Permaculture is defined as sustainable agriculture. By developing a useful interaction between worms, chickens, garden plants and soil, Harvey and Ellen Ussery have created a uniquely sustainable combination. I was so impressed by their methods that I wanted to share them here. Using what you have on hand to enhance everything else is the essence of good husbandry.
Read in more detail about one homesteader’s permaculture methods, begun by enlarging the greenhouse and adding pens for chickens and worm bins inside. The chickens are involved in creating fluffy, fertile soil, and should also produce body heat which is beneficial to the plants, not to mention the balance in oxygen and carbon dioxide created by moving animals into the greenhouse. The garden plants grown in the greenhouse feed the chickens as well as the homesteader (and while not mentioned, plant scraps can also be used to feed the worms). The worms compost waste and produce castings to enhance the soil as well as providing extra protein for the chickens. This is only the beginning, there are several other benefits to their management approach as well.
My climate is not that cold, so I’m not sure building a greenhouse to include chickens would be as much benefit to me here, but further north it could be especially helpful. I still may try that part of it on a smaller scale. And several of this homesteader’s permaculture methods are already very similar to what I am doing already. Still, my methods can always be improved and I may incorporate several of the other ideas from the article as well. I’m always trying to tweak what we do, and find new ways to get the best use out of what we have.
Overall, I really like the way this article laid out all of the benefits, and it was too good not to share. I hope my readers will enjoy and appreciate it!
wow, nice article…keep share…
Thanks Clarinda, glad you liked it! I plan to keep sharing.
interesting. thanks for sharing.
right on!
Thanks very much for passing along this info! I love to read things like this (permaculture). I had a lot of interesting thoughts while I was reading, and I can’t wait to try putting some of them into action. I tend to get in a hurry and want to do it all, and I know it’s a process, I have to keep reminding myself of that. But I get really excited seeing what other people have done, like what you posted here! Thanks!
That insgiht would have saved us a lot of effort early on. Good to read details on how to integrate various farming methods to benefit of all.
This is an awesome idea – just love it. The more we can make things work together, the easier our work would be and the healthier our food and our planet. Thanks for sharing!
I was suggested this website by my cousin. You’re incredible! Thank you!
The voice of rationality! People need to wake up to sustainable ways of doing agriculture. Good to hear from you.
I found myself nodding my nggoin all the way through.