Final Homestead Design Project

Erin ForbesBackyard Homesteading

Aisling Meadows Homestead Red Hook, NYErin Forbes

My family strives to create a beautiful, self-sustainable and resilient homestead, where relationships with each other and our environment are respected and cultivated. We recognize the unique opportunities and challenges that each element of our homestead provides. We utilize permaculture principles and organic methods. Our farm not only provides for the needs of our family, but it is also a community resource for agricultural education and farm fresh food. We endeavor to promote and nurture relationships between elements. We recognize the value in this endeavor and refuse to allocate these responsibilities to a nameless industry.

Goals Articulation Statement

“From the analysis, informed by intuition and feelings we craft our story.” (Bane, 2012)

A thorough site analysis, documented not only the abundant beauty of our Hudson Valley homestead, but the location of existing buildings, infrastructure, gardens, and other elements that are present on our homestead. Challenges and opportunities associated with paths of wind, water, sun, and wildlife were identified. Relationships between and the management requirements of the soil, insects, crops, micro-climate, livestock, the environment, and the needs of our family, were identified and viewed as a system rather than individual components.

This analysis directly impacted the overall plan for our homestead, most importantly, the relative location and connections between plants, livestock, buildings, water sources, etc. emerged as patterns were revealed and details addressed. As a result, we are working smarter, not harder to achieve our goals.

Design 1

Relative Location“The task of homestead planning is locating and linking these areas to maximize efficiency and convenience without sacrificing economy or beauty.” (Wilson, 2002)

Each design element within my homestead is based on relative location. Design elements were placed in specific locations based on their relationships. This inter-connectedness is a valuable aspect of our homestead design. For example, our chicken coop is located in zone 1, within fifty feet of our home. This location is ideal since we can easily access it by vehicle to drop off heavy bags of feed, to provide daily food and water, to harvest eggs, and provide protection from predators. Our garden is located next to the chicken coop. This location provides nitrogen to our crops and crops to our chickens. Designing polycultures into our homestead, alongside the salad garden is the vermicompost and grey water catchment systems. The relative location of each of these elements is mutually beneficial.

Final Design

Details ◦ The polyculture salad garden behind our house receives partial shade. Spinach, radish, onions, and

broccoli form a lovely mosaic of vegetables. ◦ Graywater catchment system is located in the basement of our house. The dishwasher, washing

machine and kitchen sink will supply it. It is conveniently located on the Northeast corner to irrigate our salad garden.

◦ A swale created on the west side of our house, captures rainwater for use by the strawberries and fruit trees planted there.

◦ A rainwater catchment system atop our chicken coops feeds into rain barrels. These are strategically located between the chicken coop and the garden.

◦ The vegetable garden receives full sun and a variety of crops that thrive in the sun are grown to meet the needs of our family.

◦ Alongside the garden is a solar dehydration area that combined with canning allows us to preserve our bounty to enjoy throughout the year. A root cellar located in the basement provides ample storage.

◦ Our fire pit is located just beside the forest on the north side of the house. This provides ample kindling wood and shade for gathering with our family and friends.

◦ The honeybees are located just behind a natural windbreak, which is exposed to a large amount of sun.

◦ Our chicken yard is located beside a mulberry tree that provides shade and fruit for the hens. In addition, we have planted several different crops that the chickens will eat.

Aisling Meadows Homestead utilizes permaculture principles, including:

◦ Catch & Store Energy:

◦ “Make hay while the sun shines.” This proverb reminded me of the importance of producing enough food during the growing seasons and preserving it to meet my families needs year round. In addition to canning, I look forward to exploring solar dehydration as recommended by Cindy Conner (A Plan for Food Self-Sufficiency, 2002). Placing tomatoes in the hot summer sun to preserve their goodness is very appealing. In addition to preserving our abundant yield, we will preserve seeds for future use and to ensure genetic diversity.

◦ Utilizing natural energy and water sources is an important focus on my homestead. Upon identifying slopes on our site, I recognized an opportunity to ’catch & store’ water by designing swales and planting perennials. This design will benefit our crops and deter erosion.

◦ A vermicompost system will be utilized to reduce waste and provide nutrient rich soil for our crops. In addition, we will incorporate rain barrels, swales, and a gray water catchment system (with a solar powered pump) that will catch water and direct it for use and reuse on our homestead while reducing our amount of energy expended and waste.

◦ Integrate, Don’t Segregate:

◦ An important focus of our homestead is integrating systems. Each aspect of design should be connected. For example, the bushes that provide our honeybees with a windbreak could also be their favorite type of flower. “Everything must have three functions and be beautiful.” (Bane, 2002)

◦ The relative location of elements on our homestead is based on relationships. Windbreaks will be utilized to prevent wind damage, decrease soil erosion and evaporation. These same bushes will provide a habitat for natural enemies of crop pests.

◦ ”Select elements that can serve multiple functions, therefore enhancing economic yield and efficiency.” (Bane, 2002). Placing our vermicomposting system outside of our kitchen provides a convenient location for us to discard scraps from our meals. The relationship between the garden, the water catchment system, and the vermicompost system dictates the relative location of these elements.

Design Concept: Relationships

Relationships are the focus of this design concept. Our homestead recognizes the importance of family. Having spots to gather for relaxation and recreation is an important consideration that we addressed in our design choices.

Taking advantage of the connections and beneficial relationships between elements we strategically placed elements to maximize efficiency on our homestead.

“We must change our behavior and act as though we all live downstream, because we do.” (Bane, 2012).

Resources◦“The Permaculture Handbook” by Peter Bane, 2012◦“Designing your ideal homestead” by Fred Wilson. Countryside & Small Stock Journal, 2002

◦“A Plan for Food Self-Sufficiency” by Cindy Conner, 2002◦http://www.ecofilms.com.au/easy-to-build-polypipe-greenhouse/

◦“Horticulture Technical Note” by Janet Bachmann, 2005. www.attra.ncat.org

◦https://permacultureprinciples.com/principles/_2/