Welcome to

Yaffa's Yard

Co-Founder | Director

As we step into the heart of spring, there’s no better time to dive deeper into the principles and practices of permaculture that help our gardens and communities thrive in harmony with nature. This May, let’s focus on practical steps and innovative strategies to enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and prepare for the productive summer months ahead.

May Gardening Tips:

Planting Diversity: Consider increasing the diversity of your plantings. This not only aids in pest control but also improves the overall resilience of your garden. Introduce companion plants that can coexist and support each other's growth. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can help repel pests and enhance flavor.

Water Conservation: As temperatures start to rise, it’s crucial to think about water conservation. Employ methods like mulching and drip irrigation to keep your plants hydrated without wasting water.

Perennial Power: May is a great time to plant perennials like asparagus, rhubarb, and berries. These plants come back year after year and play a vital role in a sustainable permaculture garden by stabilizing soils and providing habitat and food sources for wildlife.

Soil Health Focus:

Composting: Don’t forget to turn your compost regularly to help speed up the decomposition process and enrich your soil with vital nutrients.

Cover Crops: If you have any bare patches of soil, consider planting cover crops. They can fix nitrogen in the soil, suppress weeds, and prevent erosion.

Soil Testing: Consider conducting a soil test if you haven’t already. This can guide your fertilization plan, ensuring that you provide exactly what your plants need without excess.

Featured Permaculture Principle: "Observe and Interact" As you spend time in your garden this month, take a moment to observe the interactions between plants, insects, and wildlife. Understanding these relationships can provide insights into the natural balance of your garden, helping you make more informed decisions.

Community Projects!

Soil Testing!

Community Projects:

Local Seed Swap Events: Check out or organize local seed and plant swap events. It’s a wonderful way to diversify your garden and connect with fellow gardeners.

Educational Workshops: Keep an eye out for workshops on topics ranging from organic gardening techniques to permaculture design principles. These sessions are invaluable for both beginners and seasoned gardeners.

Wildlife and Natural Pest Control:

Attract Beneficial Insects: By planting native flowers and maintaining hedgerows, you encourage beneficial insects that help control pests naturally.

Birdhouses and Baths: Installing birdhouses and baths not only aids in pest control but also brings more wildlife into your garden, making it a livelier and healthier environment.

May is a month of growth and opportunity in the permaculture garden. By integrating these practices and principles, we can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future, one garden at a time.

We hope you find inspiration and practical advice in this newsletter to make your permaculture projects more successful than ever. Remember, every small action counts toward a bigger change. Happy gardening, and let’s make the most of this beautiful May!

Here We Grow AGAIN!!!

Neighborhood Farms USA is excited to announce an enriching initiative at Constellation Charter School — we're creating a Food Forest right on their campus! This project is designed to provide students, grades 1-7, with hands-on educational experiences in sustainability, biology, and environmental stewardship. But we need your help to make it happen! Please consider donating any amount to help our future grow!

Click Here to Learn More and Donate!

Michelle Card

Executive Director

Let's Talk Succulents and Permaculture!

Succulent plants, with their diverse forms and adaptive qualities, can play a unique and beneficial role in permaculture systems. These hardy plants are particularly suited to arid and semi-arid climates but can be integrated into various permacultural practices globally due to their low maintenance and drought-resistant nature. Here's a closer look at how succulents can enhance permaculture designs:

Water Conservation
One of the most significant advantages of succulents is their ability to thrive in dry conditions. They store water in their leaves, stems, or roots, which allows them to survive during periods of drought. Incorporating succulents into a permaculture garden can reduce the need for frequent watering, thus conserving water — a principle closely aligned with sustainable permaculture practices.

Microclimate Control

Succulents can also contribute to creating beneficial microclimates in the garden. Their ability to reflect sunlight due to their often light-colored and sometimes shiny surfaces can help lower the temperature around them, providing a cooler habitat for neighboring plants. This characteristic is particularly useful in hot climates where reducing heat stress on plants is critical.

Soil Protection

Succulents can help combat soil erosion, particularly in arid regions where the loss of topsoil can be a significant issue. Their extensive root systems hold the soil together, reducing erosion caused by wind and rain. Moreover, when planted on slopes or terraced gardens, succulents can be instrumental in stabilizing the soil and preventing the washout of nutrients.

Emiliano Camargo

Master Gardener

Moringa,

The Miracle Tree!

Moringa, the Miracle tree, is not only one of the most nutritious trees on the planet, packed with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, but it's also a breeze to grow. Even if you don’t consider yourself a seasoned gardener, you can successfully cultivate this tree. It is drought-resistant, and it can thrive in poor soils. Furthermore, many claim that it helps them with health issues such as arthritis and anemia. Now, here is the catch: its’ leaves don't taste great if you eat a lot of them at once; it kind of tastes like arugula; it has a strong flavor, yet the leaves can give a nice kick to your salad if you sprinkle them on top, and if you add a little bit to your smoothies the other flavors will hide it away. I would suggest considering moringa as the vitamin tree; it is so nutrient-dense that it is like taking an all-in-one supplement.

For a striking comparison, consider this: Moringa boasts more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, and more iron than red meat. It also has a complete protein. If you plan to be prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse, this should be one of your plants on the list. If you have a good source of calories and moringa, you will most likely make it for a long time. It is so nutritious that it could maybe even heal your zombie relatives! This plant comes from southeast Asia, and it is grown all around the world in tropical and subtropical climates; you can eat the leaves, the flowers, and the green bean ponds; also, the roots of young plants can be eaten as radishes, and you can even make a water filter with the seeds. The powder is super easy to make, and you don’t need a dehydrator because the leaves are tiny. All you need to do is to bring them inside a space with an AC and put them in a clean, flat surface area. Once the leaves dry, you can blend them and strain the powder to remove big pieces. Be careful because the powder is very strong when raw; add a teaspoon to your smoothie or sprinkle a little on the top of your food. If you are making a soup, you can add a lot because it loses the strong flavor once it boils. I personally like to add it to my lentil soup. Now, keep in mind that when you cook it, the heat will destroy a lot of the antioxidants. Nonetheless, the minerals will become more bioavailable, making them more accessible for the body to absorb.

I suggest taking moringa in all possible forms; you can even make your capsules with the powder and take it as a supplement. It is essential to note that pregnant women should not consume it because it can lead to miscarriages. Yet, once that healthy baby is born, it is excellent for lactating mothers because it helps them produce more milk. Remember that even though it is a plant that can grow in poor soils, it is always good to add fertile soil where you plant it so the plant can grow to its full potential and give you all those good nutrients that come from the ground. In addition, the moringa tree is a legume, so it adds nitrogen to the ground; this means that it will help surrounding plants grow; you can even add the leaves as mulch to your veggie garden so it feeds it with all the nutrients that it has absorbed from deep in the ground. If you want a big tree, it will grow more than 20 feet high, Yet you can keep it as small as you want; just cut it back to the size you prefer, and it will start growing new leaves. This is a hard plant to kill; I will tell you that, and because you are what you eat, you should eat tough plants that are hard to eat; it is as simple as that. So, if someone asks you why Moringa is the miracle tree, now you know!

Thank you to our Founding Partners!