Permaculture

Experimental Cultivation Rudolfshausen Castle

In the ecological experimental cultivation centre Schloss Rudolfshausen, created in the fall of 2018, experiments are being conducted on the basis of Holzer's permaculture concept and the expanded project "Permaculture Fruit Forest Garden" on how these methods can be applied in a castle garden in such a way that a harmonious symbiosis is created, in which nature is granted a broad space and yet the character of a castle garden is preserved.

The project is under the direction of Alexandra Walterskirchen, who has a penchant for experimentation as well as a great love for plants and nature. The project is about reintroducing old, almost extinct plant varieties, fruit trees, berry bushes, etc., about ideal locations where plants feel particularly comfortable and thrive especially well, about plants and cultivation options for year-round self-sufficiency, about creating a self-sufficient and healthy flora that relieves the gardener, and much more.

Fruit forest garden in Sri Lanka

The permaculture project "Fruit Forest Garden" in Sri Lanka was launched by Benjamin Schreyer and his Sinhalese wife Anusha. The main plot was bought in 2008 when Benjamin decided to emigrate permanently to Sri Lanka and live here as a self-supporter. Initially, a tropical fruit direct shipping business with small farmers to Germany was established, and soon after Benjamin experimented with growing tropical fruits according to permaculture principles.

In 2020, the idea developed to plant a larger fruit forest garden as a "reforestation project" for a neighbouring property. The property was regularly affected by wildfires, almost all of the trees had been felled, and there was severe soil erosion to some extent. Invasive grass had taken over the entire hillside, crowded out native wild herbs and posed a tremendous fire hazard in the summer. The project then started in 2022 with the purchase of a 3-hectare subdivision. The target is to create a colourful mixed fruit forest garden according to permaculture principles with about 300 different varieties of fruit, spices, medicinal plants, but also other rare trees that are used for Ayurvedic purposes or Singhalese medicine, among other things.

The barren grassland is thus transformed into a harvest forest whose fruits serve as food for future generations while preserving biodiversity. As part of a self-sustaining community, a future model for a permaculture way of life and living is also being experimented with, where humans are part of the fruit forest garden and live in harmony with it. The project is in phase-1 and has been funded by Admacum e.V. since 2023.