Raised Bed Gardening the Permaculture Way by Nydia Needham

Are you new to gardening or worried you don’t have enough space to create that bountiful garden you’ve been dreaming of, full of all your favorite fruit and veggies? Do you also want to do your bit to help the planet in the fight against climate change?

Whether your garden is big or small or you are a complete beginner, building raised beds can help you achieve the perfect garden. It offers many benefits over traditional gardening including – improving the drainage, being able to manage the quality of the soil, extending your growing season, along with many more. And you don’t need to be an expert to build and manage raised beds.
People have many different reasons for wanting to grow food but do you realise all the benefits it can have for the planet? We are all aware of the dangers of climate change and the destruction modern agriculture can have on the environment from its carbon emissions. Not only can raised beds provide you with the perfect garden and provide you with an abundance of food, you will also be doing your bit to help in the fight against climate change.

Not only does this book teach you how to build and maintain raised beds, it will teach you how to do this using permaculture principles. The permaculture movement has been around since the 1970’s and its principles focus in using natural systems and processes to get the most out of your garden in the most efficient way possible. The idea is that by building relationships in your garden and feeding the soil, your plants will do most of the work for you – watering, pest control and fertilizing.

Incorporating permaculture principles into your raised beds will not only help you start to live sustainably, it will also help you do this in a way that follows systems found in nature, in a way that benefits the planet.

In ‘Raised Bed Gardening the Permaculture Way’, you’ll learn:

• The main advantages of raised beds;
• The main principles of permaculture;
• How to make use of rainwater
• How to fertilize your soil using natural, organic fertilizers
• Which plants love each other and which can’t stand the sight of each other;
• How to attract beneficial insects to your garden to keep pests away;
• How to maintain your raised beds;
• Some mini permaculture projects to get you going;
• A large plant directory;
• Different raised bed designs

You may think you don’t have the space to start your own garden but raised beds are perfect for small spaces or gardens with no lawn. And it doesn’t need to be overwhelming – start small and build up from there as you gain more confidence and experience.

Even if all you have done is tend to a few tomato plant, you can become an expert gardener; all it takes is a little time, patience and practice. And remember, we have all made mistakes along the way. That’s how we improve and become better gardeners.