This is game I made as part of a Permaculture Basics Course. Draw a Game Board of a Turtle with 13 ‘spaces’ on the shell, maybe from the center going out in a spiral numbered 1 to 13.
You play as you learn going from one space to the next as you read each ‘card’ (which one can print out on a sheet of paper or put on 13 cards or number 2 sets of cards (if two players or teams) with 1-13 and the letters on the opposite side such as 1/P, 2/E, 3/ R etc.
Have some sketch paper (maybe even a special drawing pad to compare drawings that emerge of landscapes, garden designs and ideas for plantings and ways to enjoy your garden with teamwork, play, rest and of course, gardening (planting, watering, weeding, creating from the get-go with methods that help build up soil, such as no-till garden beds.)
Much of the technical information was drawn from the book “Grow Food Not Lawns.” Thanks also to Paul Tobin for inspiration about the Turtle Garden design idea based on one of the permaculture patterns.
Created by Catherine Palmer Paton, public FB page and blogging on Livfully.org and Livfully.org/wordpressblog.
HERE ARE THE GAME CARDS FOR THE TURTLE GARDEN PERMACULTURE GAME.
PLAY ALONE OR WITH OTHERS TO LEARN ABOUT PERMACULTURE (PC.)
DESIGN A TURTLE GARDEN OR SEE THE WORLD WITH NEW TURTLE PC EYES!
AFTER READING THE CARD AND ‘RESPONDING’ TO THE SUGGESTION OF EACH NUMBER/ CARD, YOU EARN A LETTER OF P-E-R-M-A-C-U-L-T-U-R-E!
1.’TURTLE POND’ OF THE THREE “PERMACULTURE ETHICS”–
EARTH CARE, PEOPLE CARE, RESOURCE SHARE
A) NAME THE 3 ETHICS OF PERMACULTURE (AS IN #1) OR
B) GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE. HOW DO YOU OR OTHERS CARE FOR THE EARTH, PEOPLE OR SHARE?
IDEAS:
B1)EARTH CARE EXAMPLES–PLANTING TREES, GROWING FOOD LOCALLY, USING LESS GAS TO DRIVE OR OIL TO HEAT OUR HOMES BY WEARING A SWEATER AND SLIPPERS OR SHOES INDOORS.
THIS LOWERS OUR CARBON OUTPUT AND FOOTPRINTS.
B2) PEOPLE CARE EXAMPLES–LIVING SUSTAINABLY IN A HOUSE THAT IS EFFICIENT IN ENERGY USE–BONUS WITH OTHERS AS IS SAFE AND KINDLY, HAVING HEALTHY FOOD AND CLEAN POTABLE (DRINKABLE) WATER BY HELPING PEOPLE HAVE SAFE WATER AND WELLS OR SANITARY WATER AVAILABLE.
B3) RESOURCE SHARE EXAMPLES– USE EXCESS ENERGY, WATER, AND LAND IN WAYS TO RECYCLE AND SHARE WITH OTHERS. SHARE FUNDS FOR FUEL, WARM COATS AND BLANKETS WITH THE NEEDY, WATER COMMUNITY GARDENS FROM RAIN BARRELS ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND.
AS IS SAFE AND APPROPRIATE WITH OTHERS, HELP PEOPLE APPLY FOR FUEL, FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH AND OTHER ASSISTANCE WITH DIGITAL APPS ON MOBILE PHONES OR ONLINE OR WITH HELP FROM A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENT.
NOW YOU HAVE A “P”!
2. ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE– “THE PROBLEM IS THE ______________!”
(SOLUTION!)
LOOK FOR “ANSWERS” OR POSITIVE OUTCOMES WHEN A PROBLEM OF TOO MUCH OR LITTLE OF A RESOURCE, OR EVEN IF A DIFFICULTY, CONFLICT OR QUESTION ARISES.
GET SUPPORT AND CONSULT WITH OTHERS WITH SKILLS IN THAT AREA. AGAIN PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND HEALTH IN MIND AND WITH SUPPORT.
MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SKILLED IN TASKS OR MOVING WOOD OR DOING TREEWORK.
DO NOT DO TREE WORK OR DIG WITHOUT CONSULTING ABOUT WIRES ABOVE OR BELOW GROUND. PACE WORK AND BE SURE TO HAVE PERMITS IF NEEDED.
TRY IT WITH ANY PROBLEM THAT MAY COME YOUR WAY AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES LIKE TOO MUCH SUN OR WATER.
TURN THE “PROBLEM” AROUND AND DISCOVER POSITIVE APPROACHES AND WAYS TO BENEFIT FROM THE SITUATION. ASK ‘WHAT GOOD MIGHT COME FROM THIS?
CONSULT WITH OTHERS AND RESOURCES. BREAK BIG TASKS INTO SMALLER ONES, THEN THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED MORE READILY OVER TIME.
YOU’RE UP TO “PE”!
3) ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE “EVERYTHING GARDENS”
EVERY LIVING ORGANISM GROWS AND MAKES WASTE. ALL ARE PART OF A CYCLE. EACH ASPECT OF NATURE–PEOPLE, ANIMALS, PLANTS, BACTERIA AND OTHER ASPECTS SUCH AS CLIMATE, WEATHER, SOIL, WATER, WIND AND SUN–AFFECTS OTHER ASPECTS. GROWTH, LIFE CYCLES AND PATTERNS INTER-RELATE.
YOU NOW HAVE “PER”
4)ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE–‘USE LEVERAGE’
USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO GET THE MOST DONE OR STARTED. SPREAD THE WORD THROUGH NETWORKS, E-MAIL LISTS, PHONE CHAINS, AND GET HELP THROUGH WORK PARTIES AND SHARING IN PLANNING AND DOING THINGS WITH THOSE INVOLVED OR AFFECTED BY DECISIONS.
BRAINSTORM IDEAS WITH A GROUP OR ‘ACTION LEARNING GUILD’ (LIKE A STUDY OR THINKING GROUP TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF AND TO REPORT SMALL ACTION STEPS TO).
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, START A ‘PERMACULTURE OR ‘TURTLE GARDEN OR OTHER NAMED GROUP FOR YOUR AREA AT A PUBLIC PLACE TO SHARE IDEAS’.
(NOTE: TO USE “PERMACULTURE IN A BUSINESS OR EDUCATIONAL WAY, PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A BASIC PERMACULTURE TRAINING, CHECK WWW.GAIA.ORG FOR MORE INFO AND FREE DOWNLOADS, ONLINE GROUPS ARE ON WIKIPEDIA AROUND THE WORLD)
USE DESIGNS AND PLANTS THAT COMPLEMENT NATURE AND EACH OTHER.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR “PERM”
( MINI PRIZE OF INFO: PERMACULTURE WAS CREATED TO REFLECT ‘PERMANENT AGRICULTURE’ IN TERMS OF PLANTING PERENNIALS AND EDIBLE FOREST GARDENS AND SHAPING THE LAND WHICH WOULD BENEFIT PLANTS, PREVENT EROSION AND SUCH.)
5) ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE–“INFINITE YIELD”
LOOK AND PLAN FOR ABUNDANCE IN NATURE, GARDENS AND RESOURCES AND SUPPORT!
(YOU CAN HOP UP AND DO THE HOKEY-POKEY NOW IF YOU’RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND WANT TO FILL YOUR HUMOR TANKS FOR LATER IN THE GAME).
ACCESS NATURE, DESIGN SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES TO MEET NEEDS FOR MORE PEOPLE AND PROJECTS TO SIMPLIFY LIVING AND CONSERVE ENERGY
. WE CAN FEED AND HOUSE EVERYONE ON THE PLANET WITH THE RIGHT APPROACHES AND SYSTEMS WORKING TOGETHER. SHARE EXTRA AND RECYCLE SURPLUS INTO THE SYSTEM.
6) ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE–‘WORK WITH NATURE NOT AGAINST IT’
WORK WITH NATURAL RESOURCES OF LAND, SUN, SOIL, GROUNDWATER, WEATHER AND CLIMATE TO DESIGN PLANS AND MEET GOALS.
NATURAL PATTERNS SUCH AS BRANCHING AND SPIRALS, FRACTALS (WHICH REPEAT WITHIN A LARGER DESIGN AS IN A SNOWFLAKE), AND WAVE-LIKE PATTERNS ARE FUN TO LEARN ABOUT AND USE!
“LET’S HEAR IT FOR YOUR P-E-R-M-A!”
7) SEVEN R’S OF RECYCLING…
1.REDUCE (USE LESS),
2. RE-USE (USE AGAIN),
3. RECYCLE ( USE MATERIAL AGAIN),
4.REPAIR (FIX IT)
5.REFUSE (DON’T GET IT, BUY IT, OR WANT IT, JUST SAY “NO, THANK YOU”)
6. RETHINK ( WAIT A DAY, TRY A NEW WAY)
7.REDESIGN (‘LESS IS MORE’ REWARDING IN MANY WAYS AND EASIER TO LIVE WITH, AIM FOR EFFICIENCY, LESS MESS AND LESS STRESS)
NOW YOU HAVE A “P-E-R-M-A-C” (SEE HOW EASY THIS IS? A TIP ABOUT THE ABOVE 7, EASIER SAID THAN DONE AT FIRST, BUT THEN CAN BECOME HABIT AFTER 21 DAYS IN A ROW, OR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES…)
8. 1ST STEP OF DESIGN PROCESS–OBSERVE LAND AND WATER IN YOUR GARDEN OR PROJECT AREA. RECORD OBSERVATIONS OF LAND FORM, TREES AND PLANTS, SOIL TYPE, WATER FLOW, SUN,AND WIND PATTERNS.
OR WHERE WOULD YOU AND SOME FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND OTHRS LIKE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY ‘TURTLE GARDEN’ USING PERMACULTURE IDEAS FOR REAL OR JUST TO IMAGINE FOR FUN?
9. 2ND STEP OF DESIGN PROCESS–STATE YOUR GOALS; CONSULT WITH OTHERS INVOLVED. WRITE GOALS DOWN IN A NOTEBOOK YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF OVER TIME. WHAT KINDS OF PLANTS AND ACTIVITY FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS DO YOU WANT IN YOUR GARDEN, PLAY SPACE OR YARD?
OR WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN? HOW BIG DO YOU WANT IT?
WHAT KIND OF FOOD DO YOU WANT TO GROW? USING CONTAINERS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND ROOFTOPS OR PATIOS MAY BE AN OPTION IN CROWDED AREAS WITH LESS LAND AVAILABLE.
WHAT KIND OR HERBS, FLOWERS, BERRIES, SHRUBS OR TREES?
IS THERE ROOM FOR AN EDIBLE FOREST GARDEN ALONG THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY OR IN A SPACE FOR A LONGTERM PLANTING OF BERRIES, TREES AND PERENNIALS?
DO YOU WANT A SPECIAL DESIGN SHAPE FOR YOUR GARDEN ( A TURTLE OR CIRCLE WITH FOUR LEGS TO PLAN IN WITH OPENINGS AT THE HEAD AND TAIL MADE OF STONES OR LOGS IN THE GROUND FOR ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE)
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A SPIRAL ON THE GROUND EVEN WITH BRANCHES FOR FUN TO CREATE A MAZE OR AS A GARDEN? OR A SPIRAL RISING UP IN LAYERS FOR HERBS AND FLOWERS FOR INSTANCE?
WHERE ARE NATURAL OR HELPFUL PATHWAYS, PLAY SPACES OR GATHERING SPACES FOR MUSIC, SMALL CAMPFIRES (WITH ADULT SUPERVISION AND BUCKETS OF WATER NEARBY) IN OR NEAR THE GARDEN OR OTHER STRUCTURES? L
OCATING THINGS CLOSER TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN USE THEM AND NEAR RESOURCES WHETHER TOOLS, WATER OR HOMES CAN MAKE THEM HANDY TO ACCESS.
10)3RD STEP OF DESIGN PROCESS–ANALYZE AND ASSESS THE SITE TO SEE WHICH IDEAS WILL WORK.
HINT: LISTEN TO WHAT THE LAND WANTS WITH CLUES OF THE SHAPE OF THE LAND, THE SUN AND SO ON. CONSIDER IDEAS AND OPTIONS, WHAT WILL WORK WELL IN EACH SECTION, HOW PARTS FUNCTION TOGETHER, PATHWAYS AND DESIGN SHAPE.
OR SKETCH OUT DESIGN OPTIONS AFTER GATHERING SITE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIZE AND SHAPE AND THE CONTOUR (ELEVATION, SLOPES, ETC) OF THE LAND, WATER SOURCES AND FLOW.
DO YOU WANT A TURTLE-FRIENDLY POND (EVEN SOME WATER PLAY AREAS FOR CHILDREN WHETHER A WATER TABLE OR A VERNAL POOL OR OTHER WATER SOURCE IF SAFE FOR THOSE USING THE AREA IN THE CENTER OR NEARBY?
WHICH PLANTS WILL YOU USE FOR DIVERSITY AND TO DETER PESTS AS WELL AS TO GROW GOOD FOOD TO SHARE WITH SOME BIRDS AND ANIMALS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHETHER AT POT-LUCKS OR FOR HERBS OR IF A SURPLUS?
BONUS REMINDER: NATURE MAY HAVE SOME PLANTS OR INSECTS THAT PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TOO SO CHECK FOR THAT WHEN INVITING PEOPLE INTO THE SPACE. HAVE A PLAN FOR RESPONSIBLE HELP CLOSEBY AND MEDICATION SOMEONE MAY NEED ON HAND WITH PERMISSION TO USE (SUCH AS AN EPI-PEN IF ALLERGIC TO A BEE STING.) TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO AVOID ANY MUSHROOM ONE DOES NOT KNOW TO BE SAFE AND NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO TOUCH THEM.
11. 4TH STEP OF DESIGN PROCESS–SKETCH DESIGN ON PAPER. THINK “PATTERNS TO DETAILS” –FIRST NOTE LANDSCAPE, MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND NATURAL ELEMENTS, FLOW OF PATHWAYS AND WATER, CONNECTIONS AND THEN DETAILS OF WHAT TO PUT OR PLANT IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SCEHMATIC DESIGN IS A ROUGH DRAFT TO SEE HOW IT LOOKS ON PAPER.
OR TAKE YOUR BEST IDEAS OR WHICHEVER ONES YOU CHOOSE IF IT’S A GROUP EFFORT (HOPEFULLY EVERYONE GOT TO SHARE, PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES, CULTURES, ABILITIES, PERSONALITY TYPES). PLAN PATHWAYS AND FINAL GARDEN DESIGN ON PAPER.
12. 5TH STEP OF DESIGN PROCESS–TRY OUT YOUR DESIGN ONCE YOU’VE DECIDED YOU AND YOUR TEAM LIKE IT AND THINK IT WILL MEET YOUR GOALS AND WORK WELL. IMPLEMENT YOU DESIGN WITH A PLANNED STEP-BY-STEP ACTION PLAN. MAKE A LIST OF STEPS TO PREPARE THE GROUND (LOOK UP LASAGNA GARDENING, IDEALLY COVERING GRASS A FEW MONTHS IN ADVANCE WITH CARDBOARD OVER SOME COMPOSTED MANURE WITH TOPSOIL ON IT, WHICH MEANS COVERING THE GROUND WHICH CAN PRESERVE TOPSOIL AND THE ECOSYSTEM THERIN RATHER THAN DIGGING IT UP) WITH A TIME LINE, THEN DO IT! dIGGING SIX-INCH TRENCHES ALONG THE SIDES OF A FOUR-FOOT WIDE GARDEN BED CAN HELP CAPTURE RAIN WATER AND KEEP GRASS AT BAY. THAT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER TO REACH PLANTS WHICH CAN BE DONE IN SHORT ROWS ACROSS THE BED OR AS DESIRED.
OR WHEN IT’S TIME TO TRY OUT OR IMPLEMENT YOUR DESIGN, MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU’LL NEED–MONEY, TOOLS, DONATIONS, PLANTS, SEEDS, COMPOSTED MANURE TO ENRICH SOIL, CARDBOARD TO COVER UP GRASS AND DIG 6 INCH DEEP AND WIDE TRENCHES AROUND IT TO SAVE TOPSOIL AND MAKE A SWALE –RHYMES WITH WHALE AND CAN HELP CONSERVE WATER AND MAKE A NICE MICROCLIMATE. THINK OF FENCING DEPENDING ON WILDLIFE IN ONE’S AREA, AND THAT MAY MEAN DIGGING A FOOT DOWN IN THE GROUND AND PUTTING CHICKEN WIRE BENT WITH A FOOT FLAT AS WELL TO PREVENT CRITTERS FROM DIGGING UNDER THE FENCE.
FOUR FOOT HIGH WIRE FENCING AROUND THE LONG GARDEN BED SHOULD PREVENT DEER FROM JUMPING IN SINCE IT WOULD BE NARROW FOR THEM TO LAND IN IT.
PRIORITIZE AND MAKE WORK TEAMS AND A SCHEDULE, THEN GO FOR IT!
13. 6TH STEP OF DESIGN PROCESS–SEE HOW YOU PLAN IS WORKING AND MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED. RECORD AS GOALS ARE MET. PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK AND HAVE A PARTY1
NOW YOU’VE GOT ALL YOUR LETTERS AND KNOW ABOUT PERMACULTURE! CONGRATZ!!