Inspiration



I'd like to use this post to share some of the ideas and pictures from my recent permaculture course. I hope they will inspire you to learn more and practice some of the principles in your own yard or community. 

 UNCOMMON GROUND

Uncommon Ground is located in Rogers Park. This restaurant is SO cool. They have their own farmer! He takes care of the rooftop gardens, parking lot beds, rooftop beehives and excess veggie oil which is given away for biofuel. The restaurant makes it a point to use mostly locally sourced food and utilizes what they grow on their property as well.

WATERS SCHOOL

One of the places we visited as well was Waters School on the Northside. One amazing parent has transformed a broken-down, worn-out school yard into a beautiful area where both school children and members of the neighbohood work together and build community.



This is part of the school's side of the garden. Classes tend this side during the school year, while community members with plots on the community garden side agree to take care of them over the summer. 



 The beds below follow a sort of "keyhole" bed design allowing for greater edge and winding pathways.

THE NOWICKI'S

Our final destination was to Ron and Vicki Nowicki's house in Downer's Grove. They built their house in the seventies, with the intention of living as sustainably as possible, being sure to include passive solar design and growing as much food as possible on their own property-which meant, God forbid...no lawn!!! I have to say that their property is more beautiful than any meticulously maintained suburban lawn I have ever seen. 

They have a wood burning stove which is what provides for most of their heating needs and are proud to have yearly energy bills which are less than some of us pay in one month. The neatest thing about their home, though, is that you would never know you were living mostly "off the grid." Their home is comfortable and modern, with conveniences we expect in most of our own houses. This special couple definitely has some secrets to share with the rest of us looking to tread a little more lightly these days. Thank you, Ron and Vicki!



Vicki uses a special umbrella to protect and create a beneficial microclimate for new plants.



Herbs, vegetables, native prairie plants and fruit trees all work together to create beneficial relationships for wildlife, the plants and the people who use them.

Part of permaculture is creating relationships that create balance. Whether it be with plants, animals or human relationships, the goal is to have all the separate pieces support each other repeatedly and in multiple ways, providing failsafe systems.