This here is our Keyhole Garden. This garden uses circular base with an indentation in the center. This allows for us to take any food scraps and place it in the center of this keyhole, which allows for the plants to flourish. The compost we use to help this garden grow comes from the farm's compost yard, where all sorts of scrap food and plants are put to use. As the compost breaks down, nutrients and moisture radiate outward, feeding the surrounding plants. This design is especially useful in dry climates like ours, it conserves water, recycles nutrients, and maximizes growing space. It’s a perfect example of permaculture, a philosophy and design system that mimics natural ecosystems to create sustainable human habitats. The first attempt for the farm didn’t go well; the farm’s keyhole garden was a bit larger than the normal 2-meter-wide gardens.
At the UCCS Farm, we incorporate permaculture principles such as:
Every element serves multiple purposes, like the compost basket feeding the soil while reducing waste.
The keyhole shape makes harvesting and maintenance easy, even in tight spaces.
Waste becomes a resource, and water is conserved through smart design.
"Permaculture teaches us to work with nature, not against it. The keyhole garden is a small but mighty example of that wisdom in action."