Many homesteaders and farmers are looking beyond mono-crop agriculture, in favor of more diverse and sustainable ways to grow food. Permaculture (nature-inspired planting) can turn our gardens into thriving ecosystems with healthier soil, more biodiversity, more nutritious produce, and more resilient plants. Instead of overwhelming ourselves with the goal of creating a food forest right away, let’s look at some simple, yet impactful steps we can take to guide our gardens back to nature.

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is the practice of growing edible (or food supportive) plants in a way that mimics nature. You may have heard a few other terms used as this practice grows: agroforestry, food forests, forest gardens, etc. The goal behind permaculture is to create a balanced 3-dimensional ecosystem that works and grows together. Permaculture looks at growth in layers:

• Roots and soil (Root crops that break up compacted soil)
• Ground cover (Living mulches to retain moisture and prevent weeds)
• Herb and small plants (Perennial vegetables and herbs)
• Shrubs (Berries, medicinal herbs)
• Small trees (Smaller fruit trees)
• Vines and canes (Climbing plants to maximize vertical space)
• Tall trees (Large fruit and nut trees)

Looking at the blank canvas of a bare field, or a traditionally organized garden, it can feel daunting to overhaul the way you grow to accommodate these layers. So let’s start with some small, manageable steps:

1. Test and amend your soil
2. Select your plants
3. Start small with a mini food forest
4. Add/Improve each year

First, Test and Build Soil Health

Testing your soil before planting is an important step to find out if you have pH problems, or macro/micro nutrient deficiencies. Soil testing does not need to be expensive, confusing, or take a long time. Redmond’s Soil Test Kit gives you easy-to-understand results in 6-8 days, plus simple amendment instructions tailored to your exact needs.

The microbial life in your soil is the first crop you should invest in if you want a naturally healthy garden. Gardening practices of the past focused on short term, superficial gains with heavy chemical fertilizers, instead of building long term soil health.

Amend your soil with:

• Sea minerals: to improve electrical conductivity (EC) and give electrolytes to soil based organisms.
• Humates: to increase organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and improve soil structure.
• Volcanic minerals: to help your soil better store nutrients and moisture when your plants need it most.
• Click to dive deeper into how to measure soil fertility with EC and CEC

Redmond Mineralyte is the perfect amendment to wake your soil up, and support the colonies and organisms needed to break down nutrients into forms your plants can use. 

• Learn more about the ingredients in Mineralyte and how to build healthy soil.

The master gardeners at Portage View Farms have been reaping the benefits of testing and feeding their soil with Mineralyte. Check out their gardening tips and tricks on Instagram and Youtube.

Selecting Permaculture Plants

Once you have tested and amended, you can start to get the lay of your land and find out which plants will be right for you. Make sure you consider your: growing zone, sunlight exposure, water availability, and soil type. Here are some important tips to help you keep it simple:

1. Don’t worry about achieving all the permaculture layers. It’s okay if you don’t have the space, time, or energy for a 7 story food forest. Start with what you can accomplish this year and possibly save space for future additions.
2. Start with the primary edible plants you would like to grow.
3. Next, add secondary plants that can provide help and support for your primary plants. Think of companion plants that will:

• attract pollinators
• fix nitrogen
• deter pests
• adjust sunlight exposure (ie. provide shade for leafy greens)
• suppress weeds
• provide structure/physical support for your primary plants (ie. stalks for climbers)  

If you need some guidance, the experts at Farmer’s Almanac have handy companion planting chart, including flowers and herbs, so you can find your primary plants some helpful friends.

3 or 4 Sisters Planting

Starting smaller clusters can be a simple way to get used to permaculture growing. One of the most traditional methods is to try “3 sisters” or “4 sisters” growing. This growing method is deeply rooted in Native American culture and is one of the most recognizable examples of small permaculture companion planting. 

The traditional 3 sisters planting typically involves corn stalks, climbing beans, and small leaf squash. Some will add giant sunflowers or amaranth as a “4th sister” to give the corn more support so climbers don’t pull them over.

• Click to learn more about how to start a 3 sisters garden.

Adding to and Building your Food Forest

No gardening project is perfect from the get-go; the need for adjustments should always be part of the plan. Observe your forest garden and make note of what’s working and what’s not. As you formulate next year’s plan:

• Mark your perennials so you remember where they are when they go dormant
• Prune back long term growth like trees and shrubs if needed to make room for future additions (look them over for signs of pests or other damage)
• Assess your companion/support plants to see if you need to change things up 

Permaculture Growing with Redmond

Our motto that Nature has it Right™, is behind everything we do at Redmond. The rich sea and volcanic minerals at our Utah deposit are the best nature has to offer and can help you build the ecosystem your land deserves. 

Give Redmond a call today at and see how we can take the guessing out of growing and help your garden thrive!

© 2024 Redmond Minerals Inc.