In an attempt to mimic the form (Permaculture as a lens) of a forest, many permaculture designers create "guilds" - a set of plants that are grouped together which are known to support one another. These guilds are built to mimic natural communities (Gaia’s Garden) of plants found in forests.
A guild is typically built around a central plant - a tree or large bush - with as many supporting plants packed in around it. For example, you might plant herbs or flowers that attract specific kinds of pollinators, or predators that eat pests which notoriously attack the central tree.
A ring of perennial asparagus might be planted to keep grass from coming near the base of the tree. Strawberries might be planted to be a mulching groundcover. Nitrogen fixers, etc.
The combinations of plants are informed by seeing what kinds of plants naturally group together in nature. This is one of the reasons having a Zone 5 (5 zones in permaculture) - the wild area - is so important to study.
#permaculture #toolong
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