What is permaculture?
Permaculture, short for "permanent agriculture" and later "permanent culture," is a holistic design system that integrates land, resources, people, and the environment to create sustainable human settlements and regenerative ecosystems. It is a way of designing and implementing sustainable and resilient human habitats and food production systems, mimicking patterns found in nature. Permaculture in dryland climates (arid and semi-arid) like those in New Mexico, center around maximizing water as the most essential resource in any landscape design. Permaculture and water smart landscaping make full use of this precious resource through practices like active and passive water harvesting, soil building, companion planting, integrating chickens and livestock into designs and much more.
“Permanent culture” was coined by David Holmgren, an Australian ecologist, and his associate/professor, Bill Mollison in the 1970’s. Learn more about Permaculture here.
We can help you design and install your dream landscape with berries, nuts, vegetables, flowers, herbs, mushrooms, food and shade producing shrubs and trees, knolls of native grass, water features like fountains, and stonework and hardscaping like meandering walkways and terraces.
Design and Installation
A beautiful low maintenance water smart sustainable landscape can be lush and captivating. It is not limited to rocks, mulch and cactus!
When properly designed, installed and maintained, these landscapes are abundant oases teeming with a rich variety of herbaceous and woody perennials, native species, passive and active water harvesting and require low human intervention once established.
Sustainable landscapes take years to fully establish with the bulk of resources (time, money and labor) invested upfront but can be enjoyed immediately as you watch the beauty and bounty grow!
Why do I need a permaculture design?
To save money, time, headache and your site’s ecosystem! A skillfully crafted permaculture design is the most powerful tool for transforming your property into a more self-sufficient, productive, and resilient space. The permaculture design process allows you and our designers to bring your vision to life and is especially critical in drylands where soil is extremely fragile and water is limited!
Over time, a landscape that focuses on passive and active water harvesting, drought-tolerant plants, efficient irrigation, soil building and shade creation, requires decreasing water from unsustainable sources like municipal water systems and wells. Our designers can help with all aspects of the design process from creating drawings of your site’s existing factors (buildings, rainwater, climate, solar aspect, wind direction, terrain, soil conditions, vegetation, etc.) to creating a detailed integrated Master Site Plan which reflects your goals and vision including elements such as outbuildings, water features, hardscaping, recommended plants with landscape design, passive and active water harvesting and more.
Visualizing your site’s existing conditions and features alongside a desired future state drawing are critical to realizing your goals!
It may take careful consideration upfront, but once complete, we’ll have a clear roadmap for installation and maintenance.
How Do I Get Started?
Phone Consult: The first step is to schedule a free 15 minute call with one of our designers to discuss your goals and objectives, project timeline and budget, approximate prices for services and questions and next steps. Click here to schedule a phone appointment.
On-site Visit: After speaking, we’ll schedule an onsite consultation with you to walk your site, review your goals, budget, and timelines for design and installation plus evaluate water flow, soil conditions, microclimates, existing vegetation, access, wind impacts, solar aspect and many other elements crucial to designing, installing and maintaining a sustainable landscape.
On-site visits are $125/hr within 30 miles of Cedar Crest. For sites beyond 30 miles of Cedar Crest, the minimum is $250 for 2 hrs including travel expenses. These fees will be applied toward design services.
Our designers will answer any questions and provide expert input and practical suggestions to help you create your desired landscapes. Some topics may include:
- Designing for beauty, habitat, eco sustainability, food, relaxation and recreation
- Selecting plant species and varietals best suited to your goals and site considerations
- Establishing no till/no weed/low water practices
- Strategies for harvesting rain and ground water for residential and landscape use
- Selecting appropriate location(s) and type(s) of high and/or low tunnels and garden beds
- Integrating livestock into backyard gardening and farming operations
- Naturally controlling diseases and pests
- Building soil fertility
- Achieving high abundance using low maintenance strategies
- Preventing or minimizing erosion
- Eliminating the need for chemical inputs
- Using reclaimed and site-based materials and resources to minimize building costs and carbon footprint
Design Services
Includes creating a thorough Master Site Plan consisting of customized drawings and site plans based on your goals and desires plus existing site conditions, limitations, strengths and opportunities.
The design process includes meeting in person or via Zoom to review and revise the first draft then reviewing and approving a final draft.
Installation
Cactus Rain can also install and maintain your design to ensure your landscape is established and cared for according to the design specifications outlined in the Master Site Plan and your requests.
Installation can be completed all at once (in most scenarios) or in stages depending on budget, weather, complexity, etc. Prices vary based on site size and design complexity.
Hardscaping & Stonework
Hardscaping and stonework form the structural foundation of a landscape. Elements, like natural stone, concrete, brick, and pavers enhance outdoor areas, creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces that can be enjoyed for years to come.
At Cactus Rain, we aim to integrate hardscaping into your landscape to help prevent flooding and erosion, define planting spaces and access and assist with passive irrigation.
Maintenance
From weeding, to naturally treating for pests and diseases, and pruning for highest yields, your landscape needs some level of maintenance. Though one of the signature benefits of a water smart permaculture landscape is that it becomes increasingly abundant with decreasing human intervention, some level of maintenance is required, especially when first installed and while establishing. With decades of experience in regenerative gardening, farming and tree care, our maintenance crew can help sustain your landscape through eco-friendly methods that beautify and amplify abundance on your site.
Maintenance services and prices vary based on property size and design complexity.