THE FUNCTIONS OF A GUILD
Each of the seven layers should be made up of plants
that fulfill different functions. As far as permaculture
is concerned, the more functions served by each plant,
the better. Jobs that need to be filled in each guild
include nutrient accumulation, nitrogen fixing, mulching,
repelling pests, and beneficial insect attraction.
Additional functions include feeding humans and
animals, herbal medicines, breaking up the soil, creating
habitat for helpful critters like frogs and snakes, and
cleaning heavy metals from the soil.
Nutrient accumulators send their taproots deep into
the soil and mine for minerals such as potassium,
magnesium, and calcium. When these plants die back,
their leaves drop and decompose, feeding the soil in the
process. Nutrient accumulators include plants such as
dandelion, plantain, chicory, and yarrow. Certain nutrient
accumulators can even be used to clean up heavy metals,
such as lead, at contaminated sites.
Nitrogen-fixing plants have rhizospheres that are home to
nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These bacteria can take nitrogen
from the air and convert it to a form that plants can use.
Nitrogen-fixing plants include peas, beans, vetch, lupines,
alfalfa, and Russian olive.
Instead of hauling mulch to your garden, you can simply
incorporate plants that will mulch in place. Comfrey,
artichokes, rhubarb, clovers, and nasturtiums are all
excellent options. You can chop and drop these plants
multiple times throughout the season and they will
compost in place. These green manures will feed the soil
as they decompose, conserve moisture, and encourage
healthy and diverse soil life.
Instead of spraying pesticides, you can add plants to your
guilds that will act as natural pest repellents. Nasturtiums
planted around fruit trees will repel borers and are effective
against whitefly. Alliums, such as garlic and chives, are
regarded as a natural, broad-spectrum insecticide. Many
herbs repel a variety of pests, including basil, lavender,
mint, dill, parsley, thyme, oregano, and bay leaves.
No guild is complete without plants to attract beneficial
insects and pollinators. Almost any flower that produces
pollen or nectar will do this job well. Flowers attract both
pollinators that will help fruit set, and predators, such as
predatory wasps, that will dine on pests. Not only do flowers
play a functional role in your garden, but they add dashes of
color and beauty to your landscape. Butterfly weed, clover,
coriander, dandelion, and fennel will attract lady bugs to
your garden. Dill, fennel, and coriander are edible while
also attracting predatory wasps. Butterfly bush and fuschia
will attract birds that will gobble up the eggs and larvae
hiding in the holes and crevices of fruit trees.
COMPANION PLANTING
When designing your guilds, it is good
to put plants together that are known to
mutually benefit one another. For example,
onions, leeks, rosemary, and sage planted
near carrots will repel carrot flies. Carrot
roots excrete a substance that stimulates
the growth of peas.
Be sure to double check companion planting advice with
current scientific studies. Many old-time companions
have been proven not to be beneficial at all. For example,
marigolds have long been regarded as pest repellents.
While this is true of some varieties, other varieties actually
attract pests, so it is wise to do your homework.
36
Maximum Yield
“ Each plant serves
multiple functions,
AND BENEFITS THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.
HEALTH AND YIELD WILL BE
GREATER THAN IF ANY ONE OF
THESE PLANTS WERE GROWN ALONE. ”