Perennial Growth for an Organic Gardener

The grass always grows
better than the garden!

Over the past several years I have chronicled my battles against bugs and weeds in my quest to become an organic gardener.  No matter what I try, the grass and weeds seem to get the better of me.  I need a new plan.

While the growing season is hectic, the time between Christmas and early spring have become my own "greening" time, one where I seek out new knowledge to improve the next season.  Last winter, I completed the Rodale Institute's Organic Transition Course online.  I had planned to take the local Master Gardener class this year, but it's only given in the fall, which is already jam-packed in my schedule.  Perhaps, in the future, I'll find an online class, like Clemson offers.  South Carolina's climate is similar enough to Tennessee's to be compatible.  I just wonder if Tennessee will accept it?

Mulched crocuses with carrots
in a raised bed are weathering the cold well.

So, I've been looking for an online class for the winter.  I should have known that my cousin Mary Catherine would provide the answer.  She gardens quite successfully, and keeps chickens as well as goats.  When I visited her Facebook page last week, I noticed a new addition:  a link to Permaculture magazine  Permaculture is a systems approach to gardening, and life, which emphasizes the creation of  sustainable ecosystems rather than gardens.  Instead of fighting against Mother Nature, which even organic gardeners do to an extent, permaculture takes advantage of the relationships among the elements of an ecosystem.  It's quite a change from the traditional method of gardening.  So, perennial student that I am, I searched for a reliable online course.

Heavy rains have taken a long time
to soak into the ground.

Apparently, reliable is a relative thing, and the first course I thought I would take doesn't seem to be appropriate for me.  I finally settled on a distance learning class at North Carolina State University taught by Dr. Will Hooker.  Called Introduction to Permaculture, it's a recording of a live class and utilizes two texts:  Toby Hemenway's Gaia's Garden and Bill Mollison's Introduction to Permaculture.  I am, basically, auditing the class, not enrolled, and do not have any interactions with the instructor.  He is a certified permaculture designer and instructor, so I hope the information will be accurate.  The cost is perfect (free) and the flexibility works with my schedule.  I'd like to start implementing permaculture design principles in the spring.

Nandina, lovely, but pervasive.

So, the dark days of winter will be bright and busy here on the farm.  Far from barren, they will be a growing time for me, and, I hope, for my garden, too.

What about you?  How are you growing this winter?

Nancy