
Wildwood Garden
This has traditionally been the meeting place now for 5 years running where we begin our tour.
A local community garden in Calgary's Southwest Community of Wildwood, construction of the unique and eye-catching Wildwood Garden began in the spring of 2012. The permacultured site has been heralded for many 'firsts' in Calgary and has since received multiple awards and grants for its construction and design. More and more new elements are added to the site each year with a water spiral which saw its completion at the end of August 2014.
This has traditionally been the meeting place now for 5 years running where we begin our tour.
A local community garden in Calgary's Southwest Community of Wildwood, construction of the unique and eye-catching Wildwood Garden began in the spring of 2012. The permacultured site has been heralded for many 'firsts' in Calgary and has since received multiple awards and grants for its construction and design. More and more new elements are added to the site each year with a water spiral which saw its completion at the end of August 2014.
Wildwood Permacultured Gardens
Construction to begin May 2012

(More information on the Wildwood Garden Website here)
In early 2012 the community of Wildwood in S.W. Calgary approached me, expressing interest in a permaculture garden designed for the land adjacent to their community centre. The images on this page are samples of the completed design. This design includes pathways, a food forest, native plant forests, individual family beds, 600 square feet of terraced wicking beds, water catchment, swales, a play area, and meeting/sitting areas.
The main garden, (the leaf shape on the right of the Community centre) will be a food forest with the veins acting as swales. These swales also double as pathways to be used for harvesting and maintenance.
In addition to the swales, you will find other water catchment systems. Half of the roof of the community centre, the shed roof, and even the pathways will all be utilized to catch water so that in an average season, nearly 100,000 liters of water will be harvested.
In early 2012 the community of Wildwood in S.W. Calgary approached me, expressing interest in a permaculture garden designed for the land adjacent to their community centre. The images on this page are samples of the completed design. This design includes pathways, a food forest, native plant forests, individual family beds, 600 square feet of terraced wicking beds, water catchment, swales, a play area, and meeting/sitting areas.
The main garden, (the leaf shape on the right of the Community centre) will be a food forest with the veins acting as swales. These swales also double as pathways to be used for harvesting and maintenance.
In addition to the swales, you will find other water catchment systems. Half of the roof of the community centre, the shed roof, and even the pathways will all be utilized to catch water so that in an average season, nearly 100,000 liters of water will be harvested.

The Bottom Edge of Leaf (north) showing berm and rock wall
At the bottom end of the leaf (the brown semi-circle of the map) you will find a rock wall built up against a small berm. This will act as a sun trap capturing the sun's rays against the rock surface, creating a micro-climate, thus extending the growing season. In addition to this, the top portion of the berm will be planted with evergreens among other plants. This will create a windbreak against harsh northern winds.
So why the leaf?

There were many reasons for the leaf design. Aside from the obvious, being that it is a garden after all and that it is in the community of 'Wildwood.'
Permaculturists look to nature for patterns as clues for the best design to suit a particular purpose. Examples of these patterns include spirals (such as snail shells, or whirl pools), wave patterns (on water, sand dunes), net patterns (such as spiderwebs) and many others. The leaf is an example of a 'branching pattern'. Nature uses branching patterns (for example: rivers, veins of the body, lightning, etc.) for efficient distribution and collection of energies. A productive garden is no different. The branching pattern fits in well to answer our needs for Distribution of seeds, water, and so forth and the collection of plant materials and of course, our bountiful harvest!
Permaculturists look to nature for patterns as clues for the best design to suit a particular purpose. Examples of these patterns include spirals (such as snail shells, or whirl pools), wave patterns (on water, sand dunes), net patterns (such as spiderwebs) and many others. The leaf is an example of a 'branching pattern'. Nature uses branching patterns (for example: rivers, veins of the body, lightning, etc.) for efficient distribution and collection of energies. A productive garden is no different. The branching pattern fits in well to answer our needs for Distribution of seeds, water, and so forth and the collection of plant materials and of course, our bountiful harvest!