PERMACULTURE GUILDS
One of the main methods used in permaculture
is creating polycultures and guilds instead of
planting rows of just one crop. When you plant
multiple plants together, each one serves various
functions to support the entire plant community.
When you plant a row of one crop, you must pull
weeds, fertilize, and spray pesticides. However,
when you plant a guild, you group plants together
that do these jobs for you. This lightens your work
load and gives you more time to enjoy your garden.
The most common guild is the Three Sisters used
by Native Americans. Corn, beans, and squash
are planted together to grow healthier plants and
maximize yields.
In the Three Sisters guild, the beans are hosts for
bacteria that convert nitrogen from the air into a
form plants can use. The corn acts as a trellis for the
beans, secretes sugars in the root zone that feed the
bean’s nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and provides some
shade for the squash plants. The squash sprawls
between the corn and beans, acting as a ground
cover, suppressing weeds, and conserving moisture
in the soil.
THE LAYERS OF A GUILD
Permaculture mimics the forest, so it likes to fill in
all the empty spaces between the lowest bushes to
the tallest trees. Nature doesn’t waste space. When
choosing plants for your guild, you’ll want to think
the same way. Be sure to choose plants for each of
the following layers: tall trees, small trees, bushes,
herbs, ground covers, roots, and vines. A small
garden can have as few as three layers, while a
complete food forest will contain all of them.
The tall tree layer consists of trees that are
50 feet tall and larger. For an edible
garden, this overstory can include
full-sized fruit and nut trees
such as apple or pear. The trees should allow
enough light through their leaves to reach the
lower layers.
The small tree layer contains trees that fit
snugly underneath the tall tree layer. Dwarf and
semi-dwarf fruit trees are perfect here, as are
almonds, figs, and pecans. In a smaller garden,
you can eliminate the tall tree layer and make
the small tree layer the overstory.
The shrub layer fits nicely underneath
the small tree layer and usually consists of
flowering, fruiting, and wildlife-attracting
shrubs. These can include rosemary, blackberry,
elderberry, cranberry, and blueberry.
The herb layer sits even lower to the ground
and includes plants such as chamomile, chives,
comfrey, fennel, oregano, sage, and yarrow.
The ground cover layer fits nicely in the
small spaces between each plant. This layer
suppresses weeds and offers a habitat for
friendly garden critters. Ideal ground cover
options include strawberries, nasturtiums,
clover, and creeping thyme.
The root layer fills space below the soil.
Options include garlic, garlic chives,
horseradish, hardy ginger, and potatoes.
Vines and climbing plants make good use of
vertical space, climbing the trees and filling in
all of the remaining gaps. Ideal options include
grape, cucumber, hardy
kiwi, melon, pea, and
scarlet runner beans.
“ BE SURE TO CHOOSE PLANTS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING LAYERS:
tall trees, small trees, bushes, herbs,
ground covers, roots, and vines.”
Maximum Yield
35