making bee hives, the orientation of the hive is very important (south east facing door is best), as

is the situation - the bees like to have a nearby water source. If the hive is located near a cornfield the

bees can go to collect the water that collects between the sheath and stem of the corn; however this

can be very harmful for the bees if the corn has been treated with chemicals.

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Permaculture gardening techniaques

Mulching Mulching keeps the moisture in the soil, thereby reducing the need for watering. It also degrades

slowly, feeding the plants, and reduces weed growth. It can even be done with cardboard which keeps

the humidity at the surface thereby allowing worms to come up to the surface without risk.

Mixed Culture Plants may be combined with ‘’companions’’ to improve health and production. Also, by growing a

variety and not just many of one plant, you can inhibit disease spread. Even weeds can be left to grow,

in moderation, as often they have an important role. For example, thistles and docks (Rumex spp.)

indicate the soil is too compact and they may work to de-compact it over several years.

Composting Methods

Keyhole garden bed This concept is to construct small raised beds in the shape of a keyhole

(see image opposite). The centre contains a small compost area which

allow the nutrients to flow out into the soil around to nourish the

plants. When and if this bed needs to be watered, the watering should

be done directly into the centre of the compost heap, so that the

nutrients are carried out, but also to encourage the roots to develop

deeply and not superficially, as tends to happen in conventional

practice where watering is top down.

There is a sector of the circle which is not used for bed, this allows

access to the garden and especially the compost. It is more essential

for bigger installations.

Wormery

Other tips It could be good to consider to plant on a mound with a variety of crops to prevent disease spread,

while optimising space. These can be rotated yearly to optimise soil fertility.

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Eco Construction Methods

Clay based To obtain the clay, clay from the ground (for example after excavation) can be allowed to dry, at least

partially, then pounded until it forms a dust which is then filtered to remove the stones. This powder

is mixed with water (and straw, if making daub) to the desired consistency. The resultant mixture is

then used in one of the following methods.

Wood cordage This method consists of building with clay in between logs placed horizontally in the wall such that

from each side you can only see the cut face of the log.

Daub A mixture of clay and straw. The clay binds the mixture, while the straw gives strength and reduces the

risk of cracking.

Straw covered in clay This is similar to straw bale house building, but the surface of the straw is plastered with clay.

Lime based

Hemp fibre lime mix A combination of hemp fibres and lime results in a material which can be used to plaster internal

surfaces of buildings to give a pleasant texture and a warm feeling. Should you further wish to paint

this, you must be careful to use the right kind of paint so as not to loose the properties confered by

the hemp fibres.

Interesting fact

This is sometimes called ‘’hempcrete’’, which uses industrial hemp. Industrial hemp only takes around

4 months to grow and one acre is able to provide as much paper as 4.1 acres of trees. This makes it a

sustainable, non-toxic and resistant biological building material.

Whitewash A traditional and cheap mix of lime and pigments, combined with water, less water makes a kind of

soft paste (limewater), more water is added to make a kind of milky consistency (milk of lime). The

lime solidifies over a few days due to reaction with air – resulting in a calcium carbonate finish.

Whitewash is suitable for most surfaces. It should have the right amount of water to allow it to stick

to the surface until it dries out. More information can be found on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limewater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewash

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limewater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewash

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Natural Building – in detail Eco-construction or green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to

both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-

efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation,

maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the

architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and

complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.[The

common objective of green buildings is to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on

human health and the natural environment by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use

of natural materials that are available locally. Other related topics include sustainable design and green

architecture. Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present generations withou

Natural Building Materials Choosing natural building materials helps reduce the use of man-made materials. Additionally, it also

minimizes the use of products that require a great deal of energy during manufacture and transport.

The focus is on simple construction methods that do no further damage to the environment, consume

fossil fuel and are not sustainable.

Natural Building Materials

1. Adobe - Adobe continues to be one of the oldest building materials that remains in use to the

present day. Adobe is made up of dirt mixed with water, and sometimes other fibers as well, to add

additional strength. It is then sun-dried into the desired shape - which is most often like bricks - that

are then stacked with a mud mortar in order to form a wall.

2. Straw Bale - Straw bale building has become almost mainstream in the Southwestern parts of

the United States. Straw is a renewable resource with excellent insulation properties that has the

added benefit of being fire-resistant. Straw bale is also used as infill for timber frame building and also

in a load bearing capacity to carry the weight of the roof.

3. Cob - Cob is a sustainable material that can be traced back to ancient times and is a multi-

faceted green building material. Cob structures are made with clay or sand, local earth and with added

fibers like straw. It is all then made into a stiff mud that is formed into cobs. The materials are then

mixed together and applied over a concrete or stone foundation.

4. Wood - Wood continues to be one of the most commonly used building materials. However,

for natural building purposes, the wood should be renewable and sustainably harvested. Wood is also

used for frames, trim and flooring.

5. Cord wood - Cord wood is similar to what is considered firewood. Using cord wood is resource-

efficient because this type of wood may not have any other value.

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6. Bamboo - is fast-growing and strong for its weight. The sustainable material is used in many

building applications. This includes a concrete replacement for rebars and as pins for straw bale

building.

7. Masonry - is also an ancient building material and includes brick and stone. Brick and stone are

used for foundations, floors, walls, walkways and landscaping.

8. Earth bags - are also referred to as sandbags. Long used by the military, they provide a strong

protective barrier, especially against flooding. The success of using earth bags in this capacity has made

them useful in a variety of building applications. This includes the building of massive, substantial walls

that resist severe weather - as well as bombs and bullets.

9. Earth - is used to construct different types of homes. A rammed earth technique, used since

ancient times, is made up mostly of clay and sand material, then tamped or compressed into place -

usually creating a flat vertical surface. The poured earth construction technique uses Portland cement

as a binder and is then mixed and formed like concrete. The poured earth technique uses ordinary soil

that is required to meet certain specifications.

10. Reclaimed Materials - help reduce building waste. Modern day construction causes massive

amounts of waste during the building process. Building waste reclaimed includes salvaged wood,

doors, windows, piping, insulation and chunks of concrete. By using the reclaimed waste in the building

process, it serves as a means of reducing the environmental impact on society.

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Recommended books Here is a list of books recommended by participants during the Nature Lab 2017 event:

The more beautiful world our hearts know is possible by Charles Eisenstein

Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone

Living Non Violent Communication by Marshal Rosenberg

Okupada (only in Spanish) by Care Santos

Ser feliz en Alaska (only in Spanish?) by Rafael Sant Andreu

Sonrisa Eterna (only in Spanish?) by Maria Dolores Serrano

Strength to Love by Martin Luther King

Baltasar and Blimunda by José Saramago

Vegan by Marie Laforêt

The Ringing Cedars of Russia by Vladimir Megré

Mycellia Running by Paul Stametts

Farhenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marques

Siddharta by Herman Hesse

1984 by George Orwell

A fairy tale about Brittany “Contes et legends du pays breton” (only in French) by Yann Brekilien

Eating Animals by Jonathan Saffron Foer

La nuit des temps by Barjavel

Start up guide by startupeverywhere – guides for different cities around the world

Blindness by José Saramago

Freaks squeele by Florent Maudoux

Hunter X Hunter by Togashi

Lastman by Balak and others

We the people by John Buck

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Appendices

Appendix A: TOP BAR HIVE Design Plan

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23


24


Appendix B: Ideas for making a bird feeder

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26


27


Appendix C: Insect Hotel design ideas

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Appendix D: Nettle Soup Recipe Fresh, raw stinging nettles sting! Wear protective gloves when handling them, until after they are

blanched. You can easily make this soup without the cream if you are avoiding dairy.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Serves: Serves 4

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 large shopping bag of fresh nettle tops

Salt

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 teaspoon butter

1/2 cup chopped shallots

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 pound of yukon gold or russet potatoes,

peeled and chopped

4 cups chicken stock

1 to 2 cups of water

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon dried thyme (or a couple sprigs of fresh thyme)

Freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

2 to 3 Tbsp of heavy whipping cream

METHOD

Blanch the nettles: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.

Wearing protective gloves, transfer the nettle tops into the boiling water. Blanch for 2 minutes. Use

tongs to lift the wilted blanched nettles out of the pot and transfer to the bowl of ice water to shock

them. Strain in a colander.

Cut away and discard any large stems from the nettles. (This should be easier to do now that the nettle

stingers have lost their sting due to the blanching.) You should have 3 to 4 cups of blanched tender

nettle tops and leaves for this recipe. Any blanched nettles not used at this point can be frozen for

future use. 2 Sauté the shallots and celery: In a 6 quart soup pot, heat the olive oil and butter on

medium heat. Add the chopped shallots and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 3 Add

potatoes, stock, bay leaf, thyme: Add the chopped potatoes, the chicken stock, bay leaf, and thyme. If

using unsalted or low sodium stock, add one teaspoon of salt. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 5

minutes. 4 Chop blanched nettles, add to soup pot, add water, simmer: Roughly chop the blanched

nettles. Add 3 to 4 cups of the chopped blanched nettles to the pot. Add enough water to just cover

the nettles and potatoes, 1 to 2 cups. Return to a simmer and simmer for 15 minutes or until the

potatoes are soft and the nettles tender. 5 Purée the soup: Remove the bay leaves (and thyme sprigs

if using) from the pot. Using an immersion blender or working in batches with a standing blender,

purée. Return to the pot and take off the heat. 6 Adjust seasonings, add lemon juice, add cream: Add

salt to taste. Depending on the saltiness of the stock you are using, you may need to add at least a

teaspoon or more to the soup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Add lemon juice.

Right before serving, swirl in the cream. Adjust seasonings to taste. Sprinkle with black pepper and

garnish with a sprig of fresh mint to serve.

From Simply Recipes available at: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nettle_soup/

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nettle_soup/

29


Appendix E: Plants as soil indicators The following table indicates what soil types are indicated by what weeds that tend to grow there.

Soil Type Plant Indicators

Slightly Acid

Daisy (Bellis perennis)

Dock (Rumex spp.)

Horsetail (Equisetum spp.)

Knotgrass (Polyganum aviculare)

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

Very Acid

Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)

Hawkweed (Hieracium spp)

Horsetails (Equisetum spp)

Knapweed (Centaurea spp)

Slaty Soil

Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Glasswort/Marsh Smaphire

Chenopodiaceae (Salsola Kali)

Sea Plantain (Plantago maritimo)

Sea Wormwood (Aretemisia maritama)

Hard Plan Wild Mustard and related Cruciferae

Weed of Cultivation Chickweed (Stellaria media),

Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium)

Plantains (Plantago spp.)

Stinging Nettle (Urtica urens)

Dry Soils

Argimony (Agrimonia Eupatoria)

Bush Broom (Cystisus scoparius)

Dyers Greenwood/Broom (Genista Tinctoria)

Mustard, Common Speedwell (Veronica officinalis)

Rabbit’s Foot Clover (Yello Clover)

Sweet Clover (Trifolium)

Spurge (Euphorbia)

Silvery Cinquefoil

Thistle.

Sandy Soils

Broom(Cystisus scoparius)

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)

Restharrow (Ononis arvensis)

Wormwood (Artemisia)

Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

Alkaline Soils Wormwood (Artemisia)

Lime Stone Soils

Penny Cress

Field Madder (Rubia tinctorum)

Treacle Mustard (Erysimum cheranthoides)

Yellow Chamomile (Anthemis tintoria)

Absence of Lime Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Wild Pansy/Heartsease (Viola tricolor)

Garden Sorrel (Rumex)

Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Broom

Potassium Rich Soils

Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)

Wormwood (Artemesia)

Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Fumitory (Fumaris officinalis)

Red Clover

Gypsum Common Burdock (Arctium lappa) Available at: https://www.permaculturenews.org/resources_files/pdc_info/Plants%20as%20Soil%20Indicators.doc

https://www.permaculturenews.org/resources_files/pdc_info/Plants%20as%20Soil%20Indicators.doc

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Nature 101 – Nature Lab 2017 - En route pour le …...5 NATURE 101 – NATURE LAB 2017 What is permaculture? Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking