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36 FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | THE WESTERN PRODUCERNEWSABOVE: Whole Village provides an opportunity for young people tolearn about market gardening through its community shared agricultureenterprise. | WHOLE VILLAGE PHOTOSRIGHT: The hay wagon may be stacked in an unconventional manner butmembers of the Whole Village team seem pleased with their effort.PERMACULTURE | SUSTAINABILITYBack to basics:farm aims forsustainabilityPermaculture principles | Members learnhow to live in harmony with natureBY JEFFREY CARTERFREELANCE WRITERGUELPH, Ont. — Wetland, woodland,farmland and suntrap gardenscan all can be found at Whole VillageFarm just 60 minutes from downtownToronto.The scenario may seem fanciful andthe community has yet to achieve thelevel of sustainability envisionedunder its permaculture principles,but there have been successes.Brenda Dolling, one of the community’seight founding members, saidthe 191-acre Caledon farm has beenpaid for and many improvementsmade.Greenhaven, the co-operativelyowned, 15,000 sq. foot home with 11private suites and common areas, isclose to being mortgage free.“Moving to permaculture isn’t aseasy as it may look, but it can be donebecause people are doing it,” Dollingsaid.“It is a design system for sustainableliving and land use.She said the project was a responseto world crises such as climatechange and loss of arable land andclean water.“Permaculture design tries to createthe resources, energy flows andcultures that will succeed oil-basedsocieties.”The Whole Village property with itsPermaculture design tries tocreate the resources, energyflows and cultures that willsucceed oil-based societies.BRENDA DOLLINGWHOLE VILLAGE FARMbrick farmhouse and outbuildingswas purchased in 2002 from twoToronto professionals who used it askind of retreat.One of the first jobs for the newowners was to assess the purchase forits value. Reputable farmers werebrought in to walk the property. Representativesof the Credit Valley ConservationAuthority and a landscapearchitect provided their opinions.More than 16,000 native trees havebeen planted over the past decade,some with the idea of growing a forestgarden where fruits and nuts canbe harvested along with fuel andtimber.Sheltered locations, called suntraps, are being used for crops. A varietyof fruit trees, berry bushes andgardens have been established.The wetland area, designated asprovincially significant, hasn’t beentouched.CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGETOUGHER.EASIER.IN TANDEM TM .