The document discusses guilds, which are designed communities of organisms grouped together to mutually benefit each other. It provides examples of different types of plants and organisms that can be included in a guild, such as nitrogen fixers, perennial herbs, fungi, and animals. It also discusses how to design guilds by focusing on one plant's needs initially, connecting other plants that have direct or indirect relationships, and planning for the guild's future succession. Specific plant families and examples of good combinations and things to avoid are also outlined.

1. Guilds

2. What we will cover
Theory
 What is a Guild ?
 Guild ingredients
 Designing guilds
Exercise
 Planting a Guild

3. What is a Guild ?
 A Guild is a designed community of organisms grouped
together in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

4. Dynamic Accumulators
Comfrey, Nettles, Chicory, many wild
garden plants
General Benefits
 Mine minerals from subsoil and bring to the
surface
 Good biomass (chop and drop)
 Provide nectar source for pollinators
 Provide habitat for wildlife
 Ground cover, cooling soil and surrounding
air
 Roots do not compete
 Edible, medicinal, fertilisers
Plant under larger plants or in mixed
blocks nearby for mulch supply
Be aware of potential invasiveness

5. Nitrogen Fixers
Siberian Pea Tree, Goats Rue,
Elaeagnus, Broom
General Benefits
 Fix nitrogen from the atmosphere
 Provide nectar source for pollinators
 Provide habitat for wildlife
 Ground cover, cooling soil and
surrounding air
 Edible, medicinal, fertilisers
Plant larger specimens nearby for
wind shelter or under the
canopy of larger plants
Cut back regularly to release
nitrogen
Be aware of root competition

6. Perennial Herbs
Lavender, Tansy, Sage, Horseradish, Dill, Yarrow, Mint etc.
General Benefits
 Pest confusion
 Pest Predator habitat
 Pollinator forage
 Mineral accumulation
 Suppressing weeds
 Chemical exudations
 Food, cosmetics, medicine
Plant throughout the garden
Watch out for negative alleopathy
 Artemesia
 Foeniculum (Fennel)

7. Fungi
Mychorizal, Endophytic,
Saprophytic
General Benefits
 Provide nutrients and water
 Protection
 Provide forage for wildlife
 Breakdown tough material releasing
nutrients
 Edible, medicinal
Inoculate soils with mycelium with
soil from forest floors and
fungal spores. Bring in rotten
logs
Be aware of pathogenic/poisonous
species

8. Animals
Birds, Mammals , Insects,
Amphibians, Reptiles
General Benefits
 Pest predation
 Leave parcels of nutrition via
excretions and bodies.
 Pollination
 Signify healthy ecosystem
 Edible
Provide habitat (architecture), bring
in local species. Water is
essential.
Be aware of cats

9. Guild Succession
Paulownia Guild

10. Guilding with Vegetables

11. Alliaceae / Alliums
Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Chives
 Strong smell masks the smell of attractive plants ,confusing pests.
 Accumulate sulphur producing fungicidal effect
Goes well with
 Rosacaea family – plant underneath and around
 Attracts bees
 Brassicas, Beetroot, Strawberries
Avoid with
 Beans

12. Brassicaceae / Cruciferae
Cabbage, Brocolli, Kale etc.
 Some species create shade and provide wind protection
 Lots of biomass, forage for livestock
 Forage and habitat for beneficial insects
 Accumulate minerals
Goes well with
 Peas (Pisum sp.)
 Alliums
 Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
Avoid with
 Lettuce
 Runner Beans
 Tomatoes (conflicting)

13. Cucurbitaceae
Cucumber, Courgette, Melons, Pumpkins etc.
 Excellent ground cover and insect habitat
 Can be trailed to grow vertically
 Accumulate calcium in their leaves
 Can cope with dappled shade
Goes well with
 Sweetcorn
 Peas
 Beans
 Sunflowers
Avoid with
 Potatoes

14. Solanaceae
Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergine, Potatoes
 Like hot climate (imports from S.America)
 Prone to Colorado beetle which can be devastating
 If not planted intensively can be chopped and dropped, releasing nutrients for next crop
Goes well with
 Basil
 Tagetes
 Nasturtiums
 Legumes
Avoid with
 Brassicas
 Each other (to break pest cycles)

15. Leguminosae / Fabiaceae
Peas, Beans,
 Climbing habit
 Fix Nitrogen
 Shallow rooted
Goes well with
 Brassicas
 Sweetcorn
 Most other vegetables
Avoid with
 Alliums

16. Designing a Guild – Development Strategy
OBSERVATION
 Focus on one plant (tree – herb – vegetable)
 Fundamental plant needs
 Ecological strategy of plant
 Architecture of plant
 Input-Outputs
BUILD CONNECTIONS
 Direct relationships
 Indirect relationships
 Pest repellants
 Pest attractants
 Beneficial attractants
 Pollinator attractants
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
 Successional forecast

17. Designing a Guild – Mimicking Strategy
OBSERVATION
 Study natural guilds
 Find plants that yield desirably that have the same attributes – family
resemblance – shared ecological niche.
BUILD CONNECTIONS
 Direct relationships
 Indirect relationships
 Pest repellants
 Pest attractants
 Beneficial attractants
 Pollinator attractants
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
 Successional forecast