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This video is part of a series that spans 8 videos, this being the final. View all videos from this series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL321kfqP1fZnLvTxpjoxiAn3CSmLHh7fR

Questions overview and key takeaways: Below are: 1) a summary of the topics addressed by each question, and a timestamp; 2) Below each question summary are key takeaways from Geoff’s answer.

Q1: How far to space pioneer and fruit trees

The idea is to imagine the size of your future, mature trees and place them as close as you dare, where they either have a tiny space in between or just touch to make a full canopy. For support species, the groundcover should just be crammed in as thickly as possible, four times the thicker than is recommended. The short- and medium-term nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs should be thick as well, remembering that they are sacrificial. Long-term legumes should also be thick because they can be coppiced if need be. A forest lives on a fallen forest.

Q2: Using olive wood in a hügelkultur

Have you ever seen a good hügelkultur? I’ve not seen one. Hügelkultur might work well in the high altitude where Sepp Holzer is doing it, but it’s important to think about decomposition in the climate you are in. When high carbon elements are put in the soil, they have to take nitrogen from the soil to break down. In dry, hot climates, this can be very problematic because it breaks down slowly and takes nitrogen from the soil. In cold climates, that happens in the winter. Also, in an arid climate, the worse thing to grow on is a mound that’s well-drained. It’d be better to grow in a mulch pit.

Q3: Making a functional fish pond with integrated rice production

Aquaculture is one of my favorite subjects. I have put in ponds in Vietnam where they immediately adjusted their overflow swale to rice production. We’ve done it some with water chestnut at Zaytuna. The pond itself doesn’t need to be deep (no more than two meters), and it needs a flat bottom. A contour dam is typically the easiest to do this with. That said, in really cold climates, where ponds will freeze, you do need a deep hole where fish can seek refuge. In a hot climate, this same hole with a drain can be advantageous for harvesting the fish.

Q4: Growing edibles in containers in the arid climates

There are all kinds of things, most of the Mediterranean herbs and some tropical plants. Wicking beds, small or large, will produce miracles. These can be done with IBC totes or small pots.

That’s a wrap, everyone! If you’ve read this far down the description we hope that means you liked the content 😉 Geoff certainly enjoyed answering everyone’s questions. Him and his family are now back at Zaytuna Farm and Geoff will endeavour to continue Q&A type content in the not too distant future. To support us in making more films like this:

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About Geoff:

Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer, and teacher. He has established permaculture demonstration sites that function as education centers in all the world’s extreme climates — information on the success of these systems is networked through the Permaculture Research Institute and the http://www.permaculturenews.org website.

About Permaculture:

Permaculture integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed-loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Permaculture applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts and at any scale. It is a multidisciplinary toolbox including agriculture, water harvesting and hydrology, energy, natural building, forestry, waste management, animal systems, aquaculture, appropriate technology, economics, and community development.

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