Platinum Certification

When designing your garden, it's important to consider the three ethics of permaculture: earth care, people care, and fair share. Make sure to avoid using invasive plants and prioritize the safety of children, wildlife, and pets by only using safe plants. Use at least three stepping stones and a pathway, or seven stepping stones, and include seven native plants. To maintain the space, plant evergreen ground cover and ensure the area is fully planted with ground cover from spring through fall. Only use natural mulch, and consider incorporating a large artistic element and an interactive element. For wildlife, include a bug hotel, birdhouse, or birdbath, as well as a water feature such as a rain garden, wildlife pond, or water catchment. When designing, follow the 12 principles of permaculture, including observing and interacting, catching and storing energy, obtaining a yield (such as a vegetable or fruit garden), applying self-regulation and accepting feedback, using and valuing renewable resources and services from the local neighborhood, producing no waste (by reusing garden matter on site), designing from patterns to details, integrating rather than segregating, using small and slow solutions over two years, using and valuing diversity, using edges and valuing the marginal, and creatively using and valuing change. Finally, consider obtaining a $350 Platinum certification with a metal sign to showcase your commitment to permaculture.

Include all of the following elements
Use 3 ethics of permaculture- earth care, people care, fair share
No Invasive Plants
All plants are child, wildlife, and pet safe
Use 3 Stepping Stones and a pathway or 7 stepping stones
Use 7 Native Plants
Planted areas must have some evergreen ground cover and be fully planted with ground cover spring through fall to keep the space looking good and easy to maintain
Natural mulch only (no post-wood product colored mulch)
Include a large artistic element
Include one interactive element
Include a bug hotel, a birdhouse, or a birdbath
Include a water feature (rain garden, wildlife pond, or water catchment)
Principle 1- Observe and interact
Principle 2- Catch and store energy
Principle 3- Obtain a yield (must have a vegetable or fruit garden)
Principle 4- Apply self-regulation and accept feedback
Principle 5- Use and value renewable resources & services (all mulch and garden nutritional elements much come from your neighborhood)
Principle 6- Produce no waste (must reuse all garden matter on site)
Principle 7- Design from patterns to details
Principle 8- Integrate rather than segregate
Principle 9- Use small and slow solutions (over 2 years)
Principle 10- Use and value diversity
Principle 11- Use edges and value the marginal
Principle 12- Creatively use and value change
$350 Platinum certification with a metal sign