The Romany Rest B&B is a permaculture B&B situated on Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is run by Sandra Storr and husband Fred Alich.
The main growing areas are a vegetable plot, a mandala garden and a forest garden area. These are supplemented with herbs and salads on the verandah and immediately surrounding the house (since these are used the most frequently).
Although not yet off-grid, there is solar hot water and solar pool heating and two small wind projects are underway. A passive solar and energy-efficient retrofit has been undertaken which has brought about significant energy savings. Sandra and Fred also use and demonstrate low-tech ideas like solar cooking and dehydrating.
With 5 acres and just 2 people to look after it, the entire system needs to be efficient & low maintenance, although few mechanical tools are used. To save some time, sheep are used for grazing to reduce mowing, hens and ducks help with pest control and fertilising, mulching reduces hours of weeding & watering and a soaker hose on a timer reduces time for watering and saves on water. Xeric landscaping and mulching virtually removes the need for watering, so we we only water the polytunnel and the vegetables areas in very dry spells.
The growing areas are small-scale, intensive and highly productive, leaving some land free to go wild and space for tree-planting. Diversity of species is encouraged by using companion planting and guilds, adding animals and leaving wild areas to attract wild animals, birds & pollinators.
What is being done at the Romany Rest[]
- Forest Gardening (small-scale agroforestry)
- Permanent planting
- Small amount of coppicing using native species wherever possible
- Permanent plantings of fruit & vegetables
- Organic growing
- Use of appropriate energy
- “perennializing” annuals by seeding, cuttings, etc.
- Using mulches to reduce weeding and watering
- Aiming for a no dig/till garden
- Crop rotation
- Diversity of Species
- Grazing with sheep (only three!)
- Preserving food by drying, root cellering and canning (using solar and wood where possible)
- Planting crops like dry bush beans and peas which preserve naturally
- Using Fungi (mushroom logs, wild fungi, cultivated, soil conditioners)
- Grow and use Medicinal Herbs
- Planting to attract birds, bees, butterflies & hummingbirds to assist in pollination.
- Companion planting/Guilds.
- Using living mulch, e.g. nasturtiums,
- Seed Saving
- Composting
- Hedgerow/windbreak planting
- Mandala garden
- Use dynamic accummulator plants which extract useful minerals from the soil to help feed other plants
- Xeric gardening - planning large areas of garden which require little or no watering
- Use structures and plants to provide summer shading and cooling
- Use passive solar techniques for winter heating and summer cooling
- Lawn reduction (bit by bit - oh it isn’t easy!)
Dynamic accumulators used at the Romany Rest[]
(Planted in the guild or used as a green manure.)
Name of Plant | What it Does |
Alder (a natural local "weed") | Nitrogen Fixer |
Alfalfa | Nitrogen fixer, accumulator of Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous and Potassium plus the young growth is delicious and nutritious |
Bladderwrack and other seaweed from the local beach | Iodine, Magnesium & Iron |
Borage (usually seeds itself) | Silica, Potassium and those beautiful blue flowers |
Bracken grows naturally about the place | Potassium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Iron, Copper. A lot of people here eat the fiddlehead greens from the wild ostrich fern |
Carrot Leaves | Magnesium, Potassium. |
Chives | Calcium. Clumps everywhere! |
Clovers | Nitrogen, Phosphorus. These were planted by the previous farmer after a grain crop, so are prolific on the property |
Comfrey | Silica, Nitrogen, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Iron |
Dandelion | Sodium, Silica, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Iron, Copper. |
Garlic | Sulphur, Fluorine, Manganese |
Lamb's Quarters (grows wild here) | Nitrogen, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Manganese. These are a local "weed". (can be added to green smoothies. |
Lemon Balm | Phosphorus |
Lupins (a prolific wild flower on Prince Edward Island) | Nitrogen, Phosphorus |
Marigold | Phosphorus |
Mint | Magnesium, Potassium |
Salad Burnet | Sodium, Sulphur, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. It self-seeds very well. |
Sorrel | Sodium, Calcium, Phosphorous |
Summer & Winter Savory | Potassium |
Strawberry Leaves | Iron |
Yarrow | Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Copper |
"Guilds" of plants have been designed which work together very well in the local climate. In each planting guild there is an attempt to incorporate the following components: Food plants, Nitrogen fixers, dynamic accumulators, groundcover/living mulch (if not available then organic mulch), Climbers, support for climbers, protection (insect repellents, attracting predators, thorny barriers), attractors for pollinators (e.g. flowers, water, seeds, perching places) and green manures.
Elements of the Romany Rest Permaculture System[]
1. Buildings and Structures
Element | Needs | Products | Intrinsic Factors |
House | Heating, Water, Power, Sewage, Cleaning, Maintenance | Shelter, Warmth, Living Space, Business Premises | Century Home, South-facing, Insulated, Basement |
Animal Shed | Straw, Nesting, Water | Shelter for hens, ducks, sheep, chicks | Secure, Insulated, Shaded |
Pasture | Rain, Sunshine | Pasture, Food, shade | Fenced, Shaded Areas, Ample Grass |
Shed | Maintenance | Storage | Wood Construction |
Cottage | Heatin, Water, Power, Sewage, Cleaning, Maintenance | Income | Bedsitting Room sleeps 4+, Kitchen, Bathroom |
Polytunnel | Sun, shade, water, fertilizer, weeding | Extends Growing Season | 8 x 15’, drip irrigation |
Outdoor Furnace | Wood, Maintenance | Heat, Hot Water, Emissions, Wood Ash, Charcoal | Quite Efficient |
Fencing | Maintenance | Protection, Support | Wire and Wood |
Indoor Cookstove | Scrap Wood, Cleaning | Heat, Wood Ash, Emissions (small), Cooking, Hot Water, Boiling Water, Humidity, cheese and yoghurt making, bread rising, clothes drying, comfort | Heat rises to bedroom above, fan takes heat into dining room, Ecofan, pans of hot water for thermal mass |
Verandah | Maintenance, Water | Cool, bug-free, relaxing space, entertaining, growing space, passive solar gains/td> | South facing, cool in summer (trees), large reflectors in winter, direct access from kitchen |
Hedges | Seedlings, Sunlight, Rain, Natural Mulch, Fertiliser | Wind Barrier, Protection, Animal Barrier, Wildlife Habitat, Some Food, Some Firewood, Craft materials, Privacy | Not yet all well established |
Well | Adequate supply of water from water table, occasional disinfection | Water to house and yard | Water softener, filtration system and UV lamp installed |
Septic Tank | Emptying (Rare) | Nutrients and water to surrounding area, Sewage disposal | Tank and Septic Field |
Swimming Pool | Pump for circulation and oxygenation, filter, chemicals (required by environmental health department) | Relaxation, recreation, exercise, guest attraction, temperature stabilization, reflects sun’s rays, humidity, fire barrier, ice, emergency water supply | 100,000 litres |
Solar Hot Water | Sunshine and Pump | Approx 66% house & B&B hot water | Pump is Solar PV |
Solar Pool Heater | Sunshine and Pump | Warm Pool Water if Sun shines | Sungrabber system about 80% of surface area of pool. If sun shines it works really well |
Rear Screen Room | Maintenance | Cooking, eating, bug-free zone, relaxation, entertaining | Houses freezer, protects from North Winds in Winter |
2. Animals
Element | Needs | Products | Intrinsic Factors |
Hens | Food, water, shelter, protection, dust, grit, air, companions | Manure, eggs, heat, meat, gas, feathers, pest control, scratching, reducing vegetation, guest attraction, fertilized mulch from straw bedding | Rhode Island Reds, Bantams, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Rooster |
Ducks | Food, drinking water, bathing water, shelter, protection, air, companions | Manure, eggs, heat, meat, gas, feathers, pest control, reducing vegetation, guest attraction, fertilized mulch from straw bedding | 2 Ducks and 2 Drakes (Francis Drake and Charley Drake) |
Sheep | Food, water, shelter, protection, companions, Health Care (worming, foot clipping) | Manure, wool, meat, milk, guest attraction, grazing, fertilized mulch from bedding | 2 Suffolks and 1 cross (Hereford?) breed |
Ferrel Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds | Flowers | Pollination, attraction | Wild Meadow and Companion Planting attracts more of them |
Hens | Food, water, shelter, protection,dust, grit, air, companions | Manure, egges, heat, meat, gas, feathers, pest control, scratching, reducing vegetation, guest attraction, fertilized mulch from straw bedding | Rhode Island Reds, Bantams, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Rooster |
3. Growing Areas
Element | Needs | Products | Intrinsic Factors |
Fledgeling Coppice Areas | Seedlings, Sun, Rainwater | Small amounts of wood, craft materials, plant supports, outdoor seats | We only have 5 acres so it will need very careful management |
Forest Garden | Sun, Rain, Mulch, Manure, Pest Control, Pruning, weeding | Fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, reduces lawn, some wood from prunings | Companion planting guilds, layers |
Vegetable Plot | Water, Sun, Mulch, Pest Control, Weeding | Vegetables, seeds, beans, reduces lawn, green manure, | Fertiliser and pest control by hens and ducks |
Perennial Beds | Weeding, mulching, rainwater, sun | Flowers, reduces lawn, bee/butterfly/hummingbird forage | Xeric Landscaping |
Herbs | Rainwater, sun, mulch | Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage | Wrapped around front of house, Xeric |
Mandala Garden | Rainwater, sun, mulch, weeding | Vegetables, Fruit, Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage, green manure | 58’ dia, 2600+ sq ft |
Tree Nursery | Protection, Mulch | New Trees | Small area fenced with wattle |
Wild Meadow | Rainwater, sun | Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage, area of natural biodiversity, woodland regeneration for future supplies of wood and craft materials, observation/learning, relaxing walks, space to sit | 1.75 acres at the moment. 2.2 acres will be planted in the woodland regeneration scheme in June |
Old Trees | Sunlight, Rainwater | Shade, Perfume, Raises Water Table, Habitat, Mulch, Seedlings, Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage, support for swing, could be used for shingles and cordage | Deciduous |
4. People
Element | Needs | Products | Intrinsic Factors |
2 + 2 Adults | Air, Water, Food, Medicine, Companions, Shelter, Warmth, Clothing, Hygienic needs, e.g. soap | Work, Excrement, knowledge, crafts, skills, preserved foods, social contact | 2 Residents and 2 students in rented rooms in Winter |
B&B Guests | Air, Water, Food, shelter, Warmth, Cooling, Amenities, Linens | Income, excrement, kitchen scraps, social contact | Up to 10 per night in Summer |
Neighbours | Help & Support, share surplus | Help and Support, share surplus, social interaction | Garden clippings, etc. |
Functions of the Romany Rest Permaculture System[]
Each Element has multiple functions
Each Function is supported by a number of elements
Function | Supporting Elements |
Food | Forest Garden, Mandala Garden, Vegetable Plot, Hedgerows, Wild Areas, Herbs, Polytunnel, Animals |
Forage | Pasture, forest Garden, Mandala, Vegetable Plot, Wild Areas, Herbs |
Windbreak | Trees, fences, perennial shrubs, vines |
House, chicken house, straw bales | |
Protection | House, Animal Shed, Fencing |
Fire Control | Grassed areas, pool, road, drive, paths |
Mulch | Paper, Cardboard, Carpets, Wood chips, grass clippings, seaweed, Forest Garden, Vegetable plot, Mandala |
Manure | Green from gardens, other from animals |
Fuel | Hedgrows, Neighbours, Fallen Trees, Coppicing |
Erosion Control | Trees, Wild Meadow, Fences, Planned Swales, Perennial Planting, Mulch, Lawn |
Wildlife Habitat | Trees, Wild Meadow, Plantings, Mulch, Hedgerows |
Water Table | Tree Planting, Old Trees, Forest Garden, Hedgerows |
Warmth | Outdoor Furnace, Indoor Cookstove, Passive Solar, Solar Water Heating |
Social | Verandah, screened porch, swimming pool & deck, House |
Business Premises | B&B Rooms, Cottage, Office in House |
Propagation | House, polytunnel, gardens |
Storage | House, Cottage, Basement, Behind Solar installation, Shed |
Income | Crafts, B&B, Preserves, Workshops |
Cooking | House, Cottage, Solar Cookers, Woodstove |
Water | Well, pool, pond (under construction), rainwater collection system |
Guest Attractions | Gardens, Meadow, Animals, Solar Installations, Swimming Pool, Rooms & Cottage |
Grazine | Sheep, ducks, hens |
Pollination | All gardens, Wild Meadow, Trees |
Crafts | Coppice, Forest Garden, Old Trees, Recycling |
Social Contact | B&B Guests, Rental Units, Neighbours, Friends |
Learning | Everywhere, especially Wild Meadow, Internet |
Recreation | Meadow, gardening, swimming pool, beach, internet |
Medicines | Wild Meadow, Hedgerows, Trees, Gardens, Herbs |