How my approach to Permaculture changed after becoming a parent

Gardening has always been a part of my life, but everything shifted when I became a parent.

Suddenly, the time and energy I could dedicate to my garden shrank dramatically.

Plants that once thrived under my care began to die.

This challenge forced me to rethink how I practiced permaculture, focusing on resilience, simplicity, and sustainability that fit a busy family life.

Choosing hardy plants that survive

With less time to tend to delicate seedlings or high-maintenance plants, I turned to varieties known for their toughness.

When my son began to walk, in Guam, holy basil became a staple.

It really thrived during those long, sleepless nights when I barely paid it any attention.

Growing strong in the warm tropical weather, it brought me both tasty dishes and health perks, handling my sleep-deprived stress like a champ.

To my surprise, it started popping up in my other raised beds, giving me way more than I could use in my stews and teas.

After moving to Arizona, I found rosemary to be a reliable survivor in the dry heat. These plants required little water and could withstand neglect better than most.

I recently became a student again while working full time as a single mom, and now Rosemary is my go to for it's memory and concentration.

Folklore suggests rosemary is good for the brain while science notes the the active rosmarinic acid and 1,8-cineole, have been linked to enhanced cognitive performance.

This shift taught me to prioritize plants that fit the environment and my available time. Instead of trying to grow everything from seed, I focused on species that could handle occasional forgetfulness and still produce.

Embracing nutrition and fermented foods

Parenthood also sparked a deeper interest in nutrition.

I began exploring fermented foods and sourdough baking, integrating these into our family meals.

Fermentation is a natural extension of permaculture principles: it uses microbes to preserve and enhance food, reducing waste and boosting health.

Making sourdough bread became a weekly ritual. It connected me to the food cycle in a new way and offered a hands-on activity that my child could watch and eventually help with.

I decided to try milling my own spelt and making bread, trust me there's nothing like freshly milled baked bread! I can't wait to get back at it.

This focus on nourishing food complemented my gardening efforts, creating a more holistic approach to sustainability.

Keeping sustainability pillars alive with worm farming

Even with less time, I kept some core permaculture practices alive.

If you've watched some of my videos you'll know that I kept my worm composting bin alive for 3 months in my London apartment while I was visiting a different country.

It's simple when you realize worms eat cardboard boxes!

• You just wet them down,

• Rip them up,

• Remove labels and tape

• Then throw them in.

Worms don't mind you not disturbing them at all, and if you have issues with other populations growing in your worm bin, this makes your worm bin less attractive to them.

Now my kid is captivated by the worms turning kitchen scraps into rich compost. This not only reduced waste but also improved soil health in the garden.

Worm farming became a shared project, blending education with sustainability. It showed how small, manageable steps can keep a permaculture system functioning even when life gets busy.

Using drip irrigation for efficiency

Watering plants by hand became impractical with a child to care for. Installing drip irrigation for my raised beds and indoor plants was a game changer.

This system delivers water directly to the roots, reducing waste and ensuring plants get consistent moisture.

Drip irrigation saved time and water, two precious resources for any parent gardener.

It also helped keep plants healthier, reducing stress on them during dry spells or busy days.

Buying small plants instead of starting seeds

Starting seeds requires patience and attention, luxuries I no longer have. I switched to buying small plants from local nurseries. T

his gave me instant gratification and better survival rates. The plants were already past their most vulnerable stage, so they adapted more easily to my garden conditions.

This approach felt like a compromise but was necessary. It allowed me to maintain a thriving garden without the pressure of nurturing fragile seedlings.

Lessons learned and moving forward

Parenthood reshaped my permaculture practice in practical ways. I learned to:

• Choose hardy, low-maintenance plants suited to my environment

• Incorporate food preparation techniques like fermentation to enhance nutrition

• Maintain key sustainability practices like worm farming that engage the whole family

• Use technology like drip irrigation to save time and water

• Accept that buying small plants can be more effective than starting seeds

  
  

These changes made permaculture more accessible and sustainable for a busy household. The garden became less about perfection and more about resilience and connection.

Gardening with children teaches patience and flexibility. It’s about creating a system that supports life in all its forms, including the unpredictable demands of parenting. If you’re balancing family and gardening, consider focusing on what fits your time and energy. Small adjustments can keep your permaculture goals alive and thriving.

I'd love to hear how you changed during a busy period of life, share in the comments below

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Sources

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332223012659