An Austrian software developer is building an app to help people plan permaculture gardens in harmony with nature – and grow a community around it
Bodhi (aka Markus Raab) has spent years working at the intersection of free software and practical problem-solving. Now he is turning his attention to something rather different from his previous world of code and configuration files: helping people grow healthier, more productive gardens in harmony with nature, and becoming themselves healthier in the process.
PermaplanT is an app designed to take the complexity out of permaculture planning. Users begin by mapping out their plot – whether a garden, a balcony, or a field – and then build up their specific environmental conditions layer by layer: shaded areas, soil texture, and so on. Vegetables, fruit, and other plants are added in their own dedicated layer. The app then draws on a database of over 10,000 plants to suggest the most suitable locations and warn against unfavourable combinations.
One key aspect of the permaculture approach is polycultures – deliberate combinations of plant species chosen for the positive effects they have on one another. The app takes these interactions into account, helping users find plant communities that can thrive together under their specific conditions. Pests can be kept at bay naturally. No pesticides required.
PermaplanT also has an educational dimension, e.g. helping users discover corners of their garden they might never have thought to use. The underlying philosophy is one of working with the laws of nature rather than against them: closing cycles, promoting biodiversity, and achieving better results with less effort.
Beyond the app, Bodhi is also building a community. The initiative is run as a non-profit association called Perma – Verein für nachhaltige Naturlebensräume (ZVR 1644988734) – and membership is open to everyone. Members can earn Permacoins – by supporting others or recruiting new members – to offset the cost of membership.
It’s a model built on solidarity: “Everyone can take part in growing something unique together.”
If you are interested, you can apply to become member or sign up for the newsletter: permaplant.net
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