Mandala Garden Construction

 Isn't she beautiful? The construction of the mandala garden here, in central, rural Alberta, Canada, is almost complete (only about 6' of mound yet to build). The bed is about 26' X 26'. The mounds are approximately 2.5' tall and 4' wide. The pathways, from which the soil came are 2' wide. This concept came from Emilia Hazelip's Fukuoka inspired Permaculture garden 

 The straw you see here was being applied last week, until 50-80 km/hr winds took it off of the mounds. I decided to plant now and wait to mulch, then put in place the willow and poplar stick criss-crosses over the mounds to hold it when the Spring winds decide to die down some.

 So far, I've planted garlic, onions and some pole beans on the sides of the beds, and red, orange and yellow carrots on the top. Much time will be spent in the next few days to plant more. We'll be done most of the successive seeding and planting out of tomatoes by June 1.

Ryouta, our farm help from Japan, has been here since April 12 and will stay until July or August. He has been digging and digging and digging (I have done some too, but he deserves most of the credit). The dirt has, in some places a lot of quack grass roots, and in others rocks, all of which must be eradicated. My son, Erroll, who came home for 2 days to help with some of the digging remarked that it's too bad that Ryouta will not be here for all of the harvest after such hard work. Hopefully he will benefit from the abundance before he goes.

 The grass poking out is trying to escape from under the layers of cardboard we've placed on the ground before adding dirt. I have hope that we can contain it. Organic gardening requires hard work and some thinking.

Only the spot on the left is unfinished. The garden is shaped like 2 big "C"s, one inside the other. The opening of the outside, larger "C"  is closer to the house and the opening for the smaller, inside "C" is opposite that. My intention is to create a space where one must slow down and meander in order to get around the garden; slow food, if you will.  I wanted to have organic, curved lines (a departure from the necessary straight rows that I had to have when gardening for 25 families). 


If you are interested in participating in this, or any other Permaculture project, please feel free to call. 780 387 3588. Hands-on experience will give you the best feel for how to tackle your own space. Think about using me as a coach, or ask about workshops.