PDC LESSON 2.7 DESIGN - HERB SPIRALS

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 2.7 DESIGN - HERB SPIRALS

Herb Spirals are a novel way of growing herbs with different growing requirements all in the one spot. The Mediterranean type herbs need a well-drained position and mint needs a damp spot to grow in. All the other herbs fall somewhere in between.

The spiral garden is sited to face north and the bottom of the spiral that ends in a small pond is situated south. Start from the ground on a one metre square base and begin on the outside edge from the pond upwards and work your way up into a spiral shape towards the centre to create a height of one metre. Larger rocks are used to build the foundation and form an inside and an outside row. As it is built up, the dirt is filled inside the two rows and so on. Stack the rows of rocks one on top of the other in a double row whilst gradually building up the height and filling it with dirt as it gets built upwards. The top of the spiral should end up somewhere in the middle, one metre off the ground.

When it is completed, there is enough room for a rosemary or lavender to be planted on top of the spiral. These woody herbs need the drainage, and it also affords them to put their roots deep into the ground. The rocks within the herb spiral also keeps the soil warm and the soil depth gives excellent drainage. Sun loving herbs like sage and thyme can then be planted down from there facing the north and it will be best to finish with the mints and other herbs that need more moisture, behind the rosemary/ lavender which is the south side. Herbs that require different growing conditions will be happy when placed strategically on the herb spiral.

 

Herbs suitable for an herb spiral:

Sunny Dry

Shady Dry

Sunny Moist

Shady Moist

Sunny Wet

Shady Wet

Aquatic

Examples of these are, starting at the top of the spiral, Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary or lavender then oregano, sage, thyme, tarragon, coriander, parsley, chives. Chamomile, mint and then water chestnuts or arrowhead to grow in the little pond.

A small pond can be made by using a washing up bowl or alternatively a tyre pond can be constructed and placed at the bottom of the spiral garden. The idea is that any runoff from the spiral garden will end up in the little pond at the receiving end. If there is a concern for mosquitos breeding in the water, a tiny waterweed can be placed into the pond where it will form a covering over the water surface.

Text from the roots, Elisabeth Ferkonia (Aus.) PDC studied with Bill Mollison,




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