The 5000-Seed Quest

Hi, I’m Gabriel Denton, and I’m thrilled to welcome you to my blog—a space where I’ll share homesteading stories from my life. As a farmer, gardener, and seeker of sustainable living, I’ve embarked on an exciting challenge: planting 5000 seeds! 🌱

Throughout this seed-planting journey, I’ll reflect on the principles of permaculture, as described by David Holmgren in his book, “Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability.” These principles guide my actions, decisions, and observations as I nurture my farm and explore the interconnectedness of life. 

Wherever this journey leads, I invite you to ride alongside me. Share your thoughts, questions, and inspirations. Together, we’ll have fun making the world a better place—one seed at a time. Please also enjoy my description of the permaculture principles.

1. Observe & Interact

I wait. I observe the shadows, the soil, the seedlings.

2. Catch and Store Energy

My plants and trees catch the sunshine and store it in their roots, stems, leaves, fruits, and seeds! 

3. Obtain a Yield

I imagine a colorful forest of food, wood, cotton, nectar, healing plants, and many other yields.

4. Apply Self-Regulation & Accept Feedback

I am careful with the earth's resources and ecosystems, learning as I go from experiences and wise friends.

5. Use Renewable Resources & Services

Gourds become planter pots and leaves become gardens.

6. Produce No Waste

I make compost-rich potting soil that will give my plants energy!

7. Design from Patterns to Details

We place our plants around our nutrient water barrels for easy watering.

8. Integrate Rather than Segregate

Three sisters—corn, beans, and squash. The corn stands tall, the beans climb and send their roots to make friends with the helpful soil bacteria, the squash blankets the ground. Relationships thrive.

9. Use Small and Slow Solutions

We plant pecans and wait 15 years. Then the trees produce for hundreds of years. 

10. Use and Value Diversity

Many diverse plants are doing many jobs for me and for each other. They are a resilient community.

11. Use Edges & Value the Marginal

Elderberries, blackberries, grapes, and kiwis dance around the edge of a food forest.

12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change

What will emerge that we do not expect, what will we do?