Plant Guilds
A full permaculture guild consists of 7 layers (from Permaculture Guilds: A Primer)
- canopy layer (only for larger gardens, not on roofs, balconies, etc.)
- low tree layer
- shrub layer
- herbaceous layer
- rhizosphere
- soil surface (ground cover)
- vertical layer (climbers and vines)
Each guild needs 5 things
- nitrogen
- nutrients/ dynamic accumulators (non mineral, mineral, soil)
- mulch
- pollination
- protection from external threats
reading
- introduction on gardening with plant guilds: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~rnbnielsen/hort%20course%20nscf/Course%20Resources/Guild%20theory.htm
- on working with plant guilds in permaculture: http://www.self-willed-land.org.uk/permaculture/plant_guilds.htm
- plant & funghi in food forests: http://www.permaearth.org/foodforestarticle.html
- Permaculture Guilds: A Primer: http://onestraw.blogspot.com/2007/03/permaculture-guilds-primer.html
- permaculture institute: Permaculture Food Forest: http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/Permaculture-Food-Forest/
- Dynamic accumulators depending on the soil type:
- what's important in creating a linear guild: http://www.self-willed-land.org.uk/permaculture/plant_guilds.htm
- what do plants consider nutrition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_nutrition
See also edible_guilds, roof guilds, aronia guild