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We moved into Rayleigh Avenue in May 94 and armed with Graham Bell�s �Permaculture Garden�, leaflets from Plants For A Future and inspiration from the previous �Permaculture Plot� (especially the projects of the Guerras, the Jannaways and Robert Hart)almost immediately set about developing the boring lawn, straight concrete path and flower bed we had inherited.
18 months later, the path had been broken up and used to make stepping stones and a rockery; we�d planted dwarfing fruit tree and bushes; established vegetable, herb and flower beds; built a greenhouse with help from the local LETS scheme; dug a wildlife pond; made a worm bin and built a fence,climbing trellis to keep the children from the pond and more fragile crops...
Although far from full development, and still in the process of evolution, yields have included quinoa, carrots, brassicas, tomatoes, sweetcorn, and saladings, although in more recent years these have been tended to be surplanted by perennials, eg, fruit including apples, cherrys, blackcurrants, cherry plums, loganberries and wild strawberries, and permanent �sallets� like Dorbentons kale, sorrel, Welsh onions, Good King Henry, Turkish rocket, lemon balm and so on. By no means self sufficiency (is that a desirable goal anyway? Building a self RELIANT community is probably a more practical aim than trying to do it all alone...), but a valuable supplement to our allotment�s output...
I�m a vegan-organic gardener and try to recycle as such urban detritus as possible- the green house was built using glass and timber from skips, wine bottles and old tiles are used as bed edging, 12 litre paint tubs for pots, etc, etc... The compassion of veganism combined with the ingenuity of urban permaculture creates a fruitful �edge effect� that will need serious consideration if we are to leave behind old habits and create sustainable, non exploitative and cruelty free futures for our towns and cities.
Graham Burnett is a member of South East Essex Organic Gardeners and LETS, and is founder of the local Permaculture group as well as being actively involved with his local Agenda 21 initiatives. He has published a number of pamphlets and books including �Dig For Revolution� and �Permaculture- A Beginner�s Guide�.
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