http://www.permies.com/forums/forums/f-2/permaculture JForum - http://www.jforum.net
I have been studying and experimenting in Permaculture for about a year now. So I decided to get my hands dirty but without any land to use(I live in a studio apartment in NYC) I asked my parents if I could remodel their backyard. I had drawn many ideas and presented them to my parents but was left unsatisfied by their level of involvement. They seemed a little too ambivalent considering I was totally remodeling their back yard. I knew they had specific desires for plants and designs but the sketches I made, no matter how detailed, where missing something.

I realized it was their actual physical involvement.

So as a graphic designer I decided to start making a set of circular planning cards. These cards could be used to dynamically arrange landscape designs. On one side would be an illustration of a plant, structure or animal(s) while on the other would be a little information. I also wanted to make it approachable and accessible for children to use. I wanted designing a permaculture landscape to be a fun game for kids too.

Let me know what you think. You can see more images and details of the design kit on my website http://legendofthegreek.com/permaculture-planning-pack/
I'd love to get some feedback, comments, critiques from the permaculture community so I can further refine the kit.

Thanks


]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14704/130729 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14704/130729
I make my living as an artist and one of the reasons I am able to make a decent living doing it is I chose an area that is so specialized that I know almost all of my fellow colleges working in this field and I even trained many of them. Painter and sculptors are a dime a dozen so the competition in those areas is massive. There are not that many fine art quality metal engravers out there (although the number is growing). That smaller competition with a high demand is why I make my living out of my basement and don't starve as an artist.

I have to think the same principle holds true of farming and livestock. I would think the guy with a Shitake Mushroom farm would have an edge over the guy trying to sell 1500 acres of soybeans due to the lower competition in the market. Even though the demand for shitakes isn't as large as the demand for soybeans nationwide, I bet the supply and demand of the market still weighs int eh mushroom farmers favor.

Frog legs are fairly popular in many restaurants in my area and I know all those frogs were not gigged during our limited season here. So I am thinking someone has to be raising things like frogs and other specialized or exotic animals for market. Any of you tried to intentionally raise bullfrogs as a livestock? If so are they fairly easy to raise and harvest and bring to market?

Ray
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14702/130727 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14702/130727
Everyone I know is struggling to make ends meet. Recently I read an article in Good Housekeeping magazine about a company located at http://savingmorethanbefore.com according to the article they develop and offer unique and consumer oriented savings programs. I decided to join based on the magazine's recommendation. Last night I used the grocery part of the program for the first time as I went to do my weekly grocery shopping. Being a creature of habit I always buy the same brands, quantities and items week after week, my friends say I have OCD. Anyway last night was no different. My weekly bill depending on sale items is always between $ 160.00 - $ 180.00. Last night using this program my final bill was $ 42.26. I saved about 75% off what I normally pay. This is a great program!

Jennifer]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14700/130689 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14700/130689
I have high bush and low bush blueberries, several varieties to yield a succession blueberries through the season. There is a total of about 9 plants. We have a 1/4 acre lot. I plan to group the blueberries near each other for cross pollination. I plan to space them so they will fill in the spaces between them, and interplant some plants with them now, or perhaps plan to leave them with mature plants interplanted in a polyculture.

We live in Porltand, Oregon so I plan to give them as much sun as possible, about 8 hours of full sun in summer.

I have some nice little mats of white clover that I plan to put in between them.

I appreciate suggestions. Please be clear if they are based on experience, research, or wild guess.

Thank you.

Plant Blessings.

Pamela Melcher]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14698/130683 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14698/130683 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14697/130679 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14697/130679
Most people on this forum have probably heard something along these lines. The idea is a "weed" will pull up nutrients from below the soil level and bring it to the top so that it can feed the soil. There are other components of this, but that's one of the basic things I've heard.

Does anyone know of any books that are useful for this kind of identifying?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14696/130666 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14696/130666


]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14693/130595 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14693/130595 http://alternativestodentists.com/horsetail

Who sells "equisetum hyemale" seeds (a type of horsetail)?

I've been searching through online seed company catalogs, and I've not found any place that sells seeds of this variety of horsetail.

I've found some places that sell "equisetum arvense", but alternativestodentists specifically says "equisetum hyemale".]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14680/130512 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14680/130512 I don't have anything specific in mind, but we're from all over the place and I'd be fascinated to try and get a picture of how people adapt the talk (not techniques) side of it to their location.
In NZ, there seems to be general public acceptance that organic is a good idea. Then the debates start on cost, labour, feeding the world, etc, etc :P
Maybe because we're so close to the Australia, the home of permaculture, a reasonable amount of people have at least heard of it, and tend to think of it as a kind of super-organics, rather than a bunch of hippie moon-worshippers. (for the record, I'd call myself a hippie; I'm not hippie-bashing...)
While I'm not interested in tying permaculture to the term 'organic', which I think is pretty bastardised and meaningless, I'm ok if the average punter thinks of me as being simply extra-organic.
Here's a few permacultur-y things that appeal to local culture:
A couple of generation's ago, many people had serious gardens, and there's heaps of interest again, but without the 24-D's and hours behind a rotary hoe (tiller?)
NZers have a tradition of small-animal keeping. Not so long ago, many urban families had chickens, bees, rabbits...
Rainwater collection and liniting water is considered a pretty 'normal' idea, although most people don't actually do it.

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14679/130510 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14679/130510 THE THIRD TIME.

It takes me a while to ‘get it’ sometimes. Now I am really getting it. Starting when I get home tomorrow I will immediately start implementing every single thing that is on the first four pages.

I have gone through and highlighted areas that I think are important points; I will upload this document later. These pamphlets are all available for sharing and reproduction is encouraged.

I am just so excited about it because I have read this stuff before and the light didn’t really come on until now. So starting at daylight it will be sleeves rolled up and get moving!
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14676/130499 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14676/130499
Is any of the various types of comfrey invasive enough to out-compete wild chervil? At least my free range chickens would enjoy the comfrey...]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14675/130485 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14675/130485
How much would this cost, and where do I find someone?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14671/130445 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14671/130445 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14668/130434 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14668/130434
But I noticed when I had sheep that if the sheep ate around the acacia, the seeds would sprout (then then the sheep would eat the seedlings). So, daily, while milking we mix some Acacia seeds in with the little bit of feed we give them so that they will behave while milking. Then we gather up their "pellets". Instant seed balls.

Once I have a decent sack, I have an area ready to plant in Acacia. I'll let you know how it works.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14664/130370 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14664/130370
I have these little orange spots on my apple tree leaves. What is it? Is it something to worry about? If so how do I correct it?

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14661/130335 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14661/130335
http://interdependentweb.com/content/2012_tour]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14650/130294 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14650/130294
I'm looking for an alternative to bird netting to keep the birds (and other pest) out of my garden and berry bushes.

I have seen all kinds of owl decoys and supposedly if you move them from one post to another a couple times a week they work. Have any of you tried these? If so do they work to keep birds and rabbits away?

Ray]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14637/130170 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14637/130170 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14635/130154 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14635/130154
Our first reaction to this flood was that all that standing water was a bad thing and we needed to make it go away. We hand dug a small trench (nothing fancy) to allow the water to drain away faster. Now we get puddles that dry up in 3-4 days in the outskirts of the lawn (all 4 sides, with the center of the yard still being the highest and now hosting a raised vegetable garden). Even a small amount of rain causes the yard to be quite soggy and muddy, even if you can't see obvious standing water.

This was all pre-permaculture discovery. Now, I've been watching some permaculture videos on youtube, especially Geoff Lawton's work, and I'm wondering if there's a more reasonable compromise for an area at risk of this flooding. The water soaks into the ground eventually, just very slowly. Am I messing with the water system too much by draining it away with a trench?

The flooding also renders half the yard unusable / unplantable (as far as I know) because I can't find any plants that can stand being flooded for one month out of the year, and then experience dry conditions later in the summer. I do not yet have rain barrels in place but I wonder how much they would decrease the flood risk? Swales seem to be for slopes, not for flat land, but can swales be used in this kind of situation?

It now seems ludicrous that I'm sending the water back to the city when, if I could hang onto it somehow, I'd be able to use it to water my veggies. Any suggestions? Thanks.

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14630/130098 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14630/130098 Thoughts?
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14629/130090 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14629/130090 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14622/130046 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14622/130046
There is a well established tree to which I am not attached which would be a great place to support hardy kiwi. This tree is about 20 feet tall.

How far from the trunk should I plant the kiwi?

How far away can a male kiwi be from the female? Can they both be growing up the same tree?

Thank you.

Happiness, Health, Peace and Abundance for All!

Many Thanks and Many Blessings,
Pamela]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14617/130003 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14617/130003
I'm around zone 7 in North East Georgia. The soil is red clay, I don't know if I should refer to it as soil?
It is hard packed. We are thinking of starting Hugelkulture beds. Any ideas on where to get wood?
There are only 6 trees on her property. She has 1 acre.

Also, we are trying to figure out what to plant. How do we get started?

I am finding it very difficult to find information. What is a person to do without knowing to begin with?

If you have any specific ideas or advice that would be wonderful. I'm also interested in resources to research this information.

Also, if you need any other specific information about our situation to help, just ask. I don't know what else to include?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14613/129977 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14613/129977
Are these tools actually quality like durokon guarantees?

Where in the world are these tools made?

I actually feel guilty about purchasing tools this cheap. They have some sickles/ kamas for less than $2. How could you not feel guilty? I can only imagine what the workers were paid throughout every process of these tools (harvesting the materials, transporting, forging the metal, building the tool, stocking, transporting, supplying, etc).

I searched online for reviews and only found two reviews that were quite poor. The reason seems more like the service than the actual tools.

Anyone have any reviews on the tools themselves?

Thanks everyone,
J]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14608/129909 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14608/129909
Oddly enough, in the very same bed, I have a broccoli plant that is also huge and healthy with no broccoli head.

The beets are extremely happy in this bed, as is the spinach. I'm guessing I'm not going to get any pea pods and that I have a serious nutrient imbalance. Would like to know so I don't repeat this.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14604/129857 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14604/129857 I've recently moved from the house we were sharing with my in-laws for 4 1/2 years, and want to move my peach trees here, but they're a bit big. They just started bearing fruit last year. One is about 4' tall, and the other is maybe 6'. I was thinking the idea of transplanting them was a lost cause until I was rereading Sepp Holzer's Permaculture and came across his advice for moving fruit trees. I'm wondering if I could do that and how much of the root system I'd need to dig up.
Now that we've moved out, my in-laws are going to get rid of my garden and return it to lawn. They may keep the fruit trees, but then their lawn care company will girdle them with their weed-whackers. My plum tree already died because of that.
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14592/129729 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14592/129729 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14590/129716 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14590/129716
How does one do "close plantings" of various sized plants and trees and still ensure that each gets enough sun?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14589/129697 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14589/129697 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14583/129666 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14583/129666
I like the idea of building multiple connected keyhole beds, that are built up as hugelkulturs. I also want free range chickens for eggs/meat/manure. I can't figure out how these two things can work together.

I would like to have the chickens do their work in certain beds, but will they destroy the hugelkulturs? Will they climb up them?

Anyone have any design ideas that would work well for chickens + hugelkulturs? I live in Indianapolis, IN.

Thanks!

Branch]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14580/129654 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14580/129654
I hope this is where I'm supposed to post this. Anyways... This is a link to my pics and 2 videos of the huglekultur me and a friend built this winter. I would love any feedback/critiques that any of you might have!!!

my blog


thanks! ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14577/129637 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14577/129637
So now I wonder what to do.

The land is in zone 4, a total of 18 acres, of which about 10 are usable. (Most of the rest is wetlands and swampy riparian area -- better left alone as a dedicated mosquito ranch; we also need to leave space for the future domicile etc.)

The soil is sandy and long ago was farmed. The place has been left alone for the last thirty years or so, according to the neighbor, and is overgrown with long grass, brush, and brambles, with quite a few small trees (birch, Norway pine, some willow). This is not a place that would be amenable to cutting sod.

Our long term plans are still to set up large gardens, and of course to plant fruit and nut trees. But I don’t know what to do this year. We only just bought the property and it’s too late to get and plant trees, and plus we’ll be leaving in late June and not around to irrigate all summer anyway.

Planting crops etc. happens in May around here, so that’s still possible.

Do folks think we should do some clearing of the brush now and plant some cover crops? Maybe even do some serious tilling to help them get started? Or would it be better to just wait and leave it be until we’re going to be around to take care of things?

If we put anything in, it’s going to have some tough competition from the brushy plants. I was thinking maybe buckwheat, sunchokes, and clover. And maybe some patches of cosmos (for my wife) and black-eyed susan (for me), as both will re-seed themselves around here.

Any other and maybe better suggestions? ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14576/129615 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14576/129615 ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14565/129541 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14565/129541
I'm having difficulty envisioning what might keep squirrels off, other than a huge and expensive metal cage all around and over the trees/bushes. I don't think I'm going there.

I already have great horned owls and red-tailed hawks working the area, and I'm rooting for them (since I gave up on chickens, at least for now - having chickens made a change in how I felt about seeing the hawks hanging around, especially since they did poof several birds, and did not have the good taste to stick to the extra roosters when doing so), but really, nothing much dents the squirrel population.

Meanwhile, butternuts of the same vintage are proving to be a difficult tree to keep alive, though resprouting from the roots has happened a few times. I think I've read of grafting them onto black walnut roots, and I begin to see why you might want to. I'm rather wishing I'd just planted black walnuts at the time. The butternuts have never gotten themselves sorted out far enough to make nuts for anyone to get.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14564/129536 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14564/129536
I have come up with a plan to plant mounds of cucurbita maxima, mainly long island cheese, along with a few others and sunflowers to shade out the bindweed. Broadcast clover has helped a bit, but I really am intimidated by the fragile dep roots, abundant flowers dropping abundant long-lived seeds, and agressive growing habits. Bindweed mites are not available in my state.

Does anyone have any experience with bindweed abatement? I love many weeds for many reasons, but cannot find much use for this one. Any advice will be most welcome.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14563/129531 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14563/129531 latest podcast - the blurb says...

Paul Wheaton and Maddy Harland of Permaculture Magazine talk about how many people they reach. They talk about Skeeter, aka Michael Pilarski. Maddy shares about a digital Permaculture Magazine app on iPads. They talk about printing on paper. Maddy talks about what will be in the next issue. They compare Permaculture Magazine to Permaculture Activist Magazine. Maddy has three new books: Designing Ecological Habitat: Creating a Sense of Place, Permaculture Design Step by Step Guide, and People in Permaculture Caring and Designing for Ourselves, Each Other, and the Planet. They talk about the permaculture concept of fair share, and the three permaculture ethics. Maddy shares about restoring an old Navy base into an educational center for permaculture. They are in the process of translating another Sepp Holzer book on water. They talk a bit about spirituality, in particular Sepp Holzer‘s spirituality. They talk about DVDs put out, including Natural Swimming Pools and Ben Law‘s Roundwood Timber Framing.

And just to annoy Paul, I wanna say that I've had a sneak preview of the new Sepp Book because the German version is already available and I had a good peek through one in Tamera. Loads of colour photos, and right up there on top of my Christmas list!

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14560/129498 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14560/129498
So guilding and sheet mulching around the trees has been put off while I work on my zone one (as I should...), but I have been thinking and observing and have noticed a few things. We have two big clumps of lilies growing on the edge of our property. From what I have gathered from neighbors the previous owners used to mow down there, then they stopped and let it get all wild, and we are just now (well, my husband is, if it were up to me we would have left it as our zone 5- he did leave part, just not as much as I would have liked...) getting around to reclaiming it, which is how we discovered these lilies (we did know there was something orange blooming down there last summer, but didn't know what it was until my MIL identified it for me). We also have clumps of old fashioned iris, also from the previous owner. There are also lots of wild plants that I would like to move and/or encourage, like wild strawberries, violets, and blackberries.

So my question is, is there value in taking these resources I have on hand and making up the good part of most of my guilds with them? Like could I dig up the lilies and use them where daffodils would normally go in an apple guild? I also am working on a walnut guild, and I've heard wild strawberry makes good ground cover. The mix is lacking in N fixers, but we also have lots of clover growing mixed in with the grass, and I could add some others.

Any advice or feedback? Would I be missing out on certain benefits if I do this?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14551/129452 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14551/129452
I broke a bottle the other day and I threw it in the recycling, but I couldn't think of another use for it. I am also in an urban environment. And it was also the bottom of the glass container that I broke. I thought about collecting it up into a metal bucket, but then what do you do with glass scraps?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14550/129433 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14550/129433
I have already given up taking a PDC on the east coast that deals with my climate - all of the instructors that I want to take from are on the west coast. So I have been looking a lot at Scott Pittman. I have noticed that he posts a lot of reading material that he wants you to have read before you come to class. I have already gotten quite a lot out of reading these 'freebies'.

Here is a link Reading Materials

I downloaded most of it to my laptop to read while waiting for appointments, lag time at work, or while hubby is watching TV. ( I just put on my headphones to drown out the TV)]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14545/129417 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14545/129417 coomercially for 2 generations and are making attempts at switching to organic. Any information sources for converting standing areas to permaculture You all could steer me to? Thank You]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14544/129412 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14544/129412 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14542/129404 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14542/129404
http://www.nativeseeds.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=808]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14532/129346 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14532/129346
The first episode of our global family Permaculture adventure is here http://www.impermanencefilm.org/blog.html

Please let us know what you think, and help spread via your networks if you enjoy it!

For the Earth!

Richard]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14518/129219 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14518/129219
I started with planting tall tree layer. Distance between them is (7m) 23 ft, and they will be pruned to fit in that space, and to let enough light to lower layers. And they are in triangular pattern:


I devided tall trees into some groups, mostly based on the size and growt habit, and genus also. I spread each group evenly across the garden so that I have apple tree in all parts of the garden, plum near every apple, cherry near every apple and plum etc.


Next I planted tall n-fixers. 3 n-fixers around each fruit tree, or 3 fruit trees around every n-fixer :) They are here only temporarily, as a supporter for my young food forest, and will be cut down after several years. Maybe they will be used as coppice, but probably will be replaced with short trees.


Empty spaces will be filled with short trees. I consider short tree every fruit tree that I can pick from the ground or using small ledder, but at the same time the one that I can stand under it. The ones I can not stand under it, I consider shrubs. So, after filling empty spaces and replacing tall n-fixers with short trees, I have pattern like this:


Since a lot of short trees can be supporting ones, I decided 1/2 of short trees will be supporting trees like carragana (n-fixer), mulberry and elderberry (dynamic accumulators). Hope you still see triangles in lower image, I found out that as long I stay with triangles, each tall tree will get one carragana, one mulberry and one elderberry, and 3 fruiting trees around it, without any mistake.


Now I started to draw paths. I used leaves veins only as an idea. I can not just copy that pattern since I'm not water drop that needs to be delivered to one point of my garden. I want to walk through my garden, give a tour to my friends, when I'm picking elderberry flowers I want paths that are connecting them in time saving pattern, but also I don't want to use all available area for pathways. I drew some pattern like this, It has one big "road" running through the center of garden, big enough for a couple of people to take a walk without forming a caterpillar. Then, since terrain is sloped, I have main "branches" following contour lines. Size would be just enough that I can pass with a wheelbarrow without any problem. And then small branches connecting main branches, maybe just enough for a person to walk through without scraching against shrubs.


Then I would add shrub layer, without any plan yet, and a keyhole paths for servicing this shrubs, but I expect terrain itself will show me how to handle this once I come to that point.

What you think? This is just a pattern, this is not a plan of my garden (it is much bigger) but I found out that similar pattern can be applied to any size of garden, with some individualization, like ponds, playground, bigger spacing between trees etc.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14517/129201 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14517/129201
Here are the natives on my property:
California Buckeye
California Bay Laurel
Manzanita
Live oak
White oak
Elderberry
A few different Ceanothus species
Blue Dicks
Sierra Gooseberry
Miners lettuce
Chickweed
Poison Oak

Since I moved I built a little 20 by 30 foot garden area with three 4 by 8 raised beds on the south side of my house. Two of my raised beds are for annual crops.
In the other raised bed I planted:
Three Artichoke
Three Tree Kale
Chives
Geranium
Ground Plum
Sea Kale

Around the edge of the Garden I've planted:
4 Chilean Guava
1 Red Currant
2 Golden Currants
Many Strawberries
3 Maypop
1 three leaf Akebia
1 five leaf Akebia
2 Serviceberries
2 Aronia
3 Oregon Grape
5 Raspberries
2 Grape
1 Mission Fig
6 Goji (wolf) Berries
Yarrow
Alyssum
2 Day Lillies
3 Society Garlic
3 Asparagus
1 Rhubarb
1 Mexican Tarragon
1 Oregano
1 White Sage
2 Lavender
1 Muscadine Grape
1 Issai hardy Kiwi
1 eastern prince Schisandra vine

On the West Side of the House I Planted:
1 kadota Fig
5 Pineapple Guava
5 Greek Myrtle
1 Kumquat
1 Chaste Tree
6 Lavender
1 Rosemary
2 Coprosma
1 Ice Cream Banana
3 Sourberries (Rhus trilobata)
3 Strawberry Trees (Arbutus unedo)
2 purple sage
2 Black Hawthorn
1 White Mulberry

On the North Side:
2 Sweet Pomegranates
2 Rosemary
4 Black Satin Gooseberries

On the East Side:
3 Goumis
1 Santa Rosa Plum
1 Che Fruit
1 Jujube
1 Persimmon
1 Trifoliate Orange (poncirus)
2 Butterfly Bush
2 Lemon Verbena
4 black satin blackberries

In a shady area south of my home:
4 Pawpaws
4 May apples
4 Partridge Berries

North of my Home going to my well:
2 Japanese Quince
2 Yellowhorn
2 Seaberries

On the side of my Driveway:
3 Redbuds
some various opuntia
3 Cleveland sage
1 Russian Sage

On the west facing slope east of my parking area:
1 Nopale Opuntia
1 Lemon Verbena
1 Beautyberry
1 Jelly Palm
1 Loquat


Now I have an area below my parking area, to the west of it, that I want to clear and put in a food forest garden. The area is probably 50 by 200 Feet. The north end has three massive white oaks. Otherwise there is poison oak and live oaks occupying the area. I am focusing on growing edibles and higher end medicinals. I am up to experimenting and trying new things. I am striving to do everything organic. I am open to any feedback and ideas. I hope that I was detailed enough. Thank you for reading this and replying.

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14513/129179 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14513/129179 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14512/129165 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14512/129165
There are many other plants that could be grown in our area, but which I left off for various reasons, especially if I suspect those species would need baby sitting in order to flourish here in central Florida. We are willing to use some well water for the critical and highly prized members of the food forest, such as citrus and blueberries for example, but we are trying to design a fairly drought tolerant community overall. So, there are many sub-tropical species that could grow here, but we're leaving them out because they're too thirsty.

I want to encourage any feedback that would improve this list, such as corrections, additional plants, removal of plants, etc. I could use all the help I can get. So, for those of you who downloaded the old list, throw it away and use this one instead. It's a lot better list.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14510/129146 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14510/129146 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14508/129137 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14508/129137 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14505/129129 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14505/129129
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFIGzQqYkGg

Here's the original video of me planting the orchard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6abAOF9PW6g]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14501/129109 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14501/129109 The low nitrogen content helps keep out invasives that aren't desert adapted.

What really stood out tho, was the levels of zinc deficiency. From .5 to 1.5 ppm, where a farming soil might have 30-80 ppm.

This affected the actual nitrogen fixing abilities of these desert plants, because the zinc is required for mycorhizal and bacterial cell wall production.
Plants tend to be zinc accumulators, and since there is very little duff on desert ground, very little gets redeposited in the soils.
Might also be a reason the animals pies are such good breeding beds, it's the additional zinc, and myco !

If you are having trouble getting your desert plants to thrive , give em a zap of zinc, then a shot of innoculant, might really make a difference.
I just ordered some good looking broad spectrum innoculant, but now i will try and get a zinc booster first. The micro-nutrient sprays may not be enough.

I just saw how getting plants to increase their magnesium uptake can make for healthier foods, now zinc. should i just plant a multivitamin with each seed?
We don't have any plantable biomass here, that does not re-sprout (vinca), is alleopath (tree of heaven), or seriously invasive (horehound/mint)


This stuff is spendy, but looks like the best i have found, for everything but trees. See what they say about some of the strains.

http://www.beneficialbiologics.com/index.php?optio...5&aff_id=16&vmcchk=1&Itemid=22

anybody know of anything else this broad spectrum?





]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14499/129097 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14499/129097 Ulmus crassifolia in an area behind the house where the Live Oaks are dying of oak wilt. I'd like to replace the oaks with an understory of edible plants. Thanks to Chris Cromeens, who posted a link to the Texas Plant Information Database http://tpid.tpwd.state.tx.us/index.asp I can look up Cedar Elm and see what species grow in association with it. Obvious edible plants from the list are Elderberry, Common Persimmon, Texas Persimmon, Plum, Black Cherry and Blackberry. For my first guild I'm thinking of using Asian Persimmon in place of the native persimmons, because it does well in Texas and is an attractive small tree. For the shrub layer I want to use Elderberry and Blackberry cultivars. Still pondering the herbaceous, vine, groundcover, and root layers. Not sure if to concentrate on natives, or do a mix of natives and others. In either case, I want to have several edible species.

This guild will be planted in a hugelkultur placed between the driplines of two large elms behind the house, so I will be able to irrigate it during establishment of the trees.

Overstory: Cedar Elm
Understory: Asian Persimmon (probably "Fuyu")
Shrub: Elderberry, Blackberry
Herbaceous: ?
Groundcover: ?
Vine: ?
Root: ?

Any suggestions for plants to use or other input is appreciated. :)]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14497/129093 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14497/129093
It was blooming when we had some late frosts, and I know that can hinder fruit set and zap the blossoms, but all the leaves are brown, dead and dry. It looks completely dead, minus some suckers making their way up from the bottom (even before this happened, it was very "suckery").

It's sitting amongst a bunch of plum and pear trees that are completely unfazed, and is about 15 feet from a Hunza Apricot that was also in bloom at the same time but is in full leaf with no apparent issues.

Is it possible that the frosts we had actually killed the tree above the ground? The temps during that time were hardly ever more than a degree or two below freezing, and we never had a truly hard frost. Does a tree become less cold-hardy overall when it blossoms? Do you think it will come back? I'm confused.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14494/129086 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14494/129086 http://tiny.cc/k2h8bw]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14488/129046 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14488/129046
Kurent is a monthly journal featuring activities, games, articles, reviews, crafts, and more! Each issue will feature permaculture-based curriculum for young kids, older children, and adults (including resources for parents, educators, and teachers).

Kurent aims to provide hands-on activities and inspiration to encourage youth involvement in permaculture and earth skills.

Each issue of Kurent will be available in pdf or print format. For more information, contact kurentjournal@hotmail.com
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14486/129036 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14486/129036
Hi All - I did some hugelkulture beds last summer and they have returned great strawberry plants except where the shrews/voles agte the plants and built a big colony in there. Any ideas other than a cat (my son is allergic) that can help me keep them out of my hugel beds? did I do something wrong? Help!
(This is a repost looking for help in lots of places!)]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14480/128981 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14480/128981 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14472/128890 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14472/128890
I've been reading this forum for a few days now and have been researching permaculture for about six months (Gaias garden, youtube videos and various other books). My wife and I are about to move into our newly built house which was constructed in place of an old house that just had to come down.

The lot slopes slightly down from North to South (right to left as you look at the house from the road), has an old oak tree in one corner, and apart from a young maple the whole yard has nothing but a thin layer of mulch at the moment. To the front and right of the house the soil looks pretty soft (sent for lab tests) and to the left of the house it is good in areas but there is hard clay in other areas (especially where the old house footprint used to be). At the moment the entire yard has been mulched (not sheet mulched), with some weeds popping up in certain areas.

The Plan

I have sketched out a rough plan of various guilds (mini food forests using dwarf trees, or in smaller areas, just shrubs as the canopy layer). There is room for larger trees in certain areas but I'm not too sure if we will put those in. I have also sketched out the various other features including the paths, the shed, compost area, patio, clothes line, temporary dog area / main dog area, potential pond, potential greenhouse, pergola, wood storage and a host of other small areas for functions. We have an idea of what we want to grow but the specific placing hasn't been allocated yet.

I am just about to start a 40 hour video course and also I have just ordered the volume "Edible Forest Gardens." These will help me finalize my sketch and help me with some of the more practice questions.

Implementation

Before I throw myself into the project I want to make sure that the soil is free of lead and other contaminants (the old house most likely had lead paint and was demolished), and that the soil is well prepared. In certain areas there isn't a lot of organic matter and just an inch or two of mulch covering pretty dry clay.

If the lead results come back clean then this is how we will most likely proceed:

1. Put in the paths and start a few small raised beds.

2. Build the organic matter in the soil so that it is ready for next spring.

3. Put in the temporary dog fencing the patio.

The areas where I'm struggling in terms of implementation is knowing when to introduce the trees, shrubs and cover crops and how best to create organic matter over this summer and the winter.

So, here are a few questions:

1. Should we get the dwarf trees in as soon as possible (i.e. this fall) or wait until spring?
2. What is the best way to use some temporary winter cover crops (nitrogen fixers) that will be replaced with some perennial cover crops next spring? Or, should we just start the cover crops that we want to use in our various guilds.
3. When should we think about implementing the different shrubs and berry bushes?

I really want to do local compost and use the compost bins mainly for emergencies and seedling starters (advice taken from Gaia's Garden).

A Bit More About Myself and Our Aims

I'm willing to do as much or as little as I need to (both in the implementation and over the long term). I don't feel the need to get things in right away just for the sake of it. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right things at the right time to benefit each guild and the area as a whole and set things up so that each mini forest garden is as self-sustaining as possible.

I've been dreaming of owning my own area of land for years and I am really excited that the time has come to get started and learn all about permaculture from actually doing it (and not just from reading books) and to create something that benefits everything and everyone in our vicinity.

Any answers and comments are really appreciated and I look forward to getting to know you all on this forum.


Jack.
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14470/128856 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14470/128856 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14465/128804 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14465/128804 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14462/128781 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14462/128781