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Ducks defecate the instant they hit the water.

That little tidbit is something Adam and Emmanuelle Schwarz learned while raising the animals on their Carmel homestead.

The discarded bathtub in which the ducks bathe came with the property, but it and everything else on what the Schwarzes have dubbed the Sunburst Homestead have been transformed into a kind of ecological Rube Goldberg machine of animal waste, water runoff, livestock and vegetables.

Just about everything on the property has a purpose, even the ducks, who in addition to eating slugs and bugs around the garden, provide a bit of comic relief.

"The ducks, their main purpose is to look cute," Adam said.

You don’t need ducks, chickens or acreage to get started on your own ecological effort. And nature does a lot of the work for you.

This is permaculture

Ducks waddle around the Carmel, Ind., property of Adam and Emmanuelle Schwarz on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. The Schwarz's allow the ducks to bathe and poop in an old bathtub. When the tub is full, they release the water down a hill that feels a series of vines and trees.

When Adam pulls the plug on the bathtub, the water meanders slowly down the slope via shallow trenches the he and his wife have carved into the property. The manure-rich water from the tub waters and fertilizes the plants below instead of rushing off the property or into a street where it could cause flooding.

It's part of a system called permaculture, a decades-old practice that mixes agriculture and design to create a sustainable ecosystem.

Elsewhere on the property, pipes just beneath the surface of the grass direct water runoff from the roof into an orchard of trees. Eggs from the chickens go to the Schwarz kitchen, and their shells return with other kitchen scraps to the coop as snacks. Waste from the coop goes to the compost, which breaks down into soil used in the vegetable garden.


How they got started

The couple's permaculture journey began with food — or a lack thereof.

The couple relocated from Italy in 2004 after Adam, a scientist by training, got a job at Eli Lilly and Co. 

"I was so annoyed that we could not find proper food," Emmanuelle said of arriving in Indiana.

To them, that meant organic, local, seasonal produce that was not wrapped in plastic.

"It was easy to find food that was one or two of those things but very difficult to have all of those things together," Adam said.

The fact that they couldn't vote with their dollar was bad enough, but not being able to vote in American elections — Adam is from New Zealand and Emmanuelle is French — added to the frustration.

Feeling powerless, the pair looked for ways to live more sustainably. Month by month, year by year, they took steps to reduce waste and buy local produce. But at some point, there was only so much they could do as consumers. 

"I don't want to buy products from Chile," Emmanuelle said, "so OK, I need to grow them myself."

In 2014, Adam and Emmanuelle took an online class on permaculture. They immediately started looking for land on which to apply their newfound knowledge, and in fall of the same year, they bought their current property in a formerly unincorporated Home Place neighborhood.

Today, they're on a mission to share their enthusiasm about permaculture. While Adam is still working full time in neuroscience, the couple spends its free time pursuing projects and hosting free workshops on their living permaculture model.

The Carmel, Ind., property of Adam and Emmanuelle Schwarz, still lush in September 2018. The couple use a practice called permaculture to cultivate plants and raise livestock sustainably.

It gets easier with time

The word is a portmanteau of "permanent" and "agriculture," suggesting a system so sustainable that it can function forever.

Permaculture can be labor-intensive to start, not unlike other kinds of agriculture. The first few years were hard for Adam and Emmanuelle. But the payoff comes later. Once the system is built, and if it works as designed, nature does a lot of the work for you.

"Permaculture provides a framework to be a lot more sustainable and in equilibrium," Adam said.

Since fashioning their own system, Adam and Emmanuelle have launched Osmos Permaculture, a consulting service for homeowners and businesses. Their Carmel homestead serves as a demonstration and training site, where they hold workshops during the spring and summer.

How you can get started

You don't need chickens, ducks, sheep or even three acres to get started on your permaculture journey, Adam says. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • The first step, Adam says, is to pay attention to where water flows. The goal is to keep the water on the property, where it soaks into the ground for use by plants. This has two benefits: Keeping water from flooding nearby streets or yards, and creating a reserve underground for the plants.
  • If the land is flat, you can create height with raised beds and rain barrels, creating a cascade affect. Rain barrels also can provide a place for water to go and be stored for use during dry periods. 
  • Beware of the pests! The Schwarzes have a handful of fences around their property that protect their plants from deer and rabbits. Squirrels can also be an issue, particularly closer to downtown areas.
  • Talk to your neighbors and check your zoning ordinances. Not everywhere in the city allows animals, and even the places that do might have some neighbors who are resistant to your plans. With a little conversation, you might even get them interested in your project. 



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