Urban Permaculture S3E3: Yield with Rainwater & Bees

This episode of The Urban Permaculture Podcast delves into the permaculture principle of "Obtain a Yield," exploring various practical applications within an urban setting. The hosts, Heather and Bob, share their personal experiences and strategies for maximizing productivity and benefit from their permaculture systems.

A central theme of their discussion revolves around the diverse forms a "yield" can take. Beyond the obvious agricultural output like fruits and vegetables, they emphasize the importance of recognizing and valuing less tangible but equally significant yields. For instance, they highlight the aesthetic pleasure derived from a well-designed garden, the educational opportunities it presents for children and adults alike, and the mental and physical health benefits of engaging with nature. The act of gardening itself, they argue, provides a yield in terms of stress reduction and increased well-being.

Regarding more conventional yields, Heather and Bob detail their approaches to maximizing food production in limited urban spaces. This includes strategic plant selection, focusing on varieties that offer multiple harvests or have a high yield-to-space ratio. They discuss companion planting techniques to improve plant health and deter pests, thereby increasing overall productivity. Vertical gardening and container gardening are also presented as crucial methods for urban permaculturists to expand their growing capacity. They touch upon the importance of soil health as a foundational element for abundant yields, explaining their methods for composting and creating nutrient-rich soil.

Beyond direct consumption, the hosts explore ways to process and preserve their harvests to extend their utility. This includes canning, dehydrating, and freezing produce, ensuring a year-round supply of homegrown food. They also discuss sharing surplus produce with neighbors and community members, which not only reduces waste but also fosters community resilience and strengthens local food networks – another form of yield in itself.

The discussion extends to non-food yields as well. They mention the production of medicinal herbs and flowers, which can be used for teas, tinctures, or simply for their beauty and pollinator attraction. The creation of compost from kitchen scraps and garden waste is presented as a valuable yield, as it enriches the soil for future plantings, creating a closed-loop system. Even the collection of rainwater is considered a yield, providing a sustainable water source for irrigation and reducing reliance on municipal water supplies.

Furthermore, the hosts emphasize the concept of stacking functions, where each element in their permaculture system serves multiple purposes, thereby increasing the overall yield. For example, a fruit tree not only provides fruit but also shade, habitat for beneficial insects, and contributes to soil stability. This holistic approach ensures that every component contributes to the system's productivity in various ways.

Finally, Heather and Bob encourage listeners to think creatively about what constitutes a yield in their own permaculture endeavors. They stress that the definition of "yield" is broad and personal, encompassing anything that brings benefit or value to the system and its inhabitants. This principle, they conclude, is about maximizing the positive outcomes from any given effort or resource, whether it's food, beauty, knowledge, or community connection.