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Permablitz at Quilombo Paixao!
November 14 @ 12:00 pm
Please come out to actively learn how to build a perennial food garden. Many studies have found that the best way to learn is by doing. You along with many other members of the Central Texas community will be building this system together. It will be a living example for future residents and visitors alike of the permaculture community Quilombo Paixao. Let's do this!
The schedule of this blitz is generally as follows:
Saturday 12/14
9am-9:45am – Introduction to the purpose of the Permablitz and description of the berm/swale system
9:45-10am – Wrap up of site design/layout (Main site design is already mostly completed before the start of each blitz), demonstration of why the design was made and how to execute properly
10am-10:15am – Roles assigned for each volunteer
10:15am-12:30pm – Initial dig out of design layout for the berm/swale system
12:30pm-1:30pm – Break for Lunch
1:30pm-2pm – Introduction to permaculture and permaculture in practice
2pm-5:00pm – Completion of dig out for the berm/swale system
Sunday 12/15
9am-9:45am – Lesson on native plants and soil amendments
9:45am-10am – Wrap up of anything unfinished from Saturday and volunteer roles assigned
10am-12:30pm – Initial layout of plants (native and cultivar fruit and nut trees, N fixing farmer's trees, perennial herbs and vegetables, and cover crops) for the site design
12:30pm-1:30pm – Break for Lunch
1:30pm-2pm – Lesson about drip irrigation lines
2pm-5:00pm – Completion of planting and mulching for both the berm and swale, layout of irrigation system
This is a general schedule and is subject to change. Be prepared for hard work/digging on Saturday and more laid back planting work on Sunday. We will provide many tools for this event but feel free to bring your own favorite tools(marked) to work with. Tools to keep in mind to bring along are shovels, rakes, pick axes, rock bars, hand tools/gardening tools, and gloves. There will be water and snacks provided but be sure to bring a sack lunch or money to eat at one of the surrounding restaurants. Be prepared with sunscreen, a sun hat, proper work attire, and a canteen filled with ice water. We also highly encourage donations to keep these blitzes funded of $20 but donations are optional. Any help given whether that be volunteer time or monetary funding is always greatly appreciated!
This permablitz is the third lined up for our fall locations. It is the 7th permablitz that has been hosted by the Austin Permaculture Guild. These events focus on helping the Austin and surrounding area community learn how to plot out and implement one of the key pieces in a well executed permaculture design, the berm/swale system.
If you have never heard of a berm/swale system it is essentially a long term perennial food garden situated on top of a large mound (a berm) with a equal or larger size ditch (swale) dug in front of it. Ideally this pair is plotted out along the contour of the land. When plotted out this way the entire berm and swale is running perpendicular to the natural flow of water. When done this way the swale that is in front of it can effectively fill up with water. When any other type of bed is built usually contour is not a factor in the design and water as a very precious resource here in Central Texas runs straight off of the property. Generally during a large rain event 96% of water runs off of the property. That leaves only 6% to actually soak into the land. So, this berm/swale system is a very effective example of passive water catchment. It evens catches it in such a manner where it is used in the place needed most, the garden bed!
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Please see our listing of past Permablitzes as well as current even info on the Austin Progressive Calendar page Facebook, or on our feature page with the Austin Permaculture Guild.
We are excited to see everyone out here for this community building and supporting permaculture event. Feel free to contact the admin for this event at monroe DOT taelor AT gmail DOT com for any questions.
