From wind to rocky soil to summer hailstorms decimating everything in their pathways to the furious rainstorms as of late, it seems the plight of Cochrane gardeners never ends.
Karla Cox takes a holistic approach to all things food – including growing. Through her business, Provisions Permaculture, she strives to teach Cochrane gardeners to think outside the box and work within the parameters of what nature provides.
“Permaculture is all about following what nature has intended with as little intervention as possible,” she explained, while picking peas off her burgeoning trellis tower. “Nature finds its balance if we let it.”
Cox will be hosting a free garden tour at her 140 Quigley Close residence Aug. 14 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will also be given the option to travel to five other varieties of permaculture yards in Cochrane – some who are former clients of Cox’s – to view other luscious food-bearing gardens in town.
She is inviting fellow green thumbs to stop by for tips and tricks on how to plant, grow and nurture organic microclimates in any backyard for all budgets.
Her own backyard stands to rival any produce aisle for abundance – from food forests to overflowing veggie terraces surrounded by roots, leaves, fruits and herbs.
“I don’t think people can really appreciate the possibilities until they see it.”
It’s companion planting at its finest. Over the last couple of years, Cox has tied incorporated biodynamics into her permaculture to create optimal food production.
Biodynamics is an organic approach to gardening that co-ordinates planting with the cycles of the moon. As per the moon cycles, there are optimal days to plant different varieties of plants in relation to growth, as well as warding off pests and disease.
According to Cox, since she incorporated this into her planting regime, the success of her garden has blossomed.
To learn more about how to grow all the colours of the rainbow, including creating self-watering systems and natural fertilizing methods, visit provisionspermaculture.com.
