Author Archives: Melissa Ott Fant

Zone and Sector Analysis

One of the design methods used in permaculture that takes place early on in a site design is Zone and Sector Analysis. Through observation and gathering information about the site, its nearby surroundings, and the people who utilize or will utilize the site, we identify zones of use and sectors of energy that influence or affect the site. In this article we explore these two analyses.

Read More

Rainwater Harvesting: Brush Check Dams and Gabions

In these articles, we’ve covered various ways to slow, sink, spread, and store rainwater. Gabions are another way to do this on landscapes that have eroded gullies or existing seasonal drainages. Creating brush gabions also puts to good use onsite fuel load you’ve reduced from your forest–all the branches, bushes, and small trees that are cleared to create defensible space and reduce fire fuel load in forested areas.

Read More

Whitewashed Hope

We are honored to support this Indigenous-led collaborative post, which invites proponents of western ecological agriculture to go deeper—to not ‘take’ certain land practices from Indigenous cultures without their context, but to encompass deeper Indigenous worldviews… inspiring a consciousness shift that will support us to go from a dominant culture of supremacy and domination to one founded on reciprocity, respect, and interrelations with all beings—including, of course, among all humans.

Read More

Preparing for winter rains after the fires

Now is the time to prepare for the coming winter rains to prevent additional damage to the recovering forest while simultaneously preparing the ground to receive much-needed rains to help the forest regrow. Even if your home wasn’t affected by the fires, you can still prepare for the coming rainy season with some of the suggestions outlined below.

Read More

Join us October 7th on the farm for a celebratory fall harvest dinner and festival!

X