What Does The “Produce No Waste” Principle Involve In Permaculture?

“I’ve been getting pretty serious about permaculture on my small property in Adelaide, especially with the “Produce No Waste” principle. But I’m struggling to understand the practical day-to-day actions I can take. For instance, I noticed I’m still throwing out kitchen scraps sometimes, and there’s always some plant material that I don’t know what to do with. Could you explain how I can fully embrace this principle without feeling like I’m constantly fighting an uphill battle?” Thanks, Matthew, Adelaide, Australia.

Understanding the “Produce No Waste” Principle

The “Produce No Waste” principle in permaculture is all about maximizing the use of resources and ensuring that nothing goes to waste. It’s less of a strict rulebook and more of a mindset shift. You see, in nature, waste doesn’t really exist. Everything serves a purpose and can be cycled back into the system. Our goal here is to mimic that natural process on our own properties.

Matthew, it’s easy to feel swamped when trying to tackle every area where waste occurs. But rest assured, the changes you’re making towards reducing waste—even small ones—will compound and make a difference over time. Let’s dive into how you can implement this in different areas of your garden and home.

Turning Kitchen Scraps into Garden Gold

One of the most straightforward ways to embrace the “Produce No Waste” principle is through composting. Now, you mentioned that you’re still sometimes throwing out kitchen scraps, which, honestly, happens to all of us from time to time. But let’s make those scraps work for you!

• Composting Scraps: Vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells—they all belong in a compost pile or bin, not the trash. You can set up a small kitchen compost bin for collecting scraps. When it’s full, take it out to your compost heap.
• Vermiculture: Ever tried composting with worms? Vermiculture is perfect for smaller spaces and a great way to turn kitchen waste into nutrient-rich worm castings that your plants will love.
• Chop and Drop: If you’re pruning veggies, herbs, or even some weeds, consider the “chop and drop” method. Just chop plants where they stand and let them break down naturally, adding nutrients back to the soil.
• Broth or Stock: Don’t toss veggie peelings just yet! Save them in the freezer and use them to make veggie stock. When you’re done, the leftover pulp can still go into the compost.

Managing Plant Waste in the Garden

Plant waste is another area where we often find ourselves generating “waste” that could be put to good use. In a permaculture system, plant materials should ideally be cycled back into your garden. Here’s how you can do it without breaking a sweat:

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

Think about all the plant material you typically collect like fallen leaves, grass clippings, or pruned branches. Instead of bagging them up, these can all be used as mulch. Spread them around the base of your plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and eventually, they’ll break down and enrich your soil.

Hugelkultur – Give Those Branches a Home

Got a big pile of brush? Consider Hugelkultur, which is a technique where you create raised garden beds by piling up woody material, then covering it with compost and soil. Over time, the wood rots and becomes a rich, moisture-retaining base for your garden. Win-win!

Regrow Your Cuttings

Before tossing those plant clippings, think about whether you can regrow them. Many herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary can be regrown from simple cuttings. Others like green onions or celery can be regrown from the leftover base.

Using Greywater Efficiently

Water is a precious resource, especially in areas like Australia where drought can be an ongoing issue. Instead of letting greywater (lightly used water from your sink, shower, or laundry) go down the drain, it can be used to irrigate your garden.

• Sinks and Showers: Use a simple greywater system to redirect lightly used water from your sinks and showers to your garden. Just be sure to avoid products with lots of chemicals; natural soaps are best.
• Laundry: Set up a system to divert your laundry water to water your plants. It’s important to use a low-sodium, low-phosphorus detergent if you’re doing this.

While this might seem a bit advanced, it’ll empower you to use every drop effectively, contributing to a permaculture approach where nothing is wasted.

Harvesting Rainwater

On the topic of water, harvesting rainwater is another way to ensure you’re using natural resources wisely and not letting them go to waste. When rain falls on your property, capturing it means you can reduce your dependency on tap water and put the rain to work for you.

Installing Rain Barrels

Set up rain barrels under your eaves to capture water running off your roof. Even if you’re in a dry area like Adelaide, every bit helps. You can use this stored water to irrigate your garden during dry spells.

Creating a Swale System

If you want to get a bit more advanced, consider building swales—shallow trenches that follow the contour of your land. They capture rainwater, slow it down, and allow it to soak into your soil rather than running off and being lost. It’s an effective way to hydrate your landscape with zero extra water use.

Dealing with Food Surplus

Let’s face it, sometimes we grow so much of one thing that we just can’t eat it all. But that doesn’t mean it has to go to waste!

• Preserving the Harvest: If you find yourself with a glut of tomatoes, for instance, consider canning or drying them for later use. You’ll thank yourself in the winter months when your pantry is stocked with garden goodness.
• Sharing the Abundance: Have too many zucchinis or cucumbers? Share with your neighbors or local food bank. It’s a great way to grow community alongside your garden.
• Animal Feed: Some surplus harvests can go to any chickens, goats, or other livestock you might have. Think of it as recycling food back into the food chain.

Creative Reuse of Materials

Another important aspect of ‘Produce No Waste’ involves being resourceful with non-organic materials. Before tossing something out, consider its potential second life on your property.

Recycling Containers

Don’t throw away old containers. Just imagine what some can become: Raised beds, planters, or even water catchment systems. Matthew, that leftover tin can become the perfect herb planter for your windowsill.

Repurposing Pallettes

Wooden pallets can be turned into anything from compost bins to garden trellises. Often, you can find them for free. Just check to make sure the wood is untreated, so you don’t introduce chemicals into your garden.

Upcycled Garden Art

Turn those old, broken tools or rusty metal objects into quirky garden art. It’s functional too—scarecrows, trellises, or simple markers can all be made from materials you already have lying around.

Overcoming Challenges in “Producing No Waste”

It’s not always smooth sailing when you’re trying to produce no waste, especially at the beginning. But most challenges have practical solutions.

• Feeling Overwhelmed: Start small, Matthew. Focus on one area of waste, like kitchen scraps, and then expand as you get comfortable.
• Failing Compost: Has your compost turned into a smelly mess? That usually means it’s too wet. Add dry materials like straw or leaves to balance it out.
• Excess Harvest Rotting: If your harvests are going bad before you get to them, try harvesting less at a time, or invest in some canning jars and dehydrators to preserve for later.

Mistakes happen, and that’s okay! Permaculture is about learning from these experiences and adjusting as needed. Every step you take toward reducing waste is progress.

Taking it Further: The Zero-Waste Lifestyle

The “Produce No Waste” principle can extend beyond your garden into other parts of your life. Plenty of those principles apply to household management, shopping habits, and more.

Consider bringing reusable bags to the market, buying in bulk to reduce packaging, or even making your own household cleaners with simple, natural ingredients. The less you bring into your home that could eventually become waste, the easier it will be to achieve your waste-reduction goals.

Final Thoughts…

Matthew, thanks for sharing your question, and for taking the steps to embrace the “Produce No Waste” principle. Remember, it’s a journey—one that can be enriching, even if it’s a bit challenging at times. Keep going, and before long, you’ll see how all these small changes can lead to a more sustainable and harmonious lifestyle. Happy gardening!