Gardening in Small Spaces

Carolyn Edsell-Vetter, MCH, NOFA-AOLCP

Who’s Here?

Where is your “Small Space”?Remember: There are no design problems, only

opportunities!

• Urban yard• Patio or courtyard• Deck or balcony• Roof of house, shed,

doghouse…• Fire escape• Window box• Entryway• Tree wells & crevices• Indoors

Permaculture PrinciplesRemember: There are no design problems, only

opportunities!

1. Observe & Interact2. Catch & Store Energy3. Obtain a Yield4. Apply Self-Regulation

& Accept Feedback5. Use & Value

Renewable Resources and Services

6. Produce No Waste7. Design from Patterns

to Details8. Integrate Rather Than

Segregate9. Use Small & Slow

Solutions10.Use & Value Diversity11.Use Edges & the Marginal12.Creatively Use & Respond

to Change

Permaculture PrinciplesRemember: There are no design problems, only

opportunities!

1. Observe & Interact2. Catch & Store Energy3. Obtain a Yield4. Apply Self-Regulation

& Accept Feedback5. Use & Value

Renewable Resources and Services

6. Produce No Waste7. Design from

Patterns to Details

8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate

9. Use Small & Slow Solutions10.Use & Value Diversity11.Use Edges & the Marginal12.Creatively Use & Respond

to Change

Why do I need to have a plan?

A plan allows you to:

• Make the most of opportunities created by natural and man-made aspects of a site

• Identify and solve problems • Work with, preserve, and improve natural and human systems

(hydrology, soils, air, ecosystems, plant & animal life, natural resources, human – individual & communal – health & well-being)

• Avoid frustration down the road (sun-loving plants in a shady area, a flooded basement from bad grading & impervious surfaces…)

• Maximize beauty & aesthetics of the space• Communicate with those helping you to install and/or manage the

landscape

The Planning Process

1. Base map2. Site assessment &

analysis3. Schematic/Use map4. Plan development5. Final plan & cost

estimates6. Implementation7. Evaluation &

adjustment

Making a Base Map

• Plot plan• Municipal

assessor’s database

• GIS mapping • Survey• Detailed field

measurements

1. Hillside Driveway

All photos by Jesse or Carolyn Edsell-Vetter; landscape designby Carolyn Edsell-Vetter & installation by A Yard & A Half Landscaping Co-Op, unless otherwise noted.

Understanding Contours130

’

140’

150’

Calculating Grade Change

You will need:• Stake or buddy• Tape measure• String• Line level

Boundaries

• Structures• Walls & fences• Curbs, sidewalks, roads• When in doubt, get a survey!

Orientation

Image courtesy of University of Oregon

Types of Shade

Part-shade

Dappled shade

High shade

Deep shade

Drainage

Where does the water come from? Where does it end up?Downspouts, gutters, overhangs, topography, yards of neighborsErosion, pooling, wet & dry areas Problems can be more intense in smaller yards!

100% Infiltration On-Site

2. The “Tree House”

From Base Map to Concept: Vision & Values

How do you want to use the space?

What do you envision this

space becoming?What values do

you want to guide your plan?

What are your values?

1. Friends & family: entertaining, play space

2. Self: orderly space for hobbies & soul-fulfilling activities

3. Spirit: beauty, relaxing view, plantings & reclaimed materials demonstrate oneness with the earth

4. Body/health: lead-free raised bed to grow veggies, groundcovers to reduce risk

5. Community: friendly fences; wildlife value; local, low-impact materials; installers with good ethics around employment & sustainability

1

2

3

45

Do you need/want…• Lawn• Parking• Play structures• Open play areas• Paved areas• Privacy or screening• Protection from sun/wind• Edible plants• Groundcover• Habitat for pollinators? Birds?

Bats? Frogs?

• Storage for bikes, toys, strollers, furniture, tools…

• Utility area for fixing things, washing the dog, hobbies…

• Space for garbage, recycling• Compost pile/enclosure• Dining or sitting areas• Cooking area• Fire• Water

Site Analysis & Use Plan

• Zones of use: What will you do where?

• Circulation: Where do you need to go? How will you get there?

Clear Definition

Subdivided Spaces

• Makes each space seem larger• Defines different spaces for different uses• Helps keep spaces orderly• Changes in elevation• Screening & suspense

Squeezing in Functionality

•Kinetic, creative play•Water sounds •Sculptural element•Water for birds & pollinators

Plants Everywhere!

Planting hardscapes:•Manages water•Softens edges•Adds fragrance & color

Desig

n: C

hrist

ie D

ustm

an &

Co.

3. Sacred Space, Shared Space

Circulation

Views

Desig

n: B

arba

ra P

opol

ow

Multi-purpose Plants

• Food/medicine• Architectural use (shade,

windbreak, focal point)• Nectar source• Nitrogen fixer• Companion plant• Critter cover or feed• Beauty Photo: Jocelyn Hayes-Chilvers

Phot

o: w

ildflo

werre

volu

tion.

com

4. Urban Container Garden

Look, urban soil!

I think that’s dog

poo.

Raised Bed BenefitsDe

sign

& in

stal

latio

n by

the

Edse

ll-Ve

tter f

amily

.

•Soil safety •Ergonomics•If you have a paved lot…•Warms up earlier in spring•Lifts plants up to the sun

One piece, many uses

Raised Planter & Trellis•Screening from busy street•Shade for dining room window •Support for vines•Lead-free planting area for food•Seating•Pollinator value…

…and secret hideout!

Raised Bed ROI

Size: 66 sf of planting area, 2’-3’ deepTime: 2 weekends for family of 4, May 2015ROI (so far): 15 trays of sundried tomatoes & zucchini, a summer of salads, herbs, 2 pints raspberries, 4 pints pickles, 2 batches of pesto, some kick-butt mojitos…Intangibles: bees, butterflies, lowered blood pressure, kids eating their veggies

Closing the CircleMore ideas for sustainable, small-scale

gardening

Hanging Baskets

Hydroponic Window Farm

Upside-down Tomato Bucket

•Tomatoes•Strawberries•Bush beans•Cucumbers•Herbs•Nasturtiums & edible flowers

Pocket Gardening

Rain Gardens

Raingarden irrigating fruit trees in suburban Chicago front yard Urban entryway rain

garden with aqueduct

Rain-Water Recovery

55-gallon rain barrel

Urn-fountain installed over 1,000 gallon storage system

Water Gardens

Bioshelters

•Passive solar + thermal mass from stored water & masonry•Warmer winter temps allow for year-round growing & aquaculture•When connected to a dwelling, provides supplemental heat & humidity

Tiny Composting

Sealed outdoor composter Bokashi (fermentation) bin Worm bin Check to see if public or private compost pick-

up is available

Container Gardening: The Nitty-Gritty

Planting mix w/ low N-P-K Use reputable organic potting soil (e.g. VT

Compost or Ideal) or make your own Coir, newsprint as alternatives to peat Weight of planting medium Fertilize w/ 4-4-2 or lower organic fertilizer (e.g.

fish, cottonseed meal, compost tea)

Self-Watering Containers

Drainage Water reservoir Soil foot or wick Tube for adding water Sand if growing root

veg

Plants for Containers

Cold-hardy perennials & woody plants (z3-4)

Dwarf varieties Annual vegetables Group plants w/ similar

needs

Hanging Planters

Strawberry ‘Patio Temptation’

Tomatoes ‘Tumbling Tom’, ‘Robin’s Egg’, ‘Tiny Tom’

Bush beans Cucumber ‘Cool Breeze’ Herbs

Window Boxes

Tomatoes from previous Scallions Radishes Mesclun mix Carrot ‘Suko’ or

‘Parmex’ Herbs Strawberries

Coldframes

Lettuce, mesclun Spinach Scallions Radishes Chard (prefers to be in

the ground) Mini carrots ‘Kinko’,

‘Nelson’, ‘Purple Haze’ Endive

Large Containers

> 20”x26” Corn ‘Luther Hill’ Squash, melon Kale, kohlrabi Potatoes & leeks –

start w/ container ½ full, then hill up as they grow

Fruit for Small Spaces

Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums grown on dwarf rootstock, e.g. ‘Urban Apple’ series

Dwarf citrus (move indoors; humidify)

Blueberries, Thornless Blackberries, ‘Brazelberries’ serries

Currants where available

Grow On!

Carolyn Edsell-Vetter, MCH, AOLCPBlog/handouts:

http://ayardandahalf.wordpress.comEmail: carolyn [at] ayardandahalf [dot] com

W: 781-788-8855