Permaculture in a Small Garden: Observation to First Design

Hello dear friends. 🌱 In a small garden, permaculture begins with observation, not with a spade. First we watch the sun, the water, the wind and the soil for a while. Then we draw a small first design. The soil tells a great deal to anyone who listens.

Permaculture means observing the cycles of nature and designing your garden to work with them. The approach was developed in Australia in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. What it taught me most is to work with nature, not against it. It does not need a big farm. It works in a small garden, and even on a balcony. Do you know which corner of your garden gets the most sun?

How do you start with observation?

Take your time with observation; if you can, watch your garden for a whole season and look at these:

• Sun: which corner gets how many hours of sun? In the northern hemisphere the south side is usually the sunniest, in the southern hemisphere the north side.
• Water: when it rains, where does the water run and where does it collect?
• Wind: which direction does the prevailing wind come from?
• Soil: is it hard or loose, clay or sandy?
• Use: where do you walk most often, and where do you like to sit?

You can mark these notes on a simple sketch. A piece of paper and a pencil are enough. This sketch becomes the base of your design. The notes you take while sitting quietly in the garden are the most valuable ones.

What are permaculture zones?

In permaculture, space is divided into zones by how often you visit it. The parsley and basil you pick every day can sit next to the door. Fruit trees that need you a few times a year can be further away. Even in a small garden, this logic saves time and effort. The garden takes its shape from your own daily life.

How do you keep water and feed the soil?

There are a few simple ways to keep the water. You can lead rainwater from a gutter into a tank. On a slope, small ridges can slow the water down. Covering the soil with mulch helps reduce evaporation. How much water you save depends on your climate, your soil and how you do it.

Compost and mulch are the two basic tools that feed the soil. We turn kitchen and garden scraps into compost and give them back to the soil. That is how the cycle closes; what we take from the soil we give back with gratitude. I wrote about composting in an apartment in a separate post.

Where should you start in a small garden?

Starting small is the surest way. Instead of trying to change the whole garden in one year, you can start with a single bed. Growing vegetables, herbs and flowers together brings the garden to life. It also makes a home for helpful creatures, and little by little your garden builds a small world of its own. As you keep observing, your design changes with you.

How is permaculture practised at Şifa Köyü?

At Şifa Köyü we work by these principles. It is our farm in Çengilli, Şile, on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. I founded it in 2017, and it covers about 70 dönüm (roughly 7 hectares). There we grow with heirloom seeds, without chemical sprays and with methods that do not exhaust the soil, and our produce holds EU-approved organic farming certification. Everything comes in its own season. Guests who visit the farm see the greenhouse and the fields, spend time with our animals and can shop from our produce.

In my permaculture consultancy I bring this experience to your own space: a balcony, a garden or a field. Write to us and we will get back to you. Then we talk about your space and your goals, and plan soil, water, seed and seasons together. If you live in Turkey and your garden is not ready yet, you can look at our seasonal produce in the Şifa Köyü shop; it is in Turkish and delivers within Turkey.

What was the first thing you noticed in your garden or on your balcony this week? I would be so happy if you shared your observation notes with me. May your soil be generous and your notebook full. 🌿

Permaculture and Herbal Farming Consultancy →

Şifa Köyü shop: fresh seasonal produce (in Turkish) →

Frequently asked questions

What is permaculture?

An approach that observes the cycles of nature and designs a garden or growing space to work with them.

What should I observe first?

You can start with how sun, water and wind move through your garden, what your soil is like and how you use the space.

Can permaculture work in a small garden?

Yes. Principles such as zones, keeping water, compost and mulch work in a small garden and even on a balcony.

How do I judge the budget and upkeep?

It depends on your space, the plants you choose and the time you can give. Starting with one bed keeps both manageable.

How does the consultancy work?

You write to us first and we get back to you. Then we talk about your space and your goals, and plan soil, water, seed and seasons together.

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