Welcome to Canberra Permaculture Design and Education
Home grown carrot harvest from only two medium pots
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Have you ever wanted to grow your own fruit and vegetables but aren't sure how to get started? Whether your garden is big or small, you might be surprised to learn how much you can grow. Would you like advice on how you can live sustainably?
My name is Cally Brennan and I founded Canberra Permaculture Design and Education to provide permaculture garden design services for Canberra residents. For full details on what that entails, please click on 'Services' I also aim to provide education about permaculture and sustainable living by sharing my journey with my family on the blog (see 'Stories from our garden'), and presenting workshops on topics like introduction to permaculture principles, permaculture zones, waterwise gardening, and making wicking pots and beds. |
Chives going a little crazy in a home made 'wicking pot'
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About Cally Brennan
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I was born in Scotland, and grew up with an enduring love of gardening and a deep concern for the environment that I inherited from my parents.
I have worked in many fields, from teaching through to public service work and academia in between (I have a PhD from Melbourne University). But throughout, I have tried to grow my own produce whenever it was possible. My interest in sustainability also led to me working in climate change-related fields in government from 2008 onward. My education in permaculture began in 2009, when I joined community group, PermablitzACT. The group undertakes 'backyard blitzes' for its members, to convert suburban blocks into productive edible gardens, using permaculture design principles. During 2011 and 2012 I also coordinated PermablitzACT. In April 2011, I obtained a Permaculture Design Certificate from respected permaculture teachers John Champagne and Phil Gall. In 2016 I took a trip to Western Australia and studied with Graham Bell and Dr Ross Mars for an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate. Permaculture inspires me because it provides practical solutions that anyone can try. I have spent the past 8 years trialling various permaculture techniques in my own garden. In particular, I have experimented with various styles and types of wicking bed technology, grey water and run off capture with French drains, and hugelkultur. I have presented at the Canberra Environment Centre, Urban Agriculture Australia's City of Food Series and at Floriade (2013 and 2014). I live in Cook, ACT with my partner and our 5 year old daughter together with our two dogs and a rather greedy resident possum. |
About Canberra Permaculture Desigh and some important information
Canberra Permaculture Design is a small business, located in Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Permaculture design is related to, but distinct from both landscape design and landscape architecture.
Landscape architecture is concerned with the way landscape, plants and buildings can interact to form a good design that is aesthetically pleasing. Landscape design is usually more focused on the plants side of the equation and designers often have qualifications in horticulture as well as design. Both disciplines tend to emphasise aesthetic values over other considerations, although this is not always the case.
Permaculture design takes an ecosystems approach to landscape design, with the aim of creating sustainable and productive relationships between plants and hard landscaping (including building structures) so that over time, nutrients are naturally added into the system. A minimum qualification of a Permaculture Design Certificate is required to be called a permaculture designer. Permaculture tends to emphasise productivity and yield over aesthetics for its own sake, although permaculture gardens can also be beautiful.
Because of the emphasis on sustainability and synergies between elements in the garden, permaculture gardens may take longer to become established than conventional landscape designs, and may need considerable work and commitment during the establishment phase. Once established, maintenance requirements are low, however, and often lower than in more conventionally designed gardens.
Permaculture design is related to, but distinct from both landscape design and landscape architecture.
Landscape architecture is concerned with the way landscape, plants and buildings can interact to form a good design that is aesthetically pleasing. Landscape design is usually more focused on the plants side of the equation and designers often have qualifications in horticulture as well as design. Both disciplines tend to emphasise aesthetic values over other considerations, although this is not always the case.
Permaculture design takes an ecosystems approach to landscape design, with the aim of creating sustainable and productive relationships between plants and hard landscaping (including building structures) so that over time, nutrients are naturally added into the system. A minimum qualification of a Permaculture Design Certificate is required to be called a permaculture designer. Permaculture tends to emphasise productivity and yield over aesthetics for its own sake, although permaculture gardens can also be beautiful.
Because of the emphasis on sustainability and synergies between elements in the garden, permaculture gardens may take longer to become established than conventional landscape designs, and may need considerable work and commitment during the establishment phase. Once established, maintenance requirements are low, however, and often lower than in more conventionally designed gardens.
