guildfordcycads

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Hello everyone

I’m new to permaculture, but I would love to apply it in my front garden.
I have watched multiple videos about the topic already, but haven’t read any books (only some articles online). That’s why I come to the pros for guidance 🙂

General info:

• Size: Approx. 500 m² / 5400 ft² could be used for a food garden. The dream is to feed 2 people with this.
• Soil: Its moderately dry sand soil, with evident humus and/or iron B horizons (not sure if this is the correct translation). The house and parking are highest so water drains from east to west, slope is steepest close to the house.
• climate: temperate maritime climate

The sketch i provide shows the layout of how i would like to organize the garden. Light brown (~0.6 m / 1.97 ft width) are the pathways, dark brown (~1.2 m / 3.94 ft width) are the garden beds. I’m planning on not using raised beds and just grow everything in the soil (sheet mulching to get rid of the grass and wood chips for pathway).

In the middle of the circular section is a herb spiral. At the ‘entrance’ is a greenhouse, along with 3 compost bins (and storage for brown material) and also where i plan to have a animal coop for housing free roam chickens, ducks and geese (close to compost bins for ease of cleaning). These structures can only be placed in the ‘side or back’ garden due to national laws.

My entire garden shall be fenced and on the road side a hedge of ~2 m / 6.56 ft (European beech) height shall be planted to reduce the road noise as best as possible. This together with tree nr. 11 (English oak) and nr. 8 (peach) shall cast a shadow, so this is where i intend to place plants that require a shaded section. The neighboring plot (left) is more or less a forest, so close to this I’d plant some edible hedges/small trees. Right of the food garden (where the compass is located) will be a flower bed for pollinators (maybe eventually also a bee hive). of course flowers will also be planted in the food garden itself.

Not included in the sketch, but on the right of the driveway I already planted an orchard of cherry, apple, pear and plum trees. in between these trees I’ll also be planting some additional edibles hedges/shrubs/plants.

1. Based on your knowledge/experience, is this a garden layout a good and practical idea? (I’ve heard a few times that rectangular beds are easier for placing netting and by equally sizing them making it easier to plan how many plants can be placed etc.)
   • Where are improvements required?
2. Can the wood chips also be used instead of cardboard for sheet mushing or shall this cause issues with the nitrogen content?
3. Is there any reading material you recommend before I start converting the garden?

Thanks a lot!