The first garden developed here on our 4 acre property was based on permaculture after a visit to City Farm (East Perth)
Three large areas were sectioned and fenced around a central enclosed chook pen. Each had a gate and while two areas were planted, the chooks foraged in the third. We have gutless hydrophobic- water repellant sand and after hundreds of dollars of sheep manure, pea hay, rock dust, compost and water it tends to want to revert to sand. Quick sand. When I saw Joel on Gardening Australia with his aquaponics system I said to my husband that looks like the way to go. Its funny because everyday I hear customers in the shop look at me and say "This is the way to go." The thing is that water has become more precious and a lot of people waste it. We have been regulated and allowed only to water 3 days per week. I can't grow lettuce in the ground in Summer without breaking the rules. Why would I want to now anyway, as the rabbits turn them into organic pellets, sand splashes on them and the bugs eat them if the sun doesn't scorch them. With my aquaponic beds I can be harvesting lettuce leaves 4 weeks after planting them. My original permaculture gardens still house the chooks and I have begun to add fruit trees which cope well on 3 days a week watering to establish them. I can still grow lots of potatoes which rely on the winter rainfall. The aquaponic system provides us with fish, plenty of greens for the chooks and lots of tomatoes, herbs, spinach, lettuce, beetroot and all I have to do is feed the fish each day. My vegetable growing has evolved and I now use much less water, save time and spend less money.