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Adam Grubb outlines the Australian invention that is transforming the way people garden in a process known as permablitz. |
| Adam was involved in the very first permablitz back in 2006. He also completed a two week permaculture course which a colleague, Dan Palmer, described as his most relevant learning experience - no mean line from a psychologist with book deals in New York. It took place in a community of people in Melbourne’s southern suburbs which consisted of Central and South Americans who would get together socially. Since Dan was already working with this community it was thought they would benefit from a permablitz. The very first one took place in the backyard of a tiny council flat in Dandenong. The transformation of Vilma’s backyard was followed by two more from that community, all celebrated with partying and salsa dancing.
All images are from Permablitz 40 in Eltham (April 2008).
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| Above: Adam Grubb and Designer Erin constructing a functional spillway for the frog pond.
Left: Dan Palmer, Designer Erin, Brent and Adam
Permablitzes are always designed between the owner and someone with skills in designing permaculture, such as recent participants in accredited permaculture design courses. This process ensures that what is achieved is matches the skills, time and budgetary constraints of the owner.
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| Each permablitz also includes workshops which may focus on outdoor skills or kitchen skills and each is aimed at achieving a low maintenance, highly productive and sustainable garden. Chooks are integrated into some permablitz gardens, acting as pest control for the fruit trees, disease control when they eat fallen fruit, weed control when they eat those seeds as well as providing fertiliser for the fruit trees from their droppings and free range eggs for the owners.
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| Two of the workshops held on the day were Catherine’s newpaper pots workshop (above) and a pond making workshop (left) lead by designer, Erin.
Lawns, which take a lot of maintenance and produce nothing, are not a feature of permablitzes. Items that are used more often, such as vegetable gardens, are placed close to the house, rather than banished to a remote corner. Deciduous fruit trees or grape vines are placed on western walls to provide shade in summer and lower house temperatures.
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| Pest control is a factor in choosing plants as is the planting of legumes to introduce natural nitrogen into soils, thus saving on fertiliser. People who want a permablitz have to attend three before that can happen. This way they come to the process fully aware of the environmental reasons for many of the decisions and have the skills to assist in their own permablitz.
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| Each one is designed to produce food, providing much of the nutrition that the owners need. Home grown food can be produced with far less greenhouse emissions and water than conventional agriculture. Despite not being audited a small garden (1/14 acre) can produce all of the fresh greens and most of the vegetables for most of the year for the occupants. A quarter acre block then would produce an excess of what is needed in fresh fruit and vegetables.
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| There are some food products that are generally not worth growing, such as grains, so complete self-sufficiency is not the aim of a permablitz.
Permablitz Melbourne is an informal collection of individuals, organised through the web page (www.permablitz.com), and mailing lists. It is 100% voluntary so no money is involved as the costs are borne by the hosts.
Because of this unique way of working there is little administration and no overheads.
It works, as does a permablitz.
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| Above, left and below: A series of images taken six months later at the same site.
They illustrate several of the objectives of the permablitz movement.
One is to produce edible gardens that are functional even on a typical suburban backyard.
A second is to to work with nature to create places of beauty that encourage and support biodiversity.
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| These images represent a small selection from Permablitz #40 at Eltham and have been provided by Permablitz Melbourne.
Many more images of this and other permablitzes can be viewed on their website together with detailed information about their activities.
Text: V.B. February 2010
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