1. Vale da Lama
Estufa / Demonstration Permaculture garden
Co-Created by Josh Gomez & Rosie Stonehill

2. Clients Requests
 Main vegetable production site
 Demonstration of different methods of sustainable food production
 Growing on many levels
 Intensive production but still aesthetic
 A Pond
 Drip irrigated
 Soft fruit bushes
 More shade
 Climbing fruit
 Keep the strawberry towers and make them work
 Wheelbarrow access through the garden

3. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

4. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

5. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind
break & shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

6. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide
secondary irrigation system & channels any runoff
to pond & banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

7. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

8. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

9. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

10. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

11. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

12. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

13. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

14. Garden Features
1. Synergistic & sheet mulched raised beds with drip
irrigation
2. Fence and arbours as living fruit trellis, wind break
& shade structures
3. Trenches around all raised beds provide secondary
irrigation system & channels any runoff to pond &
banana circle
4. Banana circle / Mulch pit symbiosis is an ideal
place for all bulk garden residues which cannot be
placed on the beds to rot down an feed the
bananas & surrounding plants eg sweet potatoes.
Also is the final accumulation of all excess runoff
from the garden.
5. Deciduous trees create summer shade & give fruit
6. Estufa arranged to give table top work space &
beds for both establishing plants & extending the
season
7. Berry bushes give fruit & provide habitat
8. Varied edge pond adds humidity, provides habitat
for valuable pest predators & has aesthetic value
9. Sheet mulch keyhole beds for intensively
productive humid, hot microclimates
10. Culinary and healing herb yin yang beds attract
beneficial insects & create a beautiful, vibrant,
pond-side feature at the visitors entrance to the
garden
11. Strawberry towers relocated to a more shaded
place & in a convenient site for passing snacks

15. Design Summary
Process Review
Examples of Ethics & Principles applied in Design
Earth Care: Increased diversity of habitat.
Fostering healthy soil life by not digging and
returning all surplus materials.
Observe & work with nature: More deciduous
trees provide the shade which is desperately
needed in the summer in this garden. In winter, the
leaves drop, giving mulch & fertility return &
allowing sunlight to enter the garden again.
Minimum effort for maximum effect: All beds are
no dig raised beds. After establishing the soil will
be only minimally disturbed and all non-woody
residues will be returned to the beds. This way,
over the years, with the minimum input of energy ,
the beds will increase in fertility & humus content
requiring less watering and no additional pre-
prepared compost or manure.
Closed cycles/Catch & store energy: All water and
nutrient runoff collects in the pond and finally the
banana circle pit adding water to the land. Also
banana leaves generate large amounts of mulch to
use on the beds returning nutrients to the system
Each function supported by multiple elements:
Drip & trench irrigation support this essential
function in different ways, using system water &
collecting runoff water through the land.
Energy efficient planning: Path layout enables KEY
efficient use of energy. Larger path through the
middle for wheel barrow access makes it easy to Ethics
gather produce & bring in compost & manure.
Smaller walking paths in trenches gives access to all Basic Principles
beds at a better working height saving the Design Principles
gardeners’ back.

17. © Copyright 2011 Rosie Stonehill and Josh Gomez