Smart Permaculture Design

by JENNY ALLEN, Foreword by Bill Mollison

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New Large softcover book 248 pages, published 2002.

Smart Permaculture Design is a compelling book which brings a new perspective to how we might look at our gardens. It focuses on the life of just one garden dreamt up and designed by author Jenny Allen. In her quest to make a garden of pure pleasure, she followed the practives of permaculture, an organic method of gardening based on using nature's solutions to achieve abundance. This practice releases the gardener from much of the drudgery of repetitive tasks, leaving more time for relaxing and basking in the garden's fruitfulness and beauty.

Using observation, planning and design as cornerstones for her paradise-building, Jenny takes the readers into her garden and, with her light and quirky style and wit, she gently leads us into the principles of permaculture. Her hand-drawn plans and designs guide us and the sumptuous photographs bear witness to the unfolding drama.

The smart lateral thinking that underscores permaculture can be used by anyone and for any garden. The author's garden is set in the lush sub-tropical hinterland of southern Queensland but the permaculture principles that Jenny has drawn upon are universal. They work as well for a balcony garden or the backyard of a terraced house as for an extensive farm property.

Smart Permaculture Design shows how a garden can be so much more than just a collection of plants. It can feed, entertain, delight, amuse, soothe and fascinate you. This practical and immensely thoughtful reference is also an inspirational armchair read; it will uplift you and carry you away.

This book was originally printed under the title Paradise in Your Garden: Smart Permaculture Design.

About the author

Jenny Allen is a creative gardener whose humour and easy writing style is popularising the organic gardening techniques of permaculture. Featured on ABC TV's Gardening Australia as an 'inspirational gardener, her 1.2 hectace garden - the focus of this beautiful book - is a living example of her craft and passion.

Jenny has taught Permaculture Design in Australia, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Bangladesh and continues to inspire visiting Japanese and American students. To avoid being side-tracked while studying for her university exams, she cycled 1200 kilometres across the Nullarbor Plain - with her books in tow. She has worked for Care Australia, Community Aid Abroad, Sustainable Futures and the Global Ecovillage Network. Having designed over 100 gardens in Australia, Jenny has written this book so others can benefit from her knowledge and experience.

Smart Permaculture Design by Jenny Allen