Whether you are mid-way through a swale layout or trying to identify a pest on your citrus, we keep the lines open for practical queries. No call centres, just people who have dug beds and planted food forests in Southern African conditions.
Send through your site photos, rainfall figures, or a sketch of your plot. We reply with specific suggestions rather than generic advice.
info@permaculturefoundation.comBest for short questions about plant sourcing, compost ratios, or whether a particular species suits your region.
027 581 5826If you are in the area and want to talk through a design on paper, the door is open during working hours.
831 Tracy Mission
North Markside, NW 2730
Emails get a reply within two working days. Phone calls during office hours are answered directly, and if we miss you, we return the call the same day.
How the work unfolds
Every engagement starts with a conversation about your site, rainfall, and what you actually want to grow. From there we move through observation, design, and installation in clear stages, so you always know what happens next and what is needed from you.
We start with a call or a detailed message about your property: size, slope, water access, and what you hope to harvest. If you are in the Western Cape or KwaZulu-Natal, we can often visit in person.
We map sun patterns, drainage, existing soil, and wind exposure. This is where we note the practical constraints, like a clay patch that holds water or a frost line that limits what you can plant.
You receive a hand-drawn layout that divides your plot into zones based on use and access. We suggest where swales, compost bays, and food forest layers fit without crowding your daily movement.
Based on your rainfall pattern, we put together a list of hardy perennials, indigenous companions, and nursery sources. We keep it realistic for suburban plots and note which plants need more patience.
We dig swales, lay out greywater lines, and build the first compost bays together. You are welcome to join in, since the aim is for you to maintain and adapt the system on your own later.
We check in after the first rains and again before summer. You get a short checklist for mulching, pruning, and pest pressure, plus a chance to adjust the plan based on what actually happened.
A typical suburban project takes two to three site visits over a season. We do not rush the observation stage, because a swale placed wrong or a tree planted in a frost pocket is hard to fix later.