For a Thriving Garden with Less Effort - Enter Permaculture Systems! 🌱🍓
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“In the summer the trees are growing their leaves”
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From the song, “The Seasons Change” by Suzan Alakas
Do you dream of a thriving garden, but feel like you’re spending most of your time tugging weeds? Or perhaps your balcony is cluttered with random pots and plants that aren’t really growing. 🙃🙂
It’s no surprise that many people give up before they ever see fresh tomatoes or blooming herbs. Today we explore how you can make gardening easier and more joyful – by working WITH nature’s systems! Enter Permaculture! 🤩
• Originally written: 28 June 2025
• Last updated: 28 June 2025
• Written by: Suzan Alakas
Suzan is Growtharmony’s Founder and Editor-In-Chief. She is passionate about spreading positive, solution-oriented media via songs and other formats - all in an effort to make the world a better place! When Suzan’s not writing, finding leverage points or learning something new, you can find her in the garden, playing in the snow with her family, or in the kitchen cooking up a nourishing meal!
What is Permaculture Gardening? 🌱
Permaculture is gaining popularity for good reason!
It’s an approach to gardening (and living!) that’s deeply efficient, kind to the planet, and rooted in harmony with nature.
One core idea behind permaculture is something called ecological succession — how wild ecosystems evolve and self-balance over time.
Did you know that over time a field naturally turns into a forest? 🌳🌲🌳🌲
And each plant has a role in this process.
But in traditional gardening, we often work against this process: pulling weeds, disrupting soil, and trying to control everything.
But when we observe and mimic nature’s own systems, we can grow more with less effort - and less stress! 👍
Instead of constantly “fighting against nature” with unnatural products and endless maintenance, permaculture helps you co-create systems WITH NATURE that become more and more hands off over time.
So whether you’re growing on a sunny balcony or a sprawling backyard, here are 5 permaculture-inspired systems to help you garden smarter!
5 Simple Permaculture-Inspired Systems 🌿
1. Water Conservation Systems 💧
Keep a couple of buckets near your shower or kitchen sink to catch water while it heats up. Use this for watering your garden!
You can also rinse organic produce over a bowl and reuse the water.
If permitted in your area, rainwater collection barrels are an incredible step toward self-sufficiency.
2. Seed Saving & Labeling System
After your plants’ flowers turn into seeds, collect them in reused paper envelopes — old seed packets, mail envelopes, or even folded scrap paper work great!
Write the name, date, and source right on the packet so you're not guessing later.
You’ll save money on buying new seeds and get stronger seeds adapted to your environment over time! 😎
3. Compost System
Turning your food scraps into healthy soil doesn’t have to be smelly or slimy!
Set up a container and mix “greens” (fruit/veg scraps) and one for “browns” (like shredded paper, cardboard, and toilet paper rolls).
This simple system keeps odors and pests away while creating nutrient-rich compost that your plants will LOVE! 🤩
Check out our previous post here on how to compost successfully indoors or outdoors! 🌱
4. Ground Cover System
Did you know that bare soil is really rare in nature? When soil is covered, it retains water, is protected from the harsh sun and benefits the soil life!
(That’s why weeds keep popping up! They are doing their job to cover and improve the bare soil!)
So keep your garden mulched with leaves, grass clippings, or straw to suppress weeds, keep moisture in, and feed the soil.
Even on a balcony, potted plants can benefit from a layer of mulch to reduce watering needs and boost soil health!
5. Container Stacking & Vertical Gardening System
Do you have a small gardening space? Or no backyard?
No worries! 🤗 You can still have a garden that gives you delicious food!
Stack pots at different heights using shelves, crates, or wall hooks to maximize growing space on a balcony.
“Companion planting”, when you plant two or more different plants in the same area, also saves space and supports plant health!
Thank You For Helping Our Planet! 💕
The planet needs our help - and gardening is a super accessible way for us all to connect with the earth, grow food locally, reduce our carbon footprint and nourish our bodies with naturally grown food! 🌎🌍🌏
And when you set up gardening systems with permaculture principles in mind, gardening becomes more joyful and sustainable! 💕
Sending you happy, growing vibes as you consider these applying these permaculture inspired systems to your life today! 🤗✨
Here are ways to leverage nature’s power to reduce stress and increase productivity!
✨ Take our 30 minute ‘Nourishing Meals at HALF the Cost” training to save BIG on your grocery bills and food preparation costs!
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