How Do I Create A Circular Backyard Farming System?

“Hey, I’ve been reading about different farming practices, and I really like the idea of making my backyard farm sustainable and efficient. I’ve got about a quarter-acre in my backyard, and I’m interested in creating a circular farming system to make the most out of my small space and reduce waste. I want the system to be as self-sufficient as possible, taking advantage of natural cycles, like composting and using waste from one part of the system to feed another. I’m a bit overwhelmed, though, and I’m not sure where to start. Could you give me some advice on how to set up a circular system effectively?” Thanks, Andrew, Perth, Australia.

Creating a circular backyard farming system is one of the smartest ways to maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and produce healthy, sustainable food right at home. Since you’ve got about a quarter-acre to work with, Andrew, you’re in a great position to set up a system that not only supports itself but also minimizes your environmental impact. Below, I’ll walk you through the various aspects of creating a circular system, step by step, so that it starts to feel less overwhelming. You’re going to be amazed at how interconnected various elements of your backyard can be once you get the ball rolling.

What is a Circular Backyard Farming System?

A circular backyard farming system is an approach to farming where waste from one area is used to support another, creating a self-sustaining cycle. The goal is to make the farming process more efficient by reducing inputs (like water, fertilizer, and energy) and making the farm more resilient. Think of it as a closed-loop system—where everything is recycled and reused, mimicking natural ecosystems in the wild.

The idea involves several interconnected components like composting, water conservation, integrated pest management, and companion planting, all working together to create a balanced, sustainable environment. It’s a system that relies on creating mutually beneficial relationships between plants, animals, and human inputs to reduce the need for external resources while increasing output.

1. Start With the Basics: Waste Reduction and Recycling

Composting Kitchen and Garden Waste

One of the simplest and most effective ways to close loops in your backyard farming system is by composting. All organic kitchen scraps, like vegetable peelings, fruit cores, coffee grounds, and eggshells, as well as garden waste like grass clippings, dead leaves, and small branches, can be turned into nutrient-rich compost. This compost can then be used to improve soil quality, providing essential nutrients for your plants.

When setting up a compost system, you can choose from several methods:

• Traditional Compost Bin: Choose a spot for a compost bin where it’s easily accessible but not disruptive. You’ll want to layer green materials (high in nitrogen, like vegetable scraps) with brown materials (high in carbon, like leaves). Turn the compost regularly to speed up decomposition.
• Worm Composting (Vermicomposting): If space is limited or you want a faster process, vermicomposting may be a great option for you. Worms, usually red wigglers, eat organic waste and produce casting that can be used as high-quality fertilizer.
• Bokashi Composting: This anaerobic method involves fermenting your kitchen waste, making it easier to compost in smaller spaces or more urban environments. Once fermented, the material can be added to your compost pile or directly to the soil.

Whichever method you choose, the principle is the same: transform what would be waste into a valuable resource, closing a significant loop in your farming system.

Reusing Animal Waste

If you’re planning on including animals in your backyard farm, their waste can be an excellent resource. Chickens, rabbits, goats, and other small livestock all produce manure that can be composted and used to enrich your soil. Chicken manure, for example, is high in nitrogen and can be an excellent amendment when properly composted.

Be mindful of how you handle manure in your system:

• Direct Composting: Mix animal waste with your kitchen and garden scraps in the compost to create a balanced fertilizer.
• Manure Tea: Steep well-composted manure in water to create a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer that can be applied directly to plants.

This approach not only reduces waste and enriches your soil but also provides a holistic way to cycle nutrients within your system.

2. Water Conservation and Efficiency

Rainwater Harvesting

Water is a precious resource, and conserving it is a key principle of any circular system. Andrew, in Perth, where summers can be hot and dry, rainwater harvesting could help you manage water more sustainably.

Setting up a rainwater collection system is a straightforward and impactful step. Simple rain barrels placed under downspouts can collect hundreds of liters of water during a single rainfall. This water can then be used to irrigate your garden, water your livestock, or even be filtered for household use.

Drip Irrigation and Mulching

After collecting your rainwater, you want to ensure it’s used optimally. Drip irrigation systems are perfect for regulating how much water your plants receive and minimizing waste. By delivering water directly to the roots, they reduce evaporation and runoff.

Another crucial practice is mulching. Applying organic mulch, like straw or wood chips, around your plants helps retain soil moisture, preventing the soil from drying out too quickly. Additionally, as the mulch breaks down, it adds organic matter to the soil, improving its structure and nutrient content.

3. Soil Health and Management

Rotating Crops

Crops that are grown continuously in the same soil can deplete specific nutrients, leading to decreased yields and increased pest and disease problems over time. Rotating crop varieties each year is a simple yet effective way to maintain soil health.

Rotating crops means planning your garden in cycles, growing different plant families in each bed or plot every season. For example:

• Year 1: Grow nitrogen-fixing plants like peas and beans.
• Year 2: Follow with heavy feeders like leafy greens or tomatoes.
• Year 3: Plant root vegetables such as carrots or potatoes.
• Year 4: Allow the soil to rest, maybe with a cover crop like clover.

This reduces the likelihood of nutrient deficiencies and disrupts pest and disease cycles, making your soil more fertile year after year.

Cover Cropping

Cover crops, like clover or rye, are planted not for harvest but to protect and enrich the soil during off-seasons. These crops prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and add organic matter when turned into the soil.

They are particularly useful in a small backyard system as they help to ensure your soil stays healthy and productive even when your main crops aren’t growing. Plus, they can also be used as green manure, adding nutrients back into the ground when tilled in.

4. Integrating Livestock into Your Circular System

Choosing the Right Animals for Small Spaces

Integrating animals like chickens, ducks, or even rabbits into your system can greatly enhance its sustainability. Andrew, with your quarter-acre in Perth, chickens may be a practical starting point. They are relatively easy to keep, produce valuable eggs, and their waste is perfect for composting.

Ducks could also be a good fit since they can help control pests like snails and slugs while thriving in wetter areas of your garden. Rabbits are less common but just as valuable; their manure is mild and can be directly added to plants without composting.

Rotational Grazing

If you’re working with larger livestock like goats, rotational grazing can be vital in maintaining healthy pasture and reducing overgrazing. By moving animals to different sections of your land regularly, you allow grazed sections to recover while the animals feed on fresh vegetation elsewhere.

Rotational grazing mimics the natural movements of wild animals, leading to improved soil fertility, increased plant diversity, and healthier livestock.

5. Planting Strategies for Maximum Efficiency

Companion Planting

Companion planting is a method where different crops are planted together to improve growth, reduce pests, and enhance the overall health of the garden. This is a low-energy way of increasing the productivity of your backyard farm while reducing the need for chemical inputs.

For example:

• Tomatoes and Basil: Basil is known to repel tomato hornworms and other pests while enhancing the flavor of tomatoes.
• Carrots and Onions: Carrots help aerate the soil for onions, while onions deter carrot flies.
• Corn, Beans, and Squash: Known as the “Three Sisters,” these plants complement each other perfectly. The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and the sprawling squash leaves shade the ground, reducing weeds.

Understanding these relationships allows you to optimize space, improve yields, and create a more resilient garden.

Perennial Vegetables and Fruits

Incorporating perennial plants into your garden is another fantastic way to close loops and foster long-term sustainability. Unlike annuals, which need to be replanted every year, perennials, such as asparagus, rhubarb, and many berry bushes, return season after season.

These plants require less maintenance once established, need fewer inputs, and can provide a reliable source of food with minimum disruption to the soil.

6. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Natural Predators and Beneficial Insects

Another important aspect of a circular farming system is managing pests without resorting to chemical pesticides. By encouraging the presence of natural predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, and attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, you can maintain a balanced ecosystem.

Here’s how to encourage beneficial insects:

• Plant Nectar-Rich Flowers: Certain flowers like marigolds, yarrow, and daisies attract pollinators and predatory insects. Planting them among your vegetables can promote a healthier garden.
• Install Insect Hotels: These structures provide a habitat for beneficial insects, helping them to thrive in your backyard.
• Avoid Pesticides: Chemical pesticides don’t discriminate between pests and beneficial insects, so it’s best to avoid using them unless absolutely necessary. Instead, look for natural remedies like neem oil or introduce predator insects.

Growing Aromatic Herbs

Adding aromatic herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender to your garden can serve as natural pest deterrents. Their strong scents mask the smell of vegetables, making it more difficult for pests to locate them. Plus, they provide culinary/horticultural benefits to you as well!

7. Developing a Nutrient-Rich, Multi-Functional Garden

Edible Landscapes

Andrew, with your backyard space in Perth, creating an edible landscape might be an exciting way to blend functionality with aesthetics. The idea is to plant edible trees, shrubs, and groundcovers right alongside your vegetables.

Edible landscaping allows you to maximize the productivity of your space by combining beauty with utility. Fruit trees can provide shade, while grapevines offer privacy and delicious grapes. Ground covers like strawberries or thyme can replace traditional, water-thirsty lawns, providing beauty, food, and soil protection all at once.

Polyculture and Diversity

Monoculture, or growing a single crop in an area, is common in commercial farming but not usually suited to a circular system. Instead, aim for polyculture, where a diverse array of plants is grown together. This not only reduces the risk of disease but also improves nutrient use and creates a more dynamic ecosystem.

For example, in a mixed garden bed, you might have tall plants like corn or sunflowers growing in one layer, medium-sized plants such as tomatoes or peppers in another, and low-growing herbs or root vegetables at the ground level. This layered approach makes the best use of available space, light, and resources.

8. Continuous Learning and Adaption

Observe and Adapt

Like with any system, things might not go exactly as planned at first. The key to a successful circular farming system is to be observant and ready to adapt. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t, and make changes as necessary.

If a particular crop isn’t thriving, there could be an underlying issue with soil, light, or water. Or, if you find yourself with an excess of a particular type of waste, look for ways to incorporate it back into the system, such as expanding your composting operation or finding new plants that might thrive on your unique soil conditions.

Experimentation is Key

Don’t hesitate to experiment. Try new crops, test different composting methods, or attempt various water-saving techniques. Over time, Andrew, you’ll find what works best for your unique conditions in Perth. Successful circular farming is as much about the process of gradual learning and adaption as it is about immediate results.

Final Thoughts…

Andrew, thank you for reaching out with your question. I hope this guide gives you the clarity and confidence to start building your circular backyard farming system. Remember, creating a balanced, sustainable system will take time, but each small step you take will bring you closer to your goal. Start small, observe how the different components work together, and continue to refine your approach as you go. Happy farming!