Carmel Valley Garden
A vegetable garden situated in Carmel Valley in a north facing clearing between the Coast Live Oak and Buckeye Trees. Located on a north-facing hillside in the winter it grows leafy greens and mushrooms (Shitake, Lions Mane, Bluets) and in the summer a bustling garden of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and more mushrooms (Wine Caps and Almond Agaricus).
HABITAT TYPE
Oak Woodland • Rural
DESIGN CONSTRAINTS
Heavy clay soil • Steep Slopes • Deep Shade
DESIGN FEATURES
Vegetable Garden
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FEATURES
Pollinator Garden • Rain Garden/Bioswales • Rainwater Catchment
Grey Water • Organic/Permaculture Practices • Carbon Sequestration • CA Native and Drought Tolerant Non-Native Plants • Permeable Pathways • Complex Adaptive Systems • Increased Biodiversity • Soil Ecological Health • Climate Positive Design • Adaptive Management
With only five hours of summer sun, but aided by Carmel Valley’s warm weather this garden produces incredible yields of food.
In terracing this hillside we experimented with a simple terrace design. Utilizing only metal wire, stakes, and filter fabric to hold the heavy clay soil. This provides a fun opportunity to grow plants not only on the flat terraces but also the vertical surfaces of the garden. Strawberries are grown on these vertical walls as well as edible flowers like viola and yerba buena for tea.
Where the wire terraces were not used, the Permaculture technique of Hugelkutlur is widely implemented. Using either the woody debris from recent crops or deadfall or cuttings from the Oaks, Bays, and Buckeyes on the property to create berms along the hill that create new flat spaces for growing fungi and vegetables.
The garden offsets 5,000 gal of water with rainwater collection. Compost and straw mulch also aid in moisture retention and reduce water needs.
Featured Plants
Summer Vegetable Garden:
Artichoke • Blackberry • Olallieberry • Blueberry • Strawberry • Grapes • Tomato • Peppers • Potato • Shallots • Onions • Leeks • Beans • Cucumbers • Tomatillos • Carrots • Beets • Winter Squash
Cut Flowers
Sunflower • Zinnia • Cosmo • Dahlias • Peonies
Teas
Calendula • Yerba Buena • Chamomile
Herbs
Sage • Oregano • Dill • Basil • Thyme
Winter Vegetable Garden:
Kale • Lettuces • Mustard Greens • Snap Peas • Fava Beans • Carrots • Beets • Lettuces
