DIY"Skilishare ~onfer ~..

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GUER~ILLA GARDENING

,.URBAN 'PERMACUL TURE

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t ,A Reader Compiled for the DIY Skillshare

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ROOFTOP \

nARDENS

Blackberry Lupin

Black currant Mesquites

Apricot MinIS

Black locust Borage

Leatherwood . Cherry plum

Clover Comfrey

Peach Dandelion

p~' Ta~~

Raspberry Goose1)erry

Rosemary Ciuus spp.

Sage Hawthorn

Sloe Hyssop

Sour cherry Laurelbo-,rry

Pride of Madeira Some EucalyplS Osier willow (& other willows)

Table 16. Species ror Very Dry Siles

Almond Mesquites

Black locust Mulbeny

Burr oak Olive

Carob New Zealand spinach

Corle oak Pampas grass

Tagasaste Prickly ~

Many Acacia spp. "Pisl8chio

Pomegranate )ujubc

Fig Quandong

Holm oak Rosemary

Honey locust Stone pine

Lavender Taupa18

Most aromatic herbs .

Table 17. Legumes & Other Nilr .. gen.fixing Plants The trees can be coppiced for green manuring and animal fodder. • denoies non·legume nillOllcn.flXer.

A Temperate

ilia

Tagasaste Autumn olive . 'A1der

A1bizia Tree medic

Black locust Russian olive Siberian pea shrub 'Ceanothus

Small species

Azolla (aquatic) FenUgreek

Clover Lucerne

Beans & peas VelCh

Lupin Lespedeza

B. Waan/dry climnte.:! T.I:!:§

Mesquite Tagasastc Casuarina

Acacias A1bizia

C. TropiCS/Sublropics Trees

Acacias Gliricidia Leucaena Pongamia Cassia Tipuanalipu

Small species Pigeon pea Wingcdbcan Beans&pcas Lucerne .

URBAN ·PERMACUL TURE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Albizia Cal1iandra sesbania Tamarind

Icc cream bean ~

Lab lab bean Peanut Clover

REFERENCES

BOSTID. Tropical ugwnes: RUQUI'ces for 1M Future. National Academy of Sciences, WashinglOn DC. 1979.

Brook. B .• Plams Conswned by Man. Academic Press. NY. 1975.

Douglas. 1. Sholto. AllmlDlive Foods. Pelham Books 1.111.,1978.

Hedrick. U.P. (ed), Stunevams' Edible Plants of the World, Dover. NY, 1972.

Maselield, et alia .. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press, London. 1969.

Mollison, Bill and David Holmgren. PUfTlDcw/ure One, 1978. Tagari Publications.

Lindegger, Mal!. 0 .• SublJOpical FruilS' A Compendium of Needs & Uses, 1984, Pcnnaculwre Consuil81lCy. 56 Isabella Ave., NambOur QLD 4560.

Litwin. Shery, Planl Species Index in The FUlure is Abu1Ida1lt: A GuUk to Sustainabk AgricuI1Ul't, Tillh. 1982.

Usher. Georxe,A Dicdotll1ryofPIt.uus Used by Man, 1974. Oxley Printing Group, United Kingdom.

195

CAn't"HaIia with"th8 Monoadt .. ~ in the Forest "" KickinU un the Farm ~ Month Se\'~

I'm sitting ~erahUS. aJdar In!e On .. thick .~ol_ and n~es and de()o~~ w~ Wi ~y"5.iI~!lY ~em.OOl1i_I~."lnthe

" middJe uf the furVSt a-a'OSS the !ake"from.tht (ant\; I've IHlenwOitUngdeai'ing

. traillil in the .par~ .. ~ for the ~.bunch~f ~ours;' c:utti. ~ aoIl~ roOts "and p~ up.f8niS; ilO~ J'1Ji watc.tUngth~;SqQirri!l.;nm ~ a.·upper story of the tleW and ~ting my 8_()re ArpU in Ute sh8de~ i"Ung sweat beading . . . down 9lY ~~t~ ~o"tJw ~undof.a:aY bltfath liid the b ..... dWPitt8·and the' wind blowing .croas ·thehU(e: I'm abOut,at tern leveJ; loold.ng'Mtiaight up in~o the ai~sin8.lwtwOrkof lIpirais ~. whirls Of. taW br8rich .. lisht . flickerin8 thrc?uSh the ".tt~ofilHdle~,anchwhU. The aoill4ftderthe' c4KJar ~1 .. rmr.tbl8'~.hI thick and~~1ack,"ld·lOJether ~th ' d«ompusing org..uc .nattet·_ COlUJtantlY'm-f1~ and fUll of life. It's iIJl· mulched undvr a c;arpt:,t· of thtt ~1I8IU!fKY • ~~ down _ bUil.ting up ami b~backdown'as~ ~~~wtY:84fttiR6\tauer~d"P." ~ the erieqJy in and Jetting' it SU little-by- J,ittJc~'over time.::Life:mthi, lorest w

~.: anendlew flow Of P~"8i ~.anddec:om~. The _1'm.8ittins under stu." it's weight and buiJd~ the d it standafiJi. The old IJlOwth far treEIIII mnnps wetywhere:that WeIV tuuu:t"'1ossed bac:ik in the 192O' .. ·ha'h giant new 1wmI~ S1Vw~out. of ~emr.'tw,~w trees taking.advailtage 01

the uld rwt .y .. ~~,c}·t~ ~i~~"~. .

liere in tlw f~~ eveijUUng 'iI:~e~f'~p,.nd dOWn~ underground· from the smallest miCrobe fiXing nitrogen in the soil to the cougar catc:hirig a: deer fC)r its dinner on the ~8e of the bluff. TM.t'e ant a lut of

important 1~ik:Jrw toleatn out here.' .. ;.

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Hickories AcaciaS

"Ice cream bean ·Le~

"Pigeon pea Amaranlh

Quinoa "Sesbania

·Winged bean Carob

B. Follalt Bamboo Chicory Comfrey -TapsasIC

Sunroot "Lab-lab belli T=medic ·Sesbania Willow "Winpdbean Cholcolcha~

Lespcdeza l.IICeme Lupjn Pampas grass Vig"" spp. ·1.eucacna

·Pigeon pea Taupall

Kumjong Dandelion

D. RoolS, tubers, rhizomes

• AmCICba ·Yam beans

SUIIIOOI Chiclcory

·Yam . ChoIco.

Comfrey Sweet pol8lo

Arrowhead, duck powo ·Queensland III'OWI'OOI

Table 7. Edible Flowers For Salads

Dlytily Bora,e

Calendula Fcljoa

Black locust Nasrurtium

• Scsbania Dandelion

Salsify Sweet violet

Zucchini ·Winged bean

Rose (/fOlfl I'IIgOlll. R. clUllna)

Table 8. Hedge Plants

Taupall Some clumping bamboos

Alder HaWlhom

Hazel Russian olive

AUlllmn olive Elderberry

Laurelbeny Pampas grass

CoprollllB "QueeaIIInd anowtOOt

Pomegranate (c:Iose1y.ipICed: clippDd)

Some Prllll1ll spp.(Damson plum, sour cherry)

Table 9. Anboll Barrier PlaulS

(Spiny or unpeIatable dcnselhickels) EuphorblllPP. Hawlhom

Gone Sloe

Honey locust . NaIal plum

PricIcly pear cactus" oilier c:ac1DS sPP

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Table 10. Useful Perennial Vines

A. DedduolII

Grape wisteria

Kiwifruit Scarlet runner bean

Scarlet trUI1Ipet vine ·Yam beans Virginia creeper

B. Everp-eeD oPasJiollfruit *VaniUa Jaimine

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ChokoIchayotc ·LIb-lab bean

Ivy

Table 11. Pest Control Plants "Sunn hemp (nematodes)

Marigold (Tage/u spp.) uematodes Pyrethrum daisy (broad spccuum insecticide) While ccdIr and neem U'Ce (Insecticide) Tobacco (iJlfec:ticide)

Derris root (D~rris ~llip/ica)

Rhubarb (Insecticide)

Table 11. Umbeilirerous P1aDts

Celery Angelica

F100:nce fennel Panley

DiU Chervil

Lovage Queen Anne's lace

Caraway Coriander

Fennel Cumin

Anise Sweet ciccly

Parsnip Canot

Table 13. Composite PlanlS

Tanagon S~wood

Tansy Chamomile

WOrmwood Daisies

Artichoke Salsify

Sunroot Sunl10wer

Table 14. Water or Wetland Plants

AzalIa Rush (Sdrpus spp.)

Walet'c:teSS Water cheslnut

Mint "KaIIg kong

WaIN lily ·Lotus

Wild rice Rice

Duckweed Duck polito (~)

Willows CTanbeny

Highbush cranberry Cumbungi or cauail

Reed (PhragmJ/ts spp.)

Table 15. Bee Forage

Almond LIvcncJer

"Apple U>sanberry •

Bergamot Lucemt!alfalf.

AppendixB

SPECIES LISTS IN USEFUL CATEGORIES

Tho (ollowing are lisll of useful permacullure categories. wilh no IltempllO describe panicuJar planes. Some of 1IlOI$1isIedc:an be found in Appendix; OIbenaresq COIIIlIIOIIa 10 nCecllIO delcription. AsIcrisk (*) maries tropicall sublrOpicai species.

Table 1: Plaall with Food Produc:1I trom Roots.

Tuben, or Shooll

• AmIcacha' Asparagl:3

Blllllboos Beet

"Cassava Carrot

Celeriac Chicory

Cholco Dandelion

"YIIIII beans Onion

Parsnip Radish

SUIUOOl Pocaco

·Taro Salsify Peanut

Ducic poIIlO (USA)

Turnip

"Queensland BITOwrooi Scarlet runner bean

Table 1: Plants GIVIng Storable Food Produc:ts

A. NulS

Almond Black walnut

Walnut ·Bunya pine

Buucrnut Chestnut

Filben. hazel ·Macadamia

Ginkgo Pecan

·Pistachio Oaks

Stone pine & other pine nues

B. Fruits (suilBble (or Ioc:aI drying &; storing)

Apple Apricol

Fig Jujube

Peach Prune plum

Cheny Pear

·Mango ·Pineapple

·Banana (some small varieties) Grape (some raisin varieties)

C. Flours and meals

Carob Honey locust

Swcet'chc$lnut Wbice mulberry Pigeonpea

"Indian water cheslllUI "QuecrIsbnd unowroot

D. Cooking and salad oils

Almond Beech

Hazel Olive

Uve oak Walnut

Mustard Grapcaeed

Sarnowcr Rape Sunflol'o'Cl

Table 3: Freila Fruils

A. T_pente

Alpine IlnIwberry LOquat

Apple Medlar

Aprico&, MuJbeny

Bluebary Necrarine

Cape gooseberry Peach ' Checker berry Pear

KiwiCruil Persimmoo

Fcijoa Plum

Fig GnPe

Strawberry Grapefruit

Strawben)l guava lujube

Chetry Tanwillo

Berries (bI1clc.1ogan. boyIen. red)

BaiJana pusionfruit BIac:k. nld CIImIIlIS

.,. Subtropical/tropical

Mango lalcCruit

Guava Rambutan

Carambola MangOSteeD

Lychee Natanjilla

Sapote Jaboticaba

Mammey SlpoIe Pepino

Papaya Custard apple

Prickly pear Natal plum

Granadilia Pineapple

Passionfruit Citrus spp.

Table 4. Fruit Used in Cooking. Preserves, Wine

Cl3Ilberry Elderberry

Quince Hucklcbeny

Cornelian cheny Barberry

Pomcgrmaae Cumquat

Table 5. Fruit High in Vllamln C

"Barbados cheny Citrus

Rose f/tOIlD rugosa) "Rosella

"Guava

Table ,. Animal Forages and Feeds

A. Nul$, pods, seeds '

AlmOnd Mesquites

Beech Taupata

Oaks Siberian pea shrub

Honey Iocusl Tagasaste

Hazel WainUI

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, ' All lilY howIemat. arc really bull)' with ~ cannins 1um&IOW,

cooking jam, drying plums, tluwhillg amaranth and quinoa and beaaw, rnaIUnu pwto and tvnding to the bmy wine. Our dght month IRllit.m.ble .pcu.lture program endIi ill six weelw and We'IV all planIq our futures, heading off ill

, different dirediolW ready to take on the world with auUUIi knowledge in our '

l, handli and arm8 and minWI. '

"~M~"daYIi are.;'aiI;'·hair~·~~I~'tely'~~ol~e a.:ound f~· ~wh.g"

it tending to it, talking about it, Iftudying it, harvesting It, pl'OCWl:lUllS It,

wiling it. I've been t-bud grafting fruit lM.as and ~ng tiemi~~W~ •

cuttings of shrubs and In!e8 in tirw of wet ~nd, 6lavtng t~ o~ difrerent k~~ of

i vegetable and flower and herb lIVed, lilaymg up Jate at rught reading ~~p

I irrigation and biofertil~r and plant propa~ation textboob .. l .swear It s IK)

!' IJUl8icaJ • like cutinS spells. setting the timing down and ~ up the

.. ; right ~unts of soil and ~8 and water and lliun and • pom' - It all 6tart8 ~

.i growmg. '

RedaiJnins Loat Knowledp ,

, What'!; incredible is that p~ple aren't Jearning theliMl,ellUlls any~ore • food,cultivation and land tltewardl:lhip are rapidly becoming lost arts. Not IK) many generatiorw back JI1U6t of our famili. were providing thvir own food in onu way or another. Our grandmuthen had Quit tl'Wli in their backyards, our grampas would catch their own fillh, fNIOple would 6lave their own Heel

: and grow the AIrw tomatow their gramp~t8 had growlL We lived in

tighter communitiw with more localUed ea.NlOmie8 and had a clutier ,

conDectioo to tlw land We lived on and the people around WI. ,,~

'. Now a couple muJtinationai c:hemical companie8 own m08l of the aop

, ~ in ttw world and genetic:ally alter our food to be dependent on their

.' fertili:aml and· herbiddett.· We grow our food on huge badw olmonoc:ropptd

, land and tnuwport it allover the pJacu in monster trucb and b.uy it wrapped up in plastic from nightmanlllh 'IiUpen!tOrw. We' ve etprawl~ out of our aliw

! in 8tranglehoidM of highway and covered up our betlt agricultural tl()il with

I can~ growths of wbwban deveJopnumt and indWltria1 park8. Our t!CtfWmy illl bued on an infinite growth model that doe8R't factor in our limil~ natural retKJQl'CeS or peopl~' IiveJihoodll and ha,PpinV88. The rive1'6 are lull of toxic:

waste and there's a law againlit fruit treetJ in my home town becauw the fruit : might taU on peopJetI' Cal'll. KidlJ like me grow up in big apartment buildings totally alieruited and duelws and never knowing where our food really COl'lU!8 ' from or how 8cDything really worb.

When I w.1en to the neW8 on the radio fuD of war and catutruphe

and stock market bull8hit, I take comfort iQ the fad that the eddUs I'm ,

learning will never become outdated. No matter what I end up doing'lwill neve~ bedo'."rwU~ and, replaced by a machine. I'm going to llpend the IVIIIt of

my. hfe helplng to dean up the m~ the coaporations have avated ill all ~~~:

th~1f greed and ~ho~tdghtedlW68. And jufJi like the rwt vi the people I work r wtth everyday, I m Just'going to 'get better at aU of thW tItuff u the yeanl go

on. Anyone can learn how to grow food and take carv of thuRUlelvw and the

, world around them. What followlf are wme rough notw about eIORlU of the

I $tuff we' vebeen learning out here; ,

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8«)

Straight Up Permaculture

Ev~thing we do on the farm is 8O~ehow mimicking things that happen out In nature. The ~ndples .and forces at play out in theforest are the 88In~ ones we .u~e t~ dc:-sn our fields and gardens and homes and JiVetl. Wher:e I ~e, been 1.lVlng IS Irke a big experiment in organic d~velopinvnt and 8ustamabdaty. Instead of acres of tractor tilled monocrops fun of t' id

and herb' id d fun . 'd pes lei es

cu la ~ an gla VB and fadory buildings pumping out mutated

ws and chickens,. we have an "'Sanic vegetable gardens and hap. animaJs

(and what We call •• ttle patches of permaculture scattered through~~t the arm.

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iinagy Cycling

In the ilftst water faJlII from the sky, 80akB into the soil, moves through the lK.Ji.l and aCl'Otlfl the hind, ril:K!8 up in the stems of tnaw, and returns to the atmwphere. The same way the trws in the forebi hold onto watt!", use it, then M it back out- we try t~ tum flows of nutrients and energy (sun, w-.tvr, wind, organic w88t~) through our farm into cyd~,

We have a pipe which runs from our water 80Urce (a spring) up in the hill!:! and intercepts the flow beforv it. tuns down the creek and into our lake. Our pipe connecb~ down to a big fel1'C.JQ!ment tarik at the top of a bluff which ctJnned8 to a number of otM!' pipt!8 which amy water down to our 00u1lle8 and fiaJdl:J. The idea is to catch, !ltore, and UfM! all of our n!8Ourcw before they run utf the property. Recyding kitcMn waste into compost; channeling hou!llehold greywater into the garden, raking leaves up around trees all mulch· those are all differertt ways of energy cycling. Rather than using expvnsive, complex machinery which need petroleum and random parts from the other "ide of the world, we use hand tools like 8C)'thell, wht.oelbarrows, fork", and spades. The energy we expend out in the fields goes into our food cultivation, then we eat the food and the cycle starts allover again.

The idea is to create a closed circle whel'¥ we feed ounselves and don't have to be dependent on the global market for our survival. The idea of localized eoonomy is ba~ on the Same principle- supporting your friends and

\ regional cummunity and keeping the trade flOWing in a circle. Buying from the n~ghborhood family market rather than the megamaU • supporting local businesses tl\ther than giving it to people W~() already have plenty of money and live realty fat away from you. in fancy houses somewhere.

A«eI .. *, tuttel8ion· pioneers and clim~ sped- .

The forest develops and changes over time; always giving rise to a new b'UCC_on of diffel'ent spedes. Bach stage creates the right conditions for the next stage. When the trees get cut down on this land, the first thing that happens is the alders grow, There are patch~'of "I~er a!1 over this .fomt . from where the bid trees have been deareut, Alder 18 a pioneer speaes, Their roots fix nitrogen in the ground and build up the tIOil for the next generation to com~ aloag. As the rest of the flora and fauna develop around them in layers of vines and 8hnabs and ground cover, the cedar and fir slowl¥ b~in growing again. Eventually the alder fan and break back down into goil, shaded out by the climax spedes cedar and fir.

water·loving. Mosdy 1Cmper&1e climate. Easily pIOPi' gated from stem cuuiJI,s. May become nalmBlised or rampant, especially lion, screams.

USES: Salbt ~ (Olier willow) and odIer Ipe- , cies used forbaskcay. Long 1·2 year old sbOou arc cut from pollarded willow stumps, or from dUcketsof-willow stems (lI'IIIIIcc:ut81ground level). S. IIIQIslUlaJU,la used Iri New ZealIJId for erosion control. Weeping and pussy wiDows (S. discolor), among others. am excellent boo forages. WiDows are lire n:IatdantB (steam tathet IhIn bum).S. mDlsUiJDna VII'. Ton_ has lush CoIIqe for emergency sheep and deer fodder dW'ingdrouJIK: one hectare of willQW' CID maintain .1000 ~ Cor 6 days (data from ",ro!orutry In Austral", and New ZuIDllll).

YARROW (Achilletl mllie/olirun)

Hezbaceoos perennial to 1 m, with white nower heads.. Drought-resisUIIlt; natunUsesalong roadsides and dIsIUrbed soiJs, Bee fonge. Insectary plant (a member of the composite Cindl, wbich IIIrIc:II bellcflCial insecu). Flowering tops and foliage of medicinal use (or srock. especially sheep.

Wil('" IMGu'CI(.ATA. (cow PEl'.)

WINGED BEAN (PsopitocDrpIU ,,,ragollOlobllS) Leguminous. twining vine, powing 10 over 3m when supponcd. Valuable, nillritious Iropical pnIen bean.

USES: Edible pods. young leaves, shooIs. flower; as vegetables; immatum WbelOUSlOOlB eaten raw orcooked. Very high ~in content.' Can be used as for 10)' beans forproccssing IObeancalte. SecdscoNain oil Cort:Oolcing. soap, and lighting. Dry l10wers eaten like mushrooms. Excellenl nitrogen-fIXer (heavy nodulation). soli conditioner and cover crop for the uopicS.

YAM BEANS (PachyrrhizlIS eroslIS, P. 'IIbcrolllS) Herbac.eous, twining p1ant2·6m taU. Wann-c:limale, dry. land perennial beans wilh crisp. edible wbers: harvesIcd

afler 4·8 months. Mature seeds and leaves toxic:. .

USES; Tubers widely _ in M~iCo, PhilippillC$.

SE Asia, raw or cooked. Called jieamlo (P. el'OlllS) in Mexico and ~ in salads or sliced lhilll, and.prlnIded wilh 'salt, lemon juice Ind chilli alICe. Young pods of 1'. erosus sometimes eaten like French beans. Old starchy tubers are fcd to cauIe.

192

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poor soils, droughL Like sunllowers, sullfOOlS releise a

root exudalc which is !OXic 10 IIOIIIe planlS, '

USES: Human,food; tubers ealCII as vegecable. Anima! COnIge: dfy Jl.llksand leaves ealen by gOlllS; tubers by pigs. Past garden windbreak; aIao .-cllllD break lIP hard soils. Leaves used Cor mulch in gardens all« tubas harvesred.

SWEET POTATO (/pomoitJ btJItJltU) PuenniallWining plan!, often aeaaed ullllllnual. Temperare 10 uoplcal tubers uaually planred on ridges or mounds (canllOlstand W8IerIogglng). Propagaled by stem cUlIings in !IOpics: tuber sprow in lelllperale eli mares. Needs trost-free growing period of 4-6 months.

USES: Important food source, _ boUed or baked.

Used for CIJUIing, drying, flour mlllulacuue, and as a source of stan:h, gillCDSe, syrup and alcohol. Also fed 10 IiveslOCk. ,vines are widely used as fOdder for slOCk. Grown in subltOpics as a groundcover for orcillirds, but must occasionally be slaJhcd from lI'ee,lrunks. Die back

in frosL '

TARO (ColoctUi4 t:scult:nlus)

Tropical wet culture planlS wilb over 100Q culllv&rs. Grown eilber in wetland renaces ",lib Azol/a fem (for nluogen fixation) or on mulched anditrig8led plots. S18ple food of Ihe uopics. Large root 15 eaien, although some raros are grown for theirleavcs. Thcleavesofmany taros are poisonous,

TAUPATA (Coprosm/Ht:pens)

Also called New Zealand milTOl' planL Large, evergreen shrub 2-3m with shiny leaves; dioecious ($Cp8I'Ite male and female planlS). Easily grown from cuttinllS. TemperateellmaleS;windhardyandresistantlOsaltspray,drought,

. and fue. Common ornamental seaside plan! in New Zealand and Tasmania.

USES: Hedgerow plant and rue reWdanL Fruit and seeds are excellent poultry fomge. leaves are eagerly eaten by sheep, horses, cows. Pruned elippinllS lI!aIce a good mulch or comPOSt.

T AGASASTE (CIltJtntJt:CYlisus ptJI_nsis)

NOT.E: Previously named II'eC luccme (Cy!isus prolift:rus). Nitrollel)-flXing legume bee 6-IOm, iiYing fot more than 30 years. Easy to grow from reed (scarify or pout boiling wareroverseedsandsoalc). ToItl'anlOfpoorsoilS;droughl, wind; originared in dry, Mediterranean-type cIimare, bul does well in cool remperate areas, withslandini li,hl froslS. Tagasasle recovers alief pruning or deColiation by animals.

For best results fenili$e with trace eIemenlS and lop bnches regularly (Gilher by hand or browsing) 10 give a more bushy foliage. Seed can be ~l driUed inlO paslure. bUI planlS should be protected from stoc:lc fot up to 3

years (or stocl< let in for brief periocb 10 pue). 11 sheep ringbarkuccs,cutlOlhcgroundtoOllCOlngcnewpowlh; this will form Ihicltcu more resiJwltlO Ihe&Ip damage.

USES: Foliage an important protein-ridl fodder for IIOCk durinJldrousht and 81 the end of_met. Bee fomgc;many small while flOwers, Chlck_ Ul8CCds. Windbreak hedge. Nurse plant surrounding frost-sensitive trees in carly years. Excellent CUI mulc:h; Ift[e can be ' lopped 3-4 times in summer.

T AMARILLO or TREE TOMATO (CyphotNJndrtJ ~Ct:Q)

Short-lived sluub to 306m. of the tomato family. Sown from seed or propagaIcd by cullings fl'IlIII I or 2 year old wood. Yieldsintwoyears.Sublropical,mqinaJlysuited 10 cool areas (pllcc in a shelrercd, sunny' posItitJn-..:.wUl IOlcrale mild frost). WeU-draincd soli. USES: Frult high in vil8min C; used fresh. Slewed, 'conserves. Commercially grown in New Zealand; high·valuc crop.

TRAPA NUT (Trapa MltJnS, T. inciStJ)

Also called Indian Wiler CheslnU.L Several species. remperat.c 10 tropical regions. Aquatic pen!IInlaJ, nOllS 'in waier 2-3 feet deep. Needs high nulrienlS. USES: Imporiant sweh), food plant, rich in iron; I10ur like arrowroot.

WALNUT (JugltJnS regitJ, J. nigra)

Spreading, dceidllOUS trees 10 30m; long-lived. TemperaleclintalC,eoIdarcas. Yieldsbcslondeep, well-drained rich soils. Relcaae root exudate whicll inhibits some undcrstorcyplants, a1lhough pastIIJ'C docs well. USES:

Bolh species _'lmponant for nut production, timber, specialty woods. Husks produce a dye. Black walnut (J. nigrtJ) rootstOCk is resistant 10 Armillari4 lOOt rot: all commelcial En81ish walnut stands arc gmCted. Black walnut is a panicularIy sought-after wood; with very high prices paid fot good, sll1lfght timber (yields in 40-50 years).

WHITE CEDAR ( Mtli4 tJ%ttlarQch)

Shon-lived (20 years), deciduous tree 9-12m tall: Sulred 10 a wide mnge of warm climaleS (tropics 10 McditCl'J1l' nean climates, e.g. SOilIb and West Auslnilia). .,

lISES: FUI-g(OWing shade tree; good for afforestation, Valuable timber; resistanl10 tcrmit.cauaclt (doesllOl need 10 be treated) and used for poles, furnllure, and roofing material. FucIwood. Coppices well; trees lopped for green manure. LeaYCS, baric, and fruilS are credited wilb insect-repel1ent qualities. Extracts of Ihe leaves lire used as a spray apillll passhoppcrs, and leaves placed in books and wool elolhing 10 pIOleCt against moths. Caution: frullS arc very poisonous.

WILLOWS (SQ/bt spp.)

Around 300,spccics. Mainly SPreading, deciduous uees;

191

A

-c. I\f1 ~ <S1I~lL'Jl Cooc.. .... flf.A. ~HINr> ,~,

"',ffl.e,,:te A ",10.«1'\, p.,r.,1'I:CrW 7ftr,. l!tr.1ivlif.f'l 'iwA.1.I! ~IOLI>JP "NP "1I1(~f', wrlll LvtNPeI:\'N:S

A,Np '~T1lt"V~j;'6.

"',,(tlll~H\ MiA.ctJiiT "~ IIIol1t"!!A'Tt'!? 11'I')1Dt: "Te""I't='~AIt1Il!."'S

FIGURE 2.9 Earthberms or mounds, create 'Special microClimatIc effects.

t1o~ ("fAfe A ;:tQif(q.fjte l( liNt)

'IJrt~f?iINC. IA HPlAre I~ !tATt ",.,p; "'ITI~ \~ItVII'((' tl((R.xtWII(rfS,

. , ~----------------------~~------------~

r

t

f

I

The same thing-happww ul'a.,mdQlled rubble lots and pae;tun.'8 and anywhere alae where the land ru. been du.1urbed~ Antas will be colonized by a new weed and herb layer which might hold the lK)iI against erosion, bring water to the topwil with their routs, break up compaction, fix nitrogen, reduce saJbI, or bring up nutritlnt¥ from th" eilUbewil which will end up in the

l topllioil all they die back and decompose, Blackburry bushelil with big old thoms will invade an ~ and k"p everything else away while the land heals itself. Eventually, just like with the alder, trees wiU grow up through the blackberry vines and shade them out.

We can do the 8aI1le thing by building up the soil and subltituting our own herb, pioneer, and dimax speciw. Depending upon the type of soU you start with (which might be eroded, salted, IiIwampy, worn out, acid, alkaline, clayey, or llIandy) - it's posiUble to introduce plants that will easny 'lW'viw and might by more Wleful than thl! existing vegetation.' We can grow cover

! aoplil of dover or alfalfa or peaal or bean& which fix nitrogen in the sui1 and

, then tum them in to build up the fertility. We can grow buckwheat which is a

,; phosphorus accumulator or winter aye which supp~ w~ g~wtl_l. We can _ ..

introduce animals into a e;Yllitem and have them do our work for us while they happily live th4lir lives. If we play out cards right. in 20 yeal'li we can end up ~.i with forests of ha.-.elnuhl and peaches and bJuebeniell. That's the plan - a

permanent agriculture. , ' '

Sheet Mulc1,ing

. Therv'lI all these subtJe little sheet mulching proj~8 all, over the farm - at's a reaJly basic; cool idea. The grass illl fuJJ of nutrients cause irs 80 good at pulling minerals up from down in the subsoil. It becomes obvious pretty quicli that Ws a waste of time and resoUtalS to try and puU it out of the ground and c;Jeu beds for growing stuff. It's much eAsivr to just throw a thick layer of wet cardboiU'd or an old carpet over an area- wait a year - and when the top layer of weeds is dead and rotted back into the soil from aJl the heat and lad. of air, then it's time to sow the vegetable¥. Periodically I stumble upon one of BR!nt'eo mulch spots - whl of bamboo poles or alder branc:hes with nitrogen fixing beans trellilliing up from the cardboard, getting the liOil ready

for next year. , ' ,

Pigs and /unkus ,

The p.iglil I feed everyday are fenced off in an area full of this thick weed called junkueo lhat's8Catlerud throughout the pasture land. It', really

. hard to get rid of with fann machinery, but pjgll Jove to dig with their snouts

.! and root up whatever they can. The Jonger they hang out there, the clearer that Itoil gets and eventually the fann aew iIIl g~g to plant another fruit and nul orchard, We get to feed them our garbage, they get to play' around all day and be really cute, and a bunch of people (not me) are going tobe eating a lot

of meat in the Wintvrtime. , '

Cows tnltl Bamt,oo ,

The row bam jill dOtH! the lake. There's a huge dump oi bamboo that; III been planted at the edge of the bam which abwrbs the exce88 nitrogen from the cow manure which would otherwise run down into the lake. The dump gel!; periodiCally harvested for pole". Everything works out.

c. u,

aIiet frost. Nuaitioua pain food. laSty peens. Grind seedlinlO fIour« remove biacmeu of whole pains by -ang; uso boiled «.iI) IDIIJI. Cbicken fodder.

Other useful CIwItopodUun spp. fel' human food and cbicken fodder are fll ben« lamb's quanm (C. albwn) wilh cakiui1I-ricII Ieava for I8IIIds. seedI reliIhcd by pouluy IIId birds; and JOOd kini henry (C. bomuhDlriCIII). young plant e8II!R lilco ISpuagus and spinach.

ROSELLA (HlbilclIIlIlbdariIfa)

Fast-growing annual slvub of subttopics and tropics. Grows loS-2m tall. Tol.us mOSI JOlb; mUll be welldrained. Needs lon, summer growing period.

USES: Fruits atewed « used in desserts and drinks; COIIIOI'VI!I. Tender leaves and youn, srem used IS I SIIId or llellllld;leaves are chopped IS I .. YOUr)' herb (for cWTia), AnoIher useful planl of the Hibiscus family is okra (H. '6CullUltIIS) wilh the IelJderpods boiled or sliced and fried. Uled in IOUPS and gumbos.

SALSIFY rtnllOpogoIJ po"i/olius) TcmperIIC,bicnnialclumpingplantIOO.6m.ofll:nplanted as an annual. Cullivaled for its OYSler-fIavourecI edible tap-rOOt(harvaledaUlUmn. willIG'. spring). Young leaves and llowc:r$ edible in spring and swnmer.

SCARLET kUNNER BEAN (PhaseolllS COCciMIIS, 1', ' _Ilijlorlll)

HcrbIccous perennial (grown as an annual in cold cli. maies) wilh Ihidc root ItOCIt. ToieralCS some fJ'Oll; grown in mild coastal or island c:1I11111CS. N=- cOol periods 10 fruit heavily.

USES: Edible young pods. beans msh or dried. Good llellia plant for' Jhade; bright RId lII1I8RIentai flowers. Tuben lUI: boiled IS I vegetable in Ccnll'lll American highlands. 0dIer usclul Ph4scolus lUI: tepary bean (1'. oCUli/OUIIS), a high-value drylancl species; and lima bean (I'. IUIlulOlIll). I tropical low hedge 'planl on fences.

SESBANIA (Sesballia bilpilloso. S. acu/,Ola. S. InllIdi' flora)

Fast-growing (4-6 m/yar). sbon·lived subuopicallnd UOpiclllogumetree6-9m high. Drought-lUislanL Easily PIOJIIIIIed by seed.

USES: Seeds used for poulll')' fodder and leaves for forage. S. acuko/a used in Mia as tnldilional greaI nllnlllll c:rop and border plant (nill'Ollen-flXCl') planted together wilh rice. S. Inwliflora grown in the Mekong delllin holM pnIcnI for its leaves and f10wers used for human food IIId U1ICIIOck It pouIlI')'. PIanIed along rice paddies. yield up 10 55 IaIs of greaI malCrial pet hectare. Used as ICIIIJICIIV)' shade II'ee$ in nurseries. Windbreak in cilrlllllld coffee. banana. Uving fence IIId fnwood IOUItC. Uted foIllrBWeIlc lI!Ifforatllioa oC \)Ire land outside COI'BSIIln Indonesia;

190

SIBERIAN PEA SHRUB (Coralofllllpp.)

TIU. Icguminou. Ihrubs 1-5m. forms thickets, CarallllUl arbo"lClUIs i$ Ihe only lpDI:ies that pows iRlO a aee. Verycokl andwlndhudy. growing from arcUc c:1n:le 10 warm. dry c:lima1C11. Seeds burst out of 6cm-long pods and should be coUected in bags ber~ c:ompJelCly ripe if needed for seed.

USES: Windbll!lk and hedge shrub for very cold ,UmalCll. S=- 1ft excellent poulll')' fOl1l&e food. and pods c:an be lelt on the shrubs 10 burst open. Wildlife habilll, shckcring small animals in the Ihickels. C. arborelCllIS leaves produce a blue dye. Nitrogen-fixer.

STONE PINE (PifIUS piMfJ It other spp.)

Conifer up 10 IO-3Om tall; sIow.growing and long-lived. Suitsc:oolanasandc:angrowOlleJIposed,dry,rocIcysilCs,

USES: Pinc nulS or kcmelsarerich in oil. havcl very good flavour. Cones 1ft collected when mawrc but unopened; opened in summer sun or dryer and nulS 1ft shabn free. Many species have exceUent edible nulS. including pinyon pine (P, edulis), Coulters pine (P. cOu/lm). P. cembra (Europe), P. lerardialllJ (AfghaniSWI).

SUNFLOWER (HeUanlhlll alJnllS)

Annual planlS O. '·3.5m tall; IeIIIpcrlle 10 tropical eumalCS (not suited to the wet tropics. however). DroughllUistan!, but do best when watered at inlCrVals. Grow on a wide l1IIIg~or good draining soils. Release roocexudete: some crops do nOl grow next 10 !hem.

USES: High-VlJue proIein seed (or human and livestock; especially poull1)'. pigeons. Whole.heads may be given 10 stock. Salad and cookin. oil mllde from seeds; wilh sa:cIcaJce residue fed 10 stadt. Also used in blends wilhlillSecd forpaintund varnishes. Lubricant and lighting. Stalks and hulls arc mulch. bedding for liveslOClc.

SUNN HEMP (erolalaria jUIICeo)

Tall shrubby annuaJ I-3m subcropics and tropics; (roslsensitive. Quic:k-growing. large leaved lcgume. Hanly and drought-resisUinl.

USES: Cultivated for Cib~s used as twine. piper. nets. sacking (belle!' than JUIe). Root eJludale said 10 control nemIIOCIes in the soil. Easily grown In gardens. wilh leaves used for mulc:h. Cralola,", br~1IS used as annual (odder In ttopical Africa. Green manure crop. often grown in rotation wilh rice, maize. couon; and intaplllnlcd with c:ofI'ee, pineapple. When thickly-sown. wiD smOIher all weeds. even vigorous grass weeds.

SvNROOT (HelianlillllluberOSIII) .

AIsD caDed Jerusalem artichoke. Tall perennial which dia,bIck 10 roots; 1·3m 1111, PropIpIOII by tubell. Yields 8I'8oftCii4·S times lhIt ofpolllOel. Hardy, wide climatic l1IIIse from lelllperale regions 10 Ir0pics. Will IOIeraIe

crops; wood I8ken in 6-12 yald (pruning and shaping necessary 10 mainlAin good log growth). LeaveS conrain nuaienlS. niuogen; can be used as slOCk fodder and mulch.

PERSIMMON (Diospryros kDki. D. llirgjnitwz)

Many varieties, espec:laJly In Japan. DecIduous ~ Ib 15m. yielding fruit in winler. Tempcrale 10 IUbuopical climaleS. Fairly frosl·hardy; does well in most well· drained soils. Japanese persimmon (D. k4kJ") does best in {uU sun. willie American persimmon (D. virginia,",) can toIcrare paniaI shade.

USES: Fruit, eaten when over-ripe (harvested when hard and ripened indoors). Fallen fruil is an exceUenl pig and slOCk food. Omamenral plant, with autumn colour (speclacular red hilS on leafless tree). A good Ctontyard plant, along with other such ornamental edibles as nastur· uum, kale. almond. peach. currant. elC.

PIGEON PEA (CajlUllIS cajan)

Leguminous woody shrub of dry sUbll'Dpics and tropics; frost sensitive. Quick.growing. shan-lived perennial; sometimes grown as an annual. I -4m rail.

USES: Major tropical food grain. green seeds and pods used as vegetables. Ripe seeds for CIour. dhai. sproulS (22% protein. 10% calcium). Imporrant fDnlge plant eaten green or made inlO hay or silage. Somelimes planted in pasturesasa browse plant.ldeaJ windbreak and shade for vegetables; leaves cut for mulch on garden beds. Shade tree plantations (coffee. cacao) and vanilla production in India. Useful windbrcaIc hedge species.

Used in Asian medicine as a treatlllent of skin irrita· tions. CUIS. Leaves used for sllkwonn culture in Mala· gasy. Green manure and cover crop. Used in erosion control. Dried sralks for rU'Cwood. thalChing and baskelS in India.

PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia spp.)

Spiny cacLi with Clat. fleslly pads grown in dry subcropicsl tropics. Like full sun; grow 10 2m. Propagated by planting

pads inlO die gJOIInd. Will pow in poor soi1s; drousht· resistant. Caution: can be invasive; birds cany leeds.

USES: Fruit, caP fresh or 8Iewed (numerous hard seeds): use gloves 10 harveSt. then retub off fine spines and peeL Seeds are nuaitioua and lie IOmeJimes ground for animal feed. Young OplUllilJ pads lie dwpined IDd mid in Mexican. Indian markets (or human food: pads also fed 10 SIOCk (spines are bumt 011). Good banier hed8es. Some varieties lie: mission pricldy peir (0. 1Mg4-ctJ11tloa): common prickly pear (0. ficus-indica); O.lIIIdulalii. O. nrtptacanthD.

PRUNUSSPP.

These deciduous species contains SOllIe of the most 1m. ponant temperare fruits: apricot. plum. almond. peach. nectarine. cherty. Many cuhivafS. SOllIe miniature variet' ies, Mostaresmallll'eeSand shrubs I· 10m taiL MedilU' ranean climates. ~ dry summers best. Semi·tolerant of drought.

USES: Mairily for {NIt. usually C8ICII (rcsil or ill

. conserves. juice. Almonds are a SIOrable product. Some species such as damson plum (P. in.sliiia). sour chcay (P. cuasus). and common'pIum (P. domutica) will form thickets. rnalcing an excellent hedge for windbreak. wildlife habiraL All species good bee forase.

QUEENSLAND ARROWROOT (CaftIUJ edulis)

A clump-fonning perennial of the subtropics and uopics (originally from the Americas). One of the hardiest arrowrootplants. can grow in IernpenllC areas where there is little'frost (needs warm. sunny position).

. USES: Tubers cooked for I sweetish Wtc. Ihough inferior to sweet poIato due to fibre. Arrowroot flour. Animal forage. especially pigs. Also used as a garden windbreak and weed barrier willi comfrey and lemon· grass: and can bechopped occasionally for garden mulch.

QUINOA (Chenopodium quilUlQ)

Hardy annuslto I-2m. grown in South American Andes: cold temperate.dryland. Drought-tolerant. Sow in spring

Classical Palm Intercrop

189

1. RoUl" oll&lnll sulflC. wltll w •• ClS. S"MIS. vasses. Wooay plants are slashed anCl laid nat

2. AREA Is sptinkled with blood end bone. decayed I.af or thin scatter of fooCl wastes plus some laWn clippings. Then. eerpeted with t:8l'11b08n:l.

.... _ It old t:8""'t IIno orclOtlleS. hardboard, softboard.

newspaper, Um '. ..... •• . ned weeds and vasses

ate. (all organic materials). Crushed and darke

yellOW and die. soil fauna start work.

Sheets of material Blood and bone

Slashed weeds

l----------------------.;...-: Cosmetic layer otwoodchlp •• bark. r •••• /" sawdust. nut huSks. rice hUlks etc.

~I_I_. '~k=~~M'

v. ~ "\ .... (E. F. and G weed -,

. ~. . \ L.ayets as per 2 abOVe.

r-:a.·

,e,

• ro,.

::&

" .

3. Appearance of planted area in nrstyear. (H): tubers (I) large seedS (J) trees anCl shrubs • .All are newly planted as soon as mulch Is eompleted.

FIGURE 5.12 Steps In sheet mulching.

~~~~ t.~\. "~~~~~i

iN CIfl(I'eH !. ,

...;.Re: f.:J . { ~.. '"

~itt:e C1t,,«,,!~ '. "

, .

• I.

FIGURE S.17b Clitia garden with plastiC tent.

RGURE 5.17e Chicken-wire column for fooltop vegetables.

Plant StaddDS aruI 'f~. StaddDi ~ S;;-~---.:-."' .. :.... .

In the forest thent an! alttri8fl of inten:Onneded levels" from the understore.y· of ferns and butdwlel to tt. upper canopy of the INIture lIveS. lJwtead of planting A flat fivld of OM crop which ~ tOIW of attention and water, the idea is to intetaop taller md shorter ,ped." dimbing plants . and

. herbs and differvnt kinds of tree.. • everything placed accurding to their . shade toleranat, heights, ana water requirements.

. In oqe of the permaadtQl'e sit. tIwre is a lIeCluence of swales COIUWCted

to a &nail dugout p~ which cany nutrieft .. down to the bottom of tM. elope. At the bottom of the slope t!wnt'v a bunch of raiaecf bed. ..... of stic:b and mud where all the garlic is planted. Swales are just thlee long leve! excavations that are dug to Blore water in the undedYina IOiJa or sediments. They're different than ditches beca ... inttead of just divertbts water 80 it can drain 6IOIMWhere else, swalw work to intercept the water flOw, hold it for a few hours or daYtlr and let it slowly infiltrate the ground wat~, recfwsin8 soils and tree root fl}'litem6l. The llite was a biB swamp fun of alder trees a couple )'eMs ago ami slowly the petmatultun crew has been. rerouting tM water to ~ the wet areas nicer and. the surrounding areas more fertile for groWing grQUnd ~ carefully teJn4J\tia8 tile aldena and replacing them with fruit and nut tre •. Ttee¥ are totally important part. of .wale planting systems. Out teacher Brent shows us how he cuba the aldet trees to harvest their wood but d~ it in ~ a w~y that the younger trees an take

~!'::"b'!==~'::i=dto

syitem ~ that it doesn't need any inpUbJ from the oublide and can totally function u a self"<VRtaJRed ecoeyBtem.

Guilds

The fir trws in the fontst have like 26 diUerent ty," of fUJ18i and scrubs and m.6tCts that soillfhow pay a role in their growth and life. In the ,,1 forest, tltv fMI6l, bup, bird., luna' £ems. and huddeb4trry ., .... all work

i together to aqte an intermnneded web. Sumetimfi, rather than·~

I about OI8aniBmIJ individuaDy, irs uaeluI to think of tJuIm in dUItM or groups. When the individuala are dusleted around a centiaJ element we caU th8841 groups guilds. In the foreet we QR teIk about the fi1 trw 8~ . .

There are a couple of fruit ~ .,read acouncl the £am" mottly apple and plum trves. Thete are aIio a aimaU heard of Iheep which kMp the

grass down in the otchatde by 8ruins. 1'hey also eat up any fruit which falls and rots on the 8ftJUIId, prev.wng diseasee in the trees. Every w_ or 80 the sheep are JlUWed from 0JUr ordaud to ~ 110 that they don't p2e the graaatoo low. To keep·the trees ~y apd nut c~ With inVasive grassee,wepw yarrow and clov .. and borlle and nettles and comfry ~nd the them. The shwp also eat thwe and like them too. We can Ny that the sh4lep a.nd helb" wv grow in the orchard and the trec.'6I aru aU part of thv Enait

~ gUild. .:;if.:~ .,~. . . ,.>.. .: ... '---:-.

·,'<to' - • .".-. .

\D

OLIVE (Olea _opoeo)

Small. overp-een II'CO 10 8m; Iong-Ii."ed (up 10 700 yem). DryJand planl of MeditamnWI regior.. not lIIiu:d 10 maritime or c:oIdlegions (lhhOllgh fairly ~lOSt-hardy. fruit needs hot IUIlImetI 10 ripen). PropIpIion by cutlinp; olivos bar ill 4-6 years. CuI grow on lhin. rocky solis bul yioId it boa on ratilo lOils.

USES: Ftuil is eaten green or ripe; peen ali:," must be soaked in I !yo soIutioo before pickling 10 ~ bittemelS.lSltcollcnt aU crop: fruitpicked whoA Cully npe (but not soft). then crushed 10 I mash and plac:ed in c,?", bags. These are pressed and the oil collocu:d. ~ olivo varicIics yield IS much IS 30~ oil. Tho remIIUlIIIg pulp aCler pressing can be fed ID stoc:k. Olive trees are a good sheller and oceuibnal forago for slOCk.

PALMS

Woody perennials with many IISOS. from. human rood. oils.lllgar. anjmaJ rocldcr.11nICUInII marcrial. ~lCh. and fibre. Most usoCul palms grow in dry or wet ItOpICS. Ha~e deep tap roocs. and many aro succ:essrully used IP agrororcsuy (crops and pasw.le) IS tho)' do 1101 compete for water.

Dlte palm (P1uH:llixdocr;Ii/,ra.P. sylveslris.P.cQIIoriCllSis): Dloc:cious, need one male 10 60-80 remales. Staple food yIoIding dales; old trees aro tapped for ~y (supr). Inrerior species 01 dateS can be usod for antmal fodder or possible fuclcrop.

Borassus pllms (Borossus slIP.): Palmyra (B. flablilifer) rapped forsupr In India (produces t70pounds of MA:tar per 1Ci'e. or 40.000 Iiues 01 alcohol fuel). Timber is hard and durable. Others aro B. oethiopico". B. IwrdDicllS.

Doum OI'glngerbread pllm (Hypha.eM IheboicllS):

Multi-SIMImecl. brandied palm 10 t Sm. bclring heavy ClOpS of ediblo hard-shelled fruilS. Staple food and fodder crop of arid lands. mainly ISgypt.

Coconut (Cocos "uci/sro): Essential plant 01 many tropical Island culiUres. Yields coir ror rope. thau:h. oil. drinking"waJU".nulmealS.andsuprfromtloworstalks.

Chilean wiDe pi 1m (lubaeo s~cttJbilis): Temper-

lte-zone palm yieldin, 410 lilJ'el of sweet sap annually. Cold hatdy. Fruill with ediblo nut, useful for f~er.

Peach palm or Pejibaye (Boctris (guille/mo) gasipus): A spiny-lJU~ pJan~ s';BPle pl~t of Central &: South America oxceedUig IlIIIIZO IP protem and carb0- hydrate yiolds per acre. Fruits chestnut-like, boiled and driodu rood. A1so forpouluy and pig forago. Hardy only in frost-free aroas.

PASSIONFRIUTS (Possjflora SlIP.)

Evorgn:cn perennials; visc:'rouS gro",,:ClS (~otimes rampant as they will PlWlllbso and c1unb IP forest uees). USES: Edible rruit, poultry and pig foddor. sun doCleaor 10 sbade walls. used 10 cover (and keep.cool) water tanks

and shocIs. Ornamental. with showy flowers. .

Black passlonrrult (Possjflora tduli~) is a. vigorous climber of SUblropicaJ 10 a-opical _. Culuvau;ct .on fixed fence trellis. cropping £or4-8 years (some vaneues

last longer). Frosl tender in early growth. .

Blnanl passlonrrult (P. mollisjma) is grown In ICIlIporate maritime climatos; will withsulnd modcnllc froslOfICc CSlBbliJhed. Yields from lato autumn 10 early summcr.andis. valuablopoultry foddor (fruit sceds). An uncler-usedfruit rer winter fresh rruil. more easily peeled lhanP. tdulis.

LUlikol (P. a/oUl) is a hardy. vigorous grower of the

. sublfOPics and uopics; plant two Of more for best crossfenilisation. Delicious rruiL

Other ediblc passionfruilS or tho tropics arc gT8IIlIdilla (P. quodrQIIguloris)._ gr&nIdilla (P .Iiguloris). and waleflemon (P./auri/olio).

PAULOWNlA (Paulow"io IOIM"'OSIJ. P./orguil) Quick.growing.drought-lllSistantdcciduous IreOS 10 t~'?' Mild temperate 10 subtropical rang~. wi~ P-I~rgesU lP the. cooler climates. Grown extenSIvely m Chi PI. Has deep taprOOt and will not compete .with pas~ure. ~ps. Has larIo leaves. bul with some prunmg and wldo spacmg allows lighl through.

USES: Timborcrop for line furniture. boxes. chests.

Used in agroforcstry 10 sheltcrcercal. soybean. and couon

188

..

PI("s£OI.t./5 COCCINE'U~ (SUoA.I.£'- Ru,,"(~ ee:AN)

OAKS (QlUlrcu.r spp.)

MOIIIy larJJe, spn'OIIding, deciduous trees up 10 4Om, although some are smallet or even prosuaIC. Long·Uw.d; many are fast IIOwlng.and bear tcoma emy •. LIqe hIIbiJAI range rrom dtyllllCl lOlls 10 aCid swamps; IIIIIIperaze 10 subliopical c6mares (most species are wdl-suitecl 10 cold 1In!Is). Good germinalion. aJlhough acom. sometimes lose viability in a year. Yield Is variable, USII8Ily yielding In a1temale yells.

USES: Acomus animal fcXIge, high carbohydrase.. MIIIt valuable for pigs, although crusbed acorns and leaf mould lie fed 10 pouluy. Species used are ~sweet", or low In tannin. Excenenl hanIwoad timber and firewood. Some specles used for wine VIIS 10 aid matun1Ion process. 0aIcs offer sheller for IIOCk l1li4 lie JOOCI lire aecIOr specieI (poor burners when "grOen").l.eaves lie used for animal bedding. FollOWing lie a list of some species Builed 10 particular uses:

Huma. food: Acorns contain tannin which can be removed from ground acom meal by !eKhing in streams and cooking. Some sweelCr acomsare: Q.llavar. ballolll (a cuhivarorlhe holm oak) which Is Ihe best old world eating acorn used in PonugaJ and Spain. Q. tl/ba (while oak) a common NOM American tree with acorns boiled like chestnulS by Native Americans.

Fodder: Best Is Q. II" (holm oak) and Q. subtr (cork oak); mixed stands are grown In Ponugal for pig fcnge, with very high yields on aItemaIC yean. Such mixed oak fORlSlS yidct 68Icglha per year O\OCl' a len year period. Oilier fodder species are Q. prlllOideS (chinquapin oak). Q.

alba (while oak), and Q. minor (post oak). •

Timber: Most oak trees produce superior quality timber. Some imporIIIIIt species are Q. robur (English oak) used for centuries in buildings and ships; Q. pemua (durmasloak); Q. tl/ba (White oak). alSo used for bruTel making; and Q. rlibra (red oak). used eXlensively for Cilmiwrc.

Cork: QlUlrcu.r suber, thecork oak, is cultivared in Spain and Portugal Corwine/ehalllJlllBRC boUle stopperS. insulation. nooring.eIC. Once mature. cork can be harvesred eveJy 8-10 years willlout harming the uee. A hecwc of cork oak will yield 8n average 0(240 kglyear.

Other Uses: Q. mongO/jca Is Ihe host plant. {or llIe IIISSer silkw,Om\ of China and Japan; Ihese are semi-domeslicatcd and produce a high-qualily silk. a~rcu.r ~lllli"a (black or quen:itrin oaJc) yields a permanent yellow dye from its inner bark. Q. ita and Q. alba are used for high-qUlllity charcoal production.

)

187

I

I

. .' . . . . .' .' . . . II' . ild' oi related plants, using Here the fruit tree forms the centre of a s;a . ~~ The careful choice of sped

every vertical layer o~:~:;::;l:~:r~:tu~fi~ebe~eficial. ,

r ,

I·

• t.AWN

14>

AFTErz

P/lT·'O ..

i·

BEFORE

. 'd' more adventurous and

Starting with an 'all-square 8~rden e~,gnl,a d

high-yieldln8 plot IS eoo ve . .

-- ....... ".;;

'F 5'

-. ~

.,;~---. - . .- ~I... ..

pJUltinJ& TfJe ~uj,:~n:!. crop siaUd it the traditional Native America~

the '-'Otn .;:" ans, aqul8h..AlI the runner bea .. tnUis their way up

which .... :: lix th.l'Ii~ that'. beina Jost to the 80H from the corn

undent . nutrients to pow. As the 8CJUuh pJant provides an

big 8~ OI~~hidt keeps away weede and help" to keep the soil moistl their CXIm • .J ~ ::; ~ keep the animals from trying to climb up and steal the

,

')

Bdae .:-

both ~~edge ~t~ecm the fort8t and tht lake there'fj aJways a mix of

......... "e- ~ whole ~ let of epedee that doesn't exist in either of the ~ Ecological pmdu<.tiVity alway. incre .. at the bound4UY between two '"-Uogtei betause·the n8OUrt'e8 &oat &oth.,....,., can be used. This iii true for Janell water, forest/ graMand.. .tu.y/~ Sidewalk/stMt

w~.) ~ee _ materials *'waytlla:Ull\Ula" at the . edge:, - sc.,il and deb .. ant blown by the wind against lencee or walle. lnCl'Claeed edge maIr.es

f41!' • more productive landscape • aeateB mOre 8Unace area, more patches of liUaodimatee. People alwa,.. want to JiVe on the ~8es.

.. When W. baiId.out' Iarelen bIIdII or pand8, we tab edge into account

and don't ju. alway8 make them normal rec:taglee or circl_ We built an

heJb apiral next to UU1' hou8e out of 81N18hed up concrete from an old building f~ndaticn. The rei_ epirahJ condenMi space, autes a bunch of 1i"ltt Il'Ucrodirnat. fur shade ancl·8Un ~t herbs, increases the surface area and loob naIIy cool. EdB" define.areas and break them into D\anageabl~ sections • look around and eeewhat fm tal~ .bout. .

ReJatift IAation

Out In tIw foretlt the indiVidual plants and animals and 80il .

urganisms ann't nearly as important 18 how they all relate to each other. When the bird, eat berriM hom the lIftS, they fly to the other side of the foMt and plant new trees by tlhittins out the eeed$. Bark beetles amy the

-Spores of fungi into fallm tms and the fungi help break dawn the wood of the trees back into soil which provide the material. fbf nCM treel!I to grow. If we . separatt' out each orsanitlm it's hard to appreciate what's.ilduaUy going on, If you haven't already figured it out, this it a noccuning theme here. Rather than vtewins everything C.lfl our farm as svparate-entiti-. we try to figure out huw u many of the elements in out 5y8tem can work together as possible.

In our procfudic.m garden we have a five Y$V aop rotation. The idea is that we keep up the suil fmtltty by growins • 8\'letetMun of crup8 that complement each other: after com we grow beaJW and then tornat~ and then squash. To thruwoff the pe8ts and di8ea8el, the ~ crop is DeVVi' grown a bed two years in a row. We ~80 fac;tur a .. ~ o! ~dun1s int., the whole thing. We keep the chickens fenced off in it NC8 big area and 18 they hang out they 8a'atc:h up the ground and eat tIut ~ and lIbit all over the place to get the 80il mdy to planUn. They hrle a .... Iif. on the farm, TUb th~lvw in the dust and have sex and aU that. they eat buSS and food 8aap8 and com acratc:h. 'We .at tMtr ..... .wry_I haPPY. At the betttnnina of the next

IOsrabiliseslopes. MOIIIy grown in the USA for hay. cut befcn f10wen bloom •. L. stipu/tU:eII and L. 6trilllo are lllllluais.

LEUCAENA (LeIlCIleNJ ItlIICOCepM/Q)

A rut-pvwinJ,1epmi1lOUl trq1ical he 10 10020m (aitbouBh c:an be kepllO a IlWllllcablc size if coppi.ccd or srazed by c:aIJIc). DoCI bell 011 wcll-draincd suils. Conlains I mimosino IhItmay _1OXic:i1y in BlOCk if overfed: a low mimoline variety is L. ItllICOCtlPMlo Val. ClIIIIIiIIg'-"l. AlIa, CSIRO sciendsts have isolated a miaobial cuJlIUe which cauJe can use 10 break down the lOXie subsllncll in IIIcit IIOmlChcs. AllonS aleucaena is keptlD~ofdict.lherelll'8l1OlII_errectseven from normaJ leucaena VIrietics.

USES: ExcdllllllhiSh-quaJityfOlllsc:(both lcavesaml pods) for QIIk. sbeep, goau: paJalible and nulrilious. Carl bel c:ut4lld.fed. or stock let in to browse. Also useful in revegClaling tropical hiJllJopcs prune ID CltlSion. Ex· ullcnl c:oppicing for rnwood, good timber. Rich in organic fenilisu, used as mulch in alley cropping. FIXeS nitrolca in 1M soil. Used Qteiisivcly IS Jiving fen~ hedsc: species in West Africa and India.

LOQUAT (Eriobo/TyO joponico)

A small cvcrsreea 11K 10 7m. Slow lO develop from seed: use proven cullivars parted onlO loquat, pear. or quince stadt. Yields by6l1t )'lilt. peaks in IS-2Oycars.Suited lO _poqIO IfQS; needs shcJlCIecI. sunny position. Frosthardy but needs WInIIth for flUiling. Suils most soils. but is a ;ross fceder (pllllt near lcacbline OIIlfall). USES:

Freab flUit in spring; medium un~y tree. Poultry and pi, fodder (frulll).

.,

LUCERNFJALFALFA (MsJU:ogo SIIIiva)

Pwcnalal, leplminoul bCIb with Ufe exptlCWlCy of 10 years. USES: Human food: foliage as alfalfa tea; alfalfa sproulS for salads. MajCIr lempcrate animal fodder planL Exc:dlcnt bell fonp, bloomin, just afler _ clover. SoiJ imptOYCI'.cllawingup subsoil nutrients; uscfulgrouml covcr,1iving mulcb IJIIder trees.

Also TREE MEDIC (Mldieogo arboreal: PeRnnial leguminous shrub ID 4m; grows in _per8111 zOnes. Importantfodclcrsllrub willi foJiaseequivalent IOluccrne. Can bel neaed IIICI sbeep allowed 10 bro_.

MACADAMlA(Moct1IiIlmiot.trophylltz,ltt.integri/olio) Slow-powinJ, owerpeen nUl tree 10 20 m; subtropical 10 tropical dimatel. Need wlnclbtealc JIIOI=ion. Grafted variotiel .. in 6-7 years. Native ID .AusuaIia, grown extenslvel)' in Hawaii and California.

USES: HiP-value nulS, diffICult 10 crack by hand.

NUIIheIII makeacollenl mulch. A$ with many trees. can be grown in pasaure. willi sheep let in aCtet trees are I1I8IUre enoush 10 wilhllBnd grazing anillllls.

186

MAPLE (Acer soccharum, A. mocrophyllum) Deciduous cold _ tree 10 30m. Long-lived to over 200 years. ToleraIeB paniaI shade. Sends out growth inhibitor 10 nearby plants tJuough lOOts. USES: Maple sugar, tapped in winter. Ornamental: red and yellow auwmn leaves. Good carving wood. Ike forage.

MESQUITES (Prosopisju/ijlora. P. UImOrugo) Lepminous splQding shrubs and small trees IO·15m. Arid climau:s; IOIaIly drougbl-reaisWlt and exlmnely salt IOlcranL Grown from saline desert 10 semi-clesen zoncs. P.julijloro(honeymcsquile) yieJds SO IORS of pods per hectare, with 3-S years ID production.,CJUIign: Easily becomes rampanL

USES: Major fodder uees of dq-Jands for stock and pouluy; 14cm-1ong podsarehigb in sugar. some protein. Pods mille inlO a syrup (In Peru). Bce forage. Coppices easily for firewood. AlsoP. olba,P. mgra,P.pollldaand P. chilensis.

MORINGA (Moringa oleiftlro)

Also called 1M honcnldisb or drumsticle tree. Small tree 10 10m; propag8led by cuttings. Tropical, fast-growing. Tender pods as vegClables; flowers and young leaves c:au:n.Fried seeds. RoolSas condiment (like horseradish). T~igs and leaves Joppcd for stock foddet.

MULBERRY (Morus spp.)

Deciduous dome-shaped IleCSIO 20m. grow from temperate 10 subtropical climates. Main species are b1ac:Jc mulberry (M. nigro), red mulberry (M. rubra) and white mulbeny (M. olba). Can be grown in full sun but is also shade lOicranL Easily grown from seed or cuttings.

USES: Edible berries. Itt. mgra and Itt. rJlbra have superior fmiL Itt. alba is fast-growing. with shon fruiling season; leaves are used IS sille-worm food in China. Excellent trees for poultry and pig forage as fruits are numerous and rail easily 10 the ground. Leaves can also be fed 10 callie. Useful wood for fcnc:eposts and barrels.

. NASTURTIUM (Trofllleolum _jus)

A creeping or dimbing perennial, usually grown as an annual; frost-sensitive. Prolific in moist gardens. but will also grow in most lOils and sileS. USES: Good ground cover and companion plant around Cruil trees. Seeds c:an bel piclded IS a substilllie ror capers: the)' 111'8 also used medicinally as an antiseptic:. Leaves and flowcnedible in salads.

NAT A;L PLUM (Carissa gratuli/lora)

Thorny, evergreen shrub lO 2m; grows in dry subtropicsl tropics. Ripe fruits eaten raw; preferably made 10 conserves. SubstiWIe for cranberry sauce. Auraclive oma· mlllll8l sIvub; valued ;IS a hedge in Soulll Africa.

fodder for eaale, pigs; also fish food. "In Malaya It is widely grown in fISh ponds by the Chinese who feed illD their pigs: the pig manure is used ID fenllise the f .... ponds: lhusfllh,porkllldspinachareprovidcd. N(Tropiul Crops - Dicoryledons,J.W. Putseglove, 1968).

KIWIFRUIT (Ac'inldIiJ chinen.sis)

Also called Chinese 100Stbcny. Large, WOOdy, declduous cUmber, nlIlsed Ill.Sm, fanninl a bnunble. Dioecious(maleand femaleplanls),aiIboughmalelild female may be grafIed on one vine. Needs asuong ueIIisS)'Slel1l. ToIetaleS frost; grown from temperate e1111J81CS ID subtropics. Needs shelter from wind. AcUnklJG argUUJ lOIeraies heavy frOSt; has smaller, uuingent fruits, but bybridised with kiwifruit wiD produce sweeter yields.

USES; Delicious fruits; for eating, wine, conserves.

May be fed to pigs and cbickens if fruit sells abundant; also a high-value commercial crop. Useful deciduous shade vine for pergolas, patios.

KURRAJONG and 80TrLE TREE (BrachychlJon POPWMum and B. rupe$ln) HOl,dlyclimatefoddellReSsuitedlDapofOteSlT)l.Large beeS. Have deep tap-roots; do nOi compete with crops or pastures. can be easily coppiced. USES: Leal fodder, especially as drought rations for sheep and cauIe. Lclves lacK phosphorus, which must be provided by $lOCk licks. BOllIe tteeS (B. repe$lre) are 0 flell cutdown compleldy ID feed soft inner pith ID caule in extreme drou811t; these mUSI be replanted.

LAB-LAB BEAN (Lab-Lab pllrpllrtlLf-Syn. Dolithas lab-lab)

Helbaceous perennial legume, oflCn 8rown as an annual; 1.s-6m tall SubcropicallD tropical evergreen or summer 'herbaceous ciimber. May become IlI1Ilpa 1., but managed

by slashing 3-4 times a year or grazing by sheep, goalS or cows. In subuopics dies back in Ught frost and can lheiefore be interplanled wilh grains. Tropics: llllllainS green in dty season.

USES: Young Ieavesealellrlwotcooked, ripe seeds as split peas, or sprouted, boiled and mashed 10 a pasIe, then fried. High biomass forage crop (dlber greeII or as hay orlilage) A useful dtyland ueIIiscropforalUll shield (mUSt be wlleled). Excelle:nt areen manure pllllt and cover crop; CUlane! use as mulch. 0Itm JIOWII in rotation with commercial crop to provide nitrogen.

LAVENDER (LDvondula vua, L. tkflllllll)

Small, woody shrubeasily grown from cuuings. Suited to cool areaS and is drought-resistant (orilinally a Mediterianean mountain plant). Well-drained, alk.nline soil is best.

USES:Omamenta1hcdgeplanl.,creatingan"edge~in gardens; CAceilent bee forage. Flowers and leaves used medicinally. Lavender oil is a powerful gennicidc and insect repellant; dried IIowcrs Iceep moths out of stored linen and clothes. Place sachelS of lavender flowers in clothes dnIwers.

LEMONGRASS (CymbDpogon,dlrQJus)

Perennial medium-sized "grass" of subtropies and II'Opics. USES: Lemongrass rea, and llavouring used in Asian cooking. ~lent border plant in gardens and orchards ID create edge; cut and use (or mulch. Erosion control on slopes when planted in rows along the conlDur; will catch and hold silt.

LESPEDEZA (Lesp~d~za spp.)

Sericea (1... CllllttJlG) is a perennial legume (similar to clover) common in ICIIIpcnIle zoneS. High-value animal fodder, hay and soil improver (nitrogen-filter). Also used

.. -----_ .. -------

. I I •

Net ..... :

,

Creative vertical space, usage,

A~EA c 4- rrf E.~E c g WI

Afl.EA c 4-,..,.z. SDIt£ • q.S' not

Getting the. most edge out of one srze of po~d ..

; . growing sea81m, We move ~he.chkkens to the where the com was growing the year before and keep rebuildmg the fertility. Just like in the forest, we're in ~he process of creating a long termself~sustainjng cycle filled with different Interconnected elements.

ies; reaching 10 9Ocm. Easily propagated by rhizomes. Oflen grown commen:iaJly as an imen:rop with coconut, co(fee.cilNS,and lIImleric (which provides partiaJ slIade 10 young ginger). Rhizomes ellen fresh or pteserved for flavouring (caadied. dried and powdcred).

Divenity

. By !,JTOWing tons of different kinds of things, we're guaranteed to be

eati?8 ~U year round. W~en onion season i8 over, leek Season is just begmrung. When the kale IS starting to all go to seed, the first heads of lettuce art! ready to harvest. In our orchard there are early, mid, and late . season apples trevs all right next to tadl other. With all our canning and cbying andfrw.dng, there's no problem eating jam andpesto sauce allsorts of other goodies all year r~nd. No one ever goes hungry around here. If this was an industrial monoaop farm. we'd have to ship in tons· of food or things would get really borinS. OivenAl)' is aU about stability and living large - the important stuff.

GRAPE (Vilil vUajfua '" spp.)

Long-li~. clecidUOlll pcrmniaJ vine. prd"crring some chiU faclDf' ror Cruiling. but many varictica and cullivars IUe adapted 10 • wide climatic and SQiI range. Planled on D'ellis. a1lhough in ancient limes allowed 10 SCfIII1ble on mUlberry and fig beeS.

USES: Fresh fruit; also dried (raisins). wine. juice.

Young leaves In • as a food wrapping iii cooking (Greek dolmas). Seeds In an excellent cooking oil. Deciduous vines 10 bloc:t summer SWI from houses.

HA WTHORNS (Cr_gus spp.)

Tough.lhomy. deciduous ahnIbsItreeS 2· 7m high; slow· growing but long-Jived (100-300 years). Tolerate partial shade. poor soils.

USES: Edible berries for jellies. con!ICrVCS. Hedge and windbreakpJantforrempenlt.eclimatcs,grownexl.Cllsively as hedgerows in England. Habilat for birds: shelter. nesting and food; useful. for poultry. Good bee forage. Coppice wood. Black hawthorn (C. doug/fUiI) produces bcslfruilS (or human consumption. English hawthorn (C. mDfIOOno) makes a narrow. dense hedge. Popular southern European varielY is Mediten"ancan medlar (C. alarD/US).

Urban Guerrilla Gudening • Growil'l8 Food in the City

We·n\jed to start growing food where we live and reclaiming all this knowledge for ourselves and future gvnttt'ations_ We can't keep importing and trucking all of our food all OWl' the globe and let big corporations control the most basic aspect of our lives fOr us. There is so much potential for gro\ving food in the dti~ and suburbs. Taking over abandoned rubble lots and rooE tops and lawll8 and starting community gardens. Building compost with aU the organic wastes from supermarkebJ and restaurants and our kitchens. Catching water before it runs off into the sewers • buiJding ponds and attracting birds and it~eds. Creating urban woodlots of fire and timber wood grown around industrial :rones can filter pollution from the air, produce oxygt.>n, aeate habitat for birds and small arumaJ8, and not make all the buildings so damn oppressivs, Locals parks could be fuU of fruit trees and berries, We couJd ,graft sdon wood of good fruit trees to crab apples in alleyways or non-fruiting . chemes and. peaches and plums in parks, com_e back latvr fol' the harvest, We can dumpster tons of bathtubs and tires and milk crates and refrigeratoJ"8 and other good stuff to grow thing8 out of. There's more edge and \t"ertical growing space thanyou can shake a stick at in the city. The pUSb;bilities are rich. It's aU lib sculpture and art - dealing with Jiving systems that change over time, It' 8 SO important to bring this stuff into the city, bridge connections

between people of different generations and cultute$, teach the kids that there's more to life than concrete and hate and fear.

. Everyone around here knows me as the aggto city kid, the one whc.)·$

tIOmetimes too impatiel'lt and loud and talks faster tha~. everyone,else a~d goes out smashing up cc.maete slabs with a sledgehammer and buildtt raised vegetable beds out of stick8 and blackberrMI jU~t to prove we can grow f~ even in ",ally crappy soil. AJ$ I've lived on thIS farm for almost an entire

. growiOSseason, l'~e learned a little bit uf patience and calm and a whole bunch of skills that I'm looking foward to brirtginS home.

HICKORY (Caryc Dvala. C./ociniosa. c. OllQlIJ) Large. deciduous IleeS (J804Sm) yielding nulS through willlcr 10 spring: ronn uprigh~ cylindrical crowns. Yields of len· irregular. need cross-pollination. PECAN (C. illiflOtlllis) most important nut tree of tllC genus. It needs 15~200 frost-frcedays. without exucme; of cold or heat; sui18ble for sublropies bul grown even in New Zealand.

USES: NulS as human food; inferior nUlS as (Dnlge for piss (also (or chickens i( cracked and soaked). Excellent wood for tool handIes(vcry lOUgh) and charcoal (impans flavour 10 hams in smoking process).

HONEY LOCUST (Glcditsi4 lriocanlhos)

Deciduous tree 6-4<im; very thorny when young. although thornless cuhivars have been developed (G. IriacQlllhos inermis). Trees have open· canopy which allows cloven and paslUl'elO be grown undemeath. Frost· and drought·hardy; liJces rcmpenllc regime of hot summers. cold winlaS. TolClllles most soils. Although a legume tree. nill'08e1l'lixing nodules have not been ob- 5C~ in the IOQIS.

Yields up 10 110 tp of pods per Ifee at years 8-9; at 86 lJ"CCSJhecwe. poe! produc:tion ~uivalenllO 10 ~CC:l. ~ofoalcrop. TransplanlScasily.growsinfuUsun.Sced

184

\\.1

pods need 10 be gathered from llUS as soon as they fall in mid-aurumnand!hesecdscariliedorboilingwat.erpoured over !hem (and~. Select high·yielding, thornless varieties.

USES: pods are high in sugar (27-30<J1,); pod and seeds I()<JI, prolein. Excellent stock fodder. ground or whole. especially during drou'ht or al the end of summer paslUl'e. Durable. quality timber. Excellent bee forage. Hip sugar conlenl means POlential for Cuel production. molasses. wine.

HOPS (Hwnulus lupus)

. Long-lived (80-100 years) herbaceous perennial climber. PropaPle from IOOlcuUings. Naruralise.s on swampedgcs and river banks, scrambles in shrubs and trees or can be wound on hanging cords. wires.

USES: Mainly grown for beer. flavouring. but also used as a pillow filling and mild nartotic (hops steeped in sherry 10 enhance calm and sleepiness). Shoots and lips used as steamed green. Browsed by sheep. geese when young. although sheep can be used in plan18tions from late spring 10 winlllr 10 browse the grass beneath the hops as commercial hop growers of len cut vines 10 the IOOIS.

HORSERADISH (ArmDfacia ruslicana)

Herbaceous perennial O.S-I m growing (10m large. edible root Grows beSl in cool climates: liJces full sun bUl can grow well in penial shade and useful as an undemorey planl Propagate by rootdi.vision: all the pieces grow (liJce comfrey). Root eaten as a condiment Medicinal uses arc as a diuretic, for infections and lung problems.

ICE CREAM BEAN (Inga eduli.r) Mediwn,leauminous In:e 10 12m; subtropical and Ifopical climares. Whire fruilpulp from pods used in desscns(~d 10 Wle like ice cream). Shade lrCC for coffee and tea pJan18l.ions; mid-lcvel underslOrcy II"CC. Nitrogen·fixer.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (see SUNROOT). JUJUBE (ZWphlU jujuba)

Also caHed Chinese dare. Deciduous tree to 12m; sometimes a large. spiny. dense sluub. Thrivcs in hot dJy rcgions. alkalinc soils. and can withslJuJd severe heat. drought. and some (IOSl Propagation by stratified seed or 1001 cuuings.

USES: Fruit can be eaten fresh. dried, pickled (resembles dates). Leaves and fruit useful fodder for stock. pigs. TnICS coppice well and produce good firewood. Leaves used to feed the iasser silkworm.

KANG KONG (lpomMa aqllOlica)

Aquatic floating herbaceous perennial found throughout the tropics. Young rerminal shoots and·leaves used as spinach; rich in minerals and viwnins. Vines are used as

, A t:;;.oo

forage: may have potential as chicken. pig food. Can be skimmed off ponds and used as high-nument mulch material. May take up heavy metals in polluted waters.

ELDERBERRY (Sambucus lIigra, S. caruukMs) Deciduous shrub to 6m,lemperate climate, tolerateS fun sun to partial shade. Easily propagated from cullings •.

USES: Hedgerow shrub; windbreak. Ripe bemes mw wine. dye, conserves (should not be caten raw). Flowers fermented with lemon juice and peel as a beverage, or infused In hot water for respiratory innammations. CAunON: leaves, roots, SiemS and unripe fruit may be poisonous to humans and to stock,

FEIJOA (Feijoa se/lowiana)

Also called pineapple guava, although not a true guava. Evergreen shrub 4-6m. Warm lemperate areas to 'subtropics; grows in cool climates but fruits only in hot summers (place in sunny location). Needs shelter from wind. Grown commercially in New Zealand. If growing from seed, notice round tips on leaves in nursery beds; these indicate large-fruited forms and should be selected. Yields 3-4 years from cuttings (taken in summer).

USES: Fruit for dessert, conserves. Pc1aIs of flowers are very sweet and used in salads. Ornamental.

FENNEL (Faelliculu.m vu.lgare, F. dulce)

An upright self-seeding biennial or. short-Jived hardy perennial with umbel-shaped flowers in summer which auract beneficial insects (insectary plant). Grows in poor soils; I18turaliSCS along roadsides in temperate climates. Grows both in fuU sun or full shade.

USES: Seeds for culinary purpo_: seeds and roots medicinally. Foliage as fresh herb, and root ofAorence fennel (F. dulce) used in salads (cri~py like celery, but with an anise flavour); prefers rich garden soil. StoCk fodder in controlled quantities is medicinal. Suppresses grasses.

FlG (Ficus carica)

Deciduous shrub or tree to 8m; widespread in Mediterranean climateS and marginal sub tropics (not too wet). Likes full sun; will shade out anything planted undemeatb

Two years ago" while looking through other people's garbage for salvageable Junk. I came _ OM heck of a find.

There, on !he corner of 9th and University. just north of downtown Tucson, stood a decaying adolJ" bungalow. Builtin 1919,IM 746-equare-f09t hoU8I! cut

!he onHIghth acre lot in hall leaving a good amountolyan:lapare.Sinc:e!he~wa .. ltu.ted o.n an east-west axis. solar upec! waa good. A separate one-car garage on !he north edge 01 !he property offered storage. and then! were ev,," a IIOU1 orange bee. a pGmegJ'Ulllle, a while sapo .... and three IIJIIaIl chute _. Itlelt good. so I ta1ked with my brother, Rodd. Together we made an of.fer on !he house. and we boupl iL

What We didn't get were water, e1-'dty, sewer, heating or cooling, functional doore and windows, <ei1lngs. a decent IOOf. 1l00r, toilet. telephone, or fresh Unen. this WaJII't so much a house u a humdinger ola fixer.upper .,.. !he waiting Ust to be c:oruIemned. '" it turns 0IIt, II WBS to becoJru! mcne than the larpst lIIIyage operation we'd ever unilertaken, and also. an incredible clamoom.

, When we8~ ourprojed. we Iadced real experience and knowledge In luch _u r0ofing. electrial, plumbing, and carpentry. WhIle friends read noveIJI, we read how-to manuals. We aiso olced plenty of qUestiON. Friends lib carpenter John Andrews, network mama Barbara Rose, and othen were indispensable. Rodd and I were to do 90% of !he work on !he hoU8I! ourselves. We'd be saving money and Ieuning the entire wa)t

The aummer

monsoons came and wreaked havoc around town. Streets were flooded and wind. blew down over-Irrigated ocotIJlos in landscaped gravel yards, along with the oc:caaiOMI telephone pole. Chaos? No, harvest! RocId and I pounced on these Iree resources. We took doWn the chain Ilnlc lene,e around our property and planted

\

unless pruned. Propagated by cuttings. Important commcn:ial crop. eaten fresh or dried. Useful chicken and pig

, forage. Mulch from dead leaves in aurumn. '

FILBERT. HAZEL (C. maIima, Carybu DlIeUana) Many varieties, most producing edible nuts (filbertS and hazelnUlS). Small. deciduous trees or' thickel-fonning shrubs to 6m; long-lived to 150 YC8Ql. Grafted varieties SUItt yielding in 5-6 years, with peak nut production at 15 years. Major commercial production in dry, Mediterranean counlries, but also suited to cool temperate. Needs cross-pollination. TolerateS shade, but for nut production needs sun; yields best on an edge. WeJklnlined, fcnlle soilisbesl

USES: Nuts for human food; also as animal forage (low-gradCorsmall nuts). Good hedgerow tree which can be coppiced for poles, slakes, ete.; may need wind shelter in ftrSt years.

GLIRICIDIA (Gliricidia sepiuni, G. macu.IQla) Fast-growing, vigorous deciduous tree to 9m: out-competCS most tropical grasses. Grows in tropical and subtropical climateS. Legume tree.

USES: Widely-used shade tree for banana. coffee, young cocoa. Can be topped to produce material for green manuring. Tolerates repeated coppicing and is used in aUey farming and for flTCwood. Also useful as a firebrealc and tropical bee fodder. Durable wood for poles, fcnceposts, and stakes. Legume Ifee.

GUAVA (I'sidium guajava &. other spp.) Shallow-rooted shrub or small tree. 3-IOm; can produce suckers. Adaplable 10 wide range of soils; susceptible to frosL Drought-tolemnL Sometimes become ramparn as seeds arc carried by birds.

USES: Fruit eaten fresh, a1tbough its numcroussceds make it best for conscrves, jellies. paste,juice. Very high vitamin C (2-5 times that of oranges). Suawberry guava (1'. lillarale) hardier, marginally suited to cool areas: place in warm, sunny position.

GINGER (lJllgii>er ojficillak)

Herbaceous perennial of the humid II'Opics and subtrop-

SS-gaUo" drums luI"'""t tIIIIt., from tilt garagt1tJOf.

No. 27 Winterl998/97

183

NEED A HOME?

DIVE A DUMPSTER!

SiuId«/oth slmches _ ""'nllng ~ dug In CIIlicM.

• living fence of ocotillo ~anes and agave flower staib <_ PO} 122). On either aide of the Ienc:e we slal'ted planting a to-foot wide noise, pollution, light. and privacy buffer that doubled as wUdlIIe habitat. ~ native plants uaed had medldnaI, food, habitat, bee forage, and nitrogen-fixIns Yelue. The sagwuos. barrels. and c:holla cac:ti were salvaged &om.,... alated for dearing.

We traded !he dWn link II!IIdng at the salvage yard for used 2 " 4's to extend the overhang on our gabled roof, which further protec:ta our walls from rain and IlIII\IMr lUll. TO'complete the job we replaced multiple Iayen of loIdc ~phalt with a c0rrugated steellOOf for rain water harvesting.

Neighbon were atarting tonob Ac:tualIy, they couldn't help but notice u we would wave enth ... si.latiQUy at an)I'C>M who ventured by to show we ' were friendly and neighborly. We clIac:oveNd we have great neighbors and have rec:eived physical help, securitY, advice, plants, hot meaIa, and beet 15 we plugged away. Gary from _ thes_ came to Inspect our progress and offered us his sagging carport/ramada if we'd IJ" wWlng to cllamantle'lt. The carport becA!N! a lumber rad<, work bench, and bicycle ramada. There wasn't qui ... enough wood lor the ramada roof; I rounded up a lew plywood signstrom the _telec:tionand theroofwl5done,

PemI8CUII_ DrylandJ. Joumsl 11

I I

f

I

i

[

j~ I

L

I

I

1

1

,making for a greel ..... platfonn and rainwater aali:hment. An old pallet became the ladder and Kavenpd al8el raIIIns became the biIce NCk.

The temperature w .. droppins 110 we IumId to our heater - the 81m. Our III wa .. Maler w .. __ and a pantry took ila place. \\It called 1bbfn Sc:hneIcI.r and am CWVIingIwn whohed deIianed a peuIve "bnad box" water heater that needed e.ting. One-lnch duct boud inlulalion Mat taped to a double ~ 0I2lnct.. make. the box. ~ daubJe.slazed patio dOOJ' gIaII Nt at a 45 depw" (for 1NXiImun .... pin In tIw wfntar) ... the box. lNIde • a .tripped down ... waIer ,_.. tank

painted bIKk. n- bIKk tank .a.arbland ...... the _'. '-I. The box .... on a _die 01 __ metalllripped hom

the tank. City wa .. ,,__ _. the wa .. tIuouah the whoJeayRim. There uenolllOllb1s paris. We have no bIc:k. up __ 01 hatins wa .. 110 the City '*I'dNd ua to bulId two '"'- to meet,code.

, When it_,.. to-tina the houae, _..uy pI_ pier. we uae our -th-l.c:Ina wIndowI. ~ I*" cent of the wlnctow. _ termite ridden and mtt.n. Malt

we replaced with doubJeglqed wl,ncIoM.1heGld ..... _ .. vad foellOllll'_and cold ~ To cut dow$\ an_ mer hat pin we sot rid 01 all weit t.cInf .... DCIIpt foe the 1citchm window (Ihaded by GOa' naIfhbw",~!Nee Ieet away. on which my otMr lmICher Mark pUntad uaa view). All ~ can be opened foe 1IUIIdm_ wntIIalion. Our exlended roof overhang Iceepa ctinc:t aunJlsht from penell'ating ow .. _th sJaaa. yet In winIer the sun is low enough on the ~ to en_and WU'Il'I u. _pedalJy In

the -th-Udns Arizona -. '

In the ArizcJN R-.Rodd ur>c;ovend the only amc:nte slab In theho_ Itwuanawful surface. Rather than ntIoor, he cleaned It and aIaIned It with fenvue IUlfate (avallable at lUly agricultural atan),1mpnwt!mentI1he floor Ioalced greet

and now the duIcer conaete .tiIJ expoMd for bet·

ter storage of the paNlve IOIai' hat. (T1tI",_ if .. joI/tnI1I:

Mi% ,_ "..". ... ", 10 OM ,.." fonrNI...,.,.. 8ruIr ilM 1M jIoar.1d jl aiI_ uwktmtlllwrl n-1I11/f. Oil IMjl«Klllillt OM P"" boIW IInN«l 0II1o_,..,,"""""'_ WI iI ~rytmtl flU il. ThIll., jl.1ll1IrDug/I1 ,_.,., IlliM _ ,.....,,...., lI/inmJ

To further booal win .. heal pin. we buDla low. IIopIng .....,. wall of loaaI pnite rodca facing the Arizona _ (thehouaea1ta two and • hall Net Iowa' than the_th hall 01 the property). We coUI£Ied the'rocb foe .'when we vlaIted OW' parenIa, II a developer hacllonned a mck p!Ie whml bIadirIf the d-' 1WUby. 'We avGIded IIIiIIg ce,menlln the wall by a1"""" It and It8ybIc the rocb weD Into .ct. other. 1he rock wall .. 1IIUaioI\. __ 1IIicIuc:IIma1ies

lor a greeler'dMnlty of pIantInp and act. .. a hish-heat bud< foe our home.

Thilil a greet feature for win .. , bul hot _,lOwe pul in a rounded ...bar trem. (_ IIrtIcIe by SDvia Rayces and La_ Cohen, POI. MardI 19H). 1b do this. 1/2-1nch zcbar II atuck 1-1/21eet deep In the pound and bent Into. curve befaft attadIInJ It to the roof overhana- 1he 6-Inc:h conae\C IIWIh we boqht "" ICrIIp it attached to the Nbar, completJns the treWsatructwe. n-wapow adlble annu.. such .. Magdelena BiJ a- Squuh which COVer the

12 Pern1acufIIn ~ JoumaI

treIIiIlnthewannmontha. ThetraNpirinsveptationwdea and cooIa the house while provldlnt; food. The HUOIl'. lint &oat IclIIs the squuh. sIvlng us mulch, and dearing the treIIia to allow IuD ..,.., heel gain In the winter.

The aquuh Is waleftd by • 1200 pilon cIatem which coIIecta rain WI" oliOVI' roof. It·.anovaL~1 Nptlctankelevatedtwofeetabovelhehlp.lpointolourproperty With earth and rode. ThiI aIJowa us m WI. by gravity leed - no pumpa. no ~ no IIIOvirIg parla, The cIItem is located aJons the fImce line where our neighbor hu a NnW cottap. In thIa location, the cIItem lela .. a fire bruk, I privacy _" and I temperature moderator for our oranp tree juat to the north,'The tree Wdu the cistern and cIropa leavea foe mulch.

Orpnlc droppInp and pruninp &om around the yard and ftI!i&hbodIood __ mixed with JIIIUlUl'e delivered to .. ,_ &am In owrfIowIne:atabIe. AD _compotted and then ..,._. .. a one-Ioot deIp muJcIIln aU plentins _. nu.

... cut all walilrlnc Neda by two-thlnk.

Rodd repJumbed thehouae and I rewired It. Alow-f1uah IQIlat :WU'1nItaUacl to INlet code and we could now read on pcIR.'IIaIn of out _ rather than that of the public library down the alNet. However, l.tiIl don't IeeI c:ozntortable yel. lowiaitI city cIrlnIcInf walill' via the toilet, 110 the yard p1anta UNaUy~JI'Iywallr. w. ....... .....a.u.sCOlllJ'OSllnll toilet ~ we canlmplemenlm give the '--and omaIMIIIaIa I little hwnanure too.

ToUet uide. our bathtub w .. abo being filled with water. and It J1IIIned us m watch It all SO down the drain. Thai wa_ had to be huveRedl Problem wu, the tub dtIIin w .. ~ than the teet of the property. So we ran a 1/2-1nch vinyl tube throuah the window Jam, with one end suctioncupped to the bottom of the tub and the ott.. end lyIns under the wlnler-dec:iduoua black IIIiIIion fig which ahadea the ~ In the _. A aiJI'Iple hand pump pia the aIpial ... and that'. it. UI want m ... the tub WI" on the north Iide 01 the ho ..... I hooItthe hoM m an old half..1nch lntptIon line which cIepoaita the wa" on a couple of Aalan pem and aloqllat.

Bade inIIde the houR '" chipped off what NJn8Ined of the crurnbJbIa pIuW ceIIinp and walia. Rather than uain8 cIJy waD _'*-I theeoclltlniwood lath and patched with _.,......by poorina--Jalntaaquuter m a halflnch , -no chIc:bn wile _ ..... 1 We then ~ with , d~ I)'IIIUIII (ll'a __ to work with .. It hu I "_"1IlIiIlI1IIIIit than .,.. m-m). mixed al 3 paris __ aand to_ put iYpawn. Once the pluter dried we

put ill trim end lhelva fabricated from wood

N1v ,._ .-by dwnpIeIn. The walla w_ prbned

...... 'WIIII*and then ~ with palnl we mad, on the advice oIl111bua ._. Palnl nicIpe: equal parta boiled IlnNed oIIl11d turpentine mixed with concrete plsments. and then W8IIwd an with rap or alpOllp.

AD that w .. the GId Douglas ftr floor. taye ...

of aid _,.eand UnoIeom\hadbeal peeW up to find lola 01 ........_... M it tuma OII~ the fIoar,.... 01 OW' IIoor w_ ratInI on dirt. So we cnwled under the floor and atarted cIIgIns. We _vated • 2-3 foot c:J'IIwl apace undet the .. tIN 11001'. nu. provided us with • cool atorase for ow

No. 'D WInIer1I1K'8i

r

CHOI(.O (sec/"UM. epuL.~)

182

which can be baked. sllllU1led. or fried wi~

the wit, a large bland YqeI8b1c I 'gorous plants such as lanlan8. and IS

JCUlbles Used 10 lIIIOIher ess VI

~ ~f CO~ng for summer. Pig and poulll')' food.

COMFREY (S~hYlum oB!:~~) down in winter. except in mildclin'iaw. f{crbaCeoUIpaenmailOlmh~~h. I~, of the root c:rowII wiD grow. Easily PJOII8PICd by. root di~saon; any ~ ir dug or IOUlIiUod will spread

Clumpl of comfrey will SI8~ 1".0110 plaCe. 20-25'" Q\ICI8 proICin.

quicklY. High yields OIl, fcI1i1e. war;::kC:::: if fed in Iimiled quantities

USES: Exc;ellent bee forag~ 1'I~da ..... "einanimal.).Medici-

. hlSbeenshownlOcauseSOmc -- .. _ anh ' .

(ovetf~g, and used in oinunents for bruises, " n~. naI herb: IOOIS dried. ~ , in BI2, and can be used spanngly m broken lJoIICS. Vegetable lOurccoe ~: gh potaSh) and iscombined wilh olher saladS.cookinJ.RichllJUll:O, ,mu, ~ tea"

leaves and manures for • numcnt-nch manure •

CURRAN!S and GO':~~~~::SIO=~:W~tial-Shadc.; good hardy

Small clcCicIuOU$ shru HardwOOd cuttings taken an Ullumn root ~ bush 101erati~ ncglCCL cared for. MoSlly IClllperate plants, ,

easily. Bear 1().lOyCUS ~~~ be eaten raw or madCinlOjuicc, W1~,

USES: Tasty small frulls W 'c: can irds and pouIuy (planlS may need to be jelly. Wifdlife fOlBge food.lncludln~~) Edible spccies: blllck cumnl (IC. nctII:d ir used enlirely for human ) red cumnt (R. rubrum) Exccllembcc

. ) golden cUll'lnt (R. aureum • ' rranl

"'grum • 'II olden cUlT8llt anel rcd-Oowenng cu

forage, A1~omamentsl~~(i ggroSlularia) grow successfullY in rock (R. sangllUleum). Goos ....... • "":'. •

clllvices; like weU-draincd pGSIUDnS.

UNGl CAo TT AlL (Typha IIIIi/olia. T, orielltalis) pond

CUMB or 'ailO 4m. grows in full sun or shade around

Dense, ~ pcrCllm, " ccd Tcmpcnlte 10 subuopical climatcs, edges Caution: Can be an IRVlSlve w • __ led cooked or

. edible used like asparagus. RoolS arc.- .

USES: ShoolS • have nult flavour. Animal forage. mainly ~IS.

grated raw. Seeds. roas~. , y Duck Ind water fowl habllal. especially for pigs. Weaving. m.alCnll~ ~ait;nder. 'EXlnlcts pollulllnts from Seed head is of downy material, can ,

walCt.

DANDELI~ (Tar~um offiCj~:>crs early spring 10 late autumn. GrowS Small perennial herb w~1h yellow d l a common weed on lawns, pastures, in t.cmperale to subUopic:al areas an IS

Grows in full sun or shade. . IS arc used as a coffee substitute,

USES' Leaves lOOts flowers eaten. roo I

" , , 'Important bee forage wilh early and ong

:=:::i~ ::~y:~ ~:~croP' improves milk qualilY and quantilY; good mix wilh lucerno.

DAYLlLY (HcfMl'OCallis/ulva) 10 subltopical cl~~' Tolcnltes Herbaceous perennial 10 O.6m, tem~teUSES. Edible shoots, nowcrbuc!s. partial shaele; useful ~y plan I t. cros~ conltol on hillsides. Om3- ft_._.. IUben Low-lII8Inr.cnancc p an.. . etc .","_.,' of' ·Idwilhmangolds.dill.nasturtlum. .

menlll1. Grow under '"'" II part gut ,

, '1IOf)

DUCK_wEED, (Lem/IIJ '!Ii ponds (likes quiet water): temperall~ climatcs.

~ Aoallng aquaIlC~" anel exclude light. USES: Duck, goose. fish May completely cover a ""'-

I If:'

o

FIGUREU

PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL PRECIPITATION

On I su-ladng hllllklt, trees u concIellltrs, providers oj bIcttfIII let' nudell, IndUCIII of lII'am line compllllion, Ind n-humldlfltrs of Ihe Ilrllrlam crealt mOil of Ih. conditions Ihll crille pllClpltadon.

water-laden air flows inland. Where thil humid air flows over the rapidly cooling surtaca of glos, metal, roc=ks, or the thin Ilmill1l' of leaves, condenJltion OCCWII, and drop1ets of water form. On leaves, thls DUly be greatly aided by the colonie. 01 bacteria (P'ludoMone5) which also serve as nudell for frost crystals to settle on leaves.

These saturated alntreams produce .. award";/adng mosses and licheN on the rocks 01 fresh basalt flows, but more importantly cOlldenae In trees to create a coplouslO/t condensation which, In such conditions, may far exceed the precipitation caused by rainfall. Condensation drip can be as high as 80-86 .. of total precipitation of the upland slopes of island, or lea coasts, and eventually produces the dense rainforests of Tasmania, Chile, Hawaii, Washington/Oregon, and Scandinavia. It producitd the redwood forests, of CaUfomla and the giant laurel, forests of pre-amquesI Canary 1.lands (now an arid area due to almost complete deforestation by the Spanish).

A single Ifte luch as a glant11l (Ocol .. fan",,) may present 16 ha of laminate 1111 IlUfface to the Ilea air, and there can be 100 or 10 such tfteI per surface hectare. 10 that treea enormou.ly magnify' the Ivallable condensation lurfac ... The' ,aUer the. ,~, al for -pie the giant redwoocb and white pinft; the-larger .. the volume of moIat air Intercepted, and the greater the precipitation that follows.

Ail types of treeS act al condensers; examples are Canary Island pines, laurels, holm oaks, redwoods, eucalypu, and Oregon pines. Evergreens work all year, but even deciduous trees catch moisture In winter, Who haa not stood under a grelt tree which "rains· IOftly and continuously at night, on I clear and cloudless evening? Some sardens, created In these conditions,

, quietly catch their own water while neighbours suffer

drought. ,

The effects 01 condensation of tfteI can be quickly desl!oyed. Felling of the forests'CIUMS rivera to dry up, swamps to evaporate, shalloW Wlter to dry out, and drought to grip the land. All this can oceur In the lUetime of a person.

PrecIpitation from clear air is much less than that from fog. from which the precipitation by condensation often exceeds the local ralnIan. Advection fogs are moat noticeable where cold currents such u the Ora Shlo off Ea.t Asia and the Labrador current off northesst America cause humid Inland airstreams in spring and summer. Southfadns coasts near Newfound-land g .. l58 days of los per year. Wherever mountains or their foothllls face onshore night winds, fOS condensation will probably exceed rainfall., On '!lIble Mountain (South l\frlca) and on Lanai (Hawaii). los drip has been measured at 130-330 cm. and In both cases condensation exceed. ralnf.lI. Redwoods in CaUfomla were once restric:ted to the los belt, but will grow well In areas of higher raillfall without fogs

...

FlGURES.S

FOREST INTERACTIONS WITH CLIMATE. (Based on work in Brazil).

IF 'lUeSE ~ Me CVT' , ~1"'JlII D~Sb"'o<:?

Poo"HI&,.L6

Fortlts Iftllnd produce mos' oj thl _ for subsequent flinflll: ttCydId waltr II replll8dly lranspflld 10 tile alrstraam.

. 144

7 c:=:JD CARPETING

Tr •• a cr •• ping shrub-Ilk. lay.r of ptOSIl'llte growth.

THE ABOVE EFFECTS,ARE STANDARD FOR TREES NOT AFFECTED BV SALT, ICe, OR SNOW LOAD.

FlGURES.2

WINO EFFECTS ON TREES

,". winds croft 1m fines they lit dlflol:lld in a new IIirIcaon. Tr ... delonn or 'flaG' pem1IMftIty in ~ _no 0IiIIdS and CIr1 be USld 10 ussss m. en_ of IIIICII winds: they IOmt • tiI.....cGIIf of "'nd hilllHy.

141

--------------~------==_J,_--------=~-.-,~~~,.- .. -- .. -~-, .----.---~--

Qln pla~. windbmik to reduce ilaat loss In homes, to , avoid damage in QI'-trophlc winds, and to stear th8 winds to well-placed WInd machinas.

[ABLE •• 1 .

~ELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRIGGS AND PUTNA.~ NOEX (G) AND ANNUAl MEAN WIND SPEED 'M'. IN fnlsec.

G

V (mlHC.)

mph

o 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4.3 3.3·4.2 4.3 ·5.1 5.2· 6.2 6.3·7.5 7.8·8.5 8.6,11 >11

<7.5 7.5- 9.5 9.6 -11.5 11.8 -14 14·17 17 ·19 19·24 ,.24

[From Wide, John E .. and Wendell Hewson. 1979. T .... _

ScleIndlcaI1Ns :.!!!!! /IOWff /1DfMIIlII, Dept. of Almosplttrtc

nces. _.".., State UnIvIrdy., .

6.4

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS EVAPORATION - caullCS hut I",. locally and CONDENSATION QlIIIe haat gain ~ 80th elfecta may be UMd to .... t or cool air or.un-. The USDA'. Yorbook of Agrlculluft on Tree 0949) has this to say about tI!e ....... tIv. elfecta of trees: "An onIbwy tim. of madlum size, will get ~ 0115.000 poundI of water on I clar dry hot day" and "EvapolnlNplnltlon (In a 40 inch ralnfaUl Is ganarally not_ tho 15 Incha par

1 year.'

Th .... th8 .... porallon by ciay of( tree cools air In hot l _t!ler. while Ih8 night conci_tion 01 almOlphmc . WIIV _rIllS tila sunoundlnS air. MclltuN will' not con"ftH unless it finds a .urface to coadenM on. Ln ...... povride tI\ia NIfac:e. .. well u _tact cooling. Lnf turfaas _lIMIy to be c:ooIe' than other objIctIIat evening due to tile evaporation &om Ial stomata by day. ~ air is also NinS OV8r tree, tom. vertical Ult coolins occurs. the two comblnlns to condense mollture on th8 Iorat. We find that leava are 86" water, thus havins twlce the Specific hut 01 aoll, remalnlns c:ooW tho th8 soil by day and wumer at n1ghL Plants pnenUy may be 15"C or., .__ !han the surroundlns air !alpentwe.

Sm.aJI open we. storaps 01' trw dumJ» upwind of a hOUle have e pleasant moderatbig dect. AIr puslns over open water is cooled In IIUIIIIMr. It fa warmed and has moisture added eVen in winler. Only water ptured by tree, howevar. has • DEHUMJDlI'YJNC

IIect In hot and humid ~plcal areas, al trea.re - apable of reducing humidity by direct absorption

. ~ ill the molt axtmM COftdltioN, •

Reddllh~ leaves, such as are developed In me vines and .hrubt, reRact dIIef1y teet light rays.

:.;',42

Sharp deer..... In lemperature may re.ult by Inlerpollng reddish IoIlage between a thermometer UICI the sun, up to 20"C(36·F) lower than wilh green pls-tect plants (Da~re, 1974). WhItiIh plants IUd! .. wormwood and blrch rnay NfIect 85" 01 inCOIIIIIIs upt. whereu the dark ... ves 01 shIde plants may reflect .. Utile a. 2". It Iollows thet whiM or ~ roofvln8Sover tllelmay ~ lower su_ tempel'lltures within buUdinS' or In trelli. lysIeaII. AddltioNl cooUng II eIfected by littins fine wa .... ,...ys and damp mulch .,.._ under trellis, thus -tins I cool area of d_ lir by evaporation. ThiI effect II of peat use In modentins summer haat In buIldlnp. and for provIdIns cool air .ow.:.. to draw from by Induad cn8-ventlfllatlon.

6.S

TREES AND PRECIPITATION

Trees have herped to create both our loll. and

• tmosphlre. The first by mechanical <root pressure) and chemical (humic add) breakdown of rock, adcIJng lUI! proce_ as humus and myriad decomposen. The .econd by lJIHOus exchlnse. ..tabUahlng and malntalnlns III OlIYc-teci atmolpbet'e and III active WlllilMfapour cycle _tial to IUe.

The campoeltion 01 the atmosphere Is the result of reactI~ ~. and fonsts may be doing about m of llIe work, with the I'ISt due to oceanic or aquatic exchanp. Many dtlts, and most defonsted areas such .. Creece,IIO Ionpr produce the 0II)'pII!hey use.

The basic elfacta 01 trea on water vapour and

~-

• CODlpn .. lon of .treamline.. and Induced

turbuJ.nce In air flows;

• Cond.nsation phenomena, especially at nlgbt;

Rehwnidificallon by the cycIlns 01 Wlltar to air;

• Snow and meltwater effects; and

• I'roYIIoa 01 nucleillor rain.

We can cIeaJ with ndI ollhese In tum (1UIIzIn, that !hey also interact).

COMPRESSION ANDnJRIIULBNCl! IiFFBCTS Wlndltnutlilow _ aloJWt. The ~ that

Impinp 011 the faNIt edp .. partly cIeIIected ovar the IoNlt (a1II1GIt ~ of the air) and partly ablorbed Into the INa (about _ 01 tile air). WIIIIIn 1000 m (3,301)

feet) th8 air ,enNdaS tile IoNst. with III toMages of wa .... and dull, II bIought to a Itani:IItIIl. The Io_t hu swallowed th ... great ........ and the resull Is an almoat imperceptible WIII1IIilIg 01 the lirwllhln the tonst, I I,nerally Inc:naMd humidity In llIe trea (averaging 15-18" higher than !he ambient air). and air In whlch 110 dual II cIetectIIble.

Under !he r-.t, canopy. negative Ions produced by IUe ~ QI- dust particla (++) to clump or adilare each to the ~ and a faJJ.out of dlapaned

i

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,

IS"CHANce. WIT\I ,£<ACIl 'SPItAl--.

,I It

dult results. At the forest edle, thick ... temmed and specially wlnd-adapted t .... buff ... the front-lille attack of th8 wind. U we cui a windward forest edse, and remove theM defenen, windburn by Hit, dust abruion, or Just plain wlndlorce may well kill or throw down the Inner rore.t of weabr stems and Iaa rwistant sped .. This Is I commonly observed phenomenon, which I hue called "edp brak". Conversely. "" ciU set up a IoJut by plantinS touSh, resiltant trees as wlndbruk, Ind so prolect lubl'qulnt downWind pIantInp. I'onst ... are theretore to be repnlecI as _tiaI and~' protectkm and should nefti' be cutOf~

U dry hot air enterI IhI! Iorest, It Is shaded. cooled, and hwiddIIied. U CDId humid air enIen the IoNIt It II warmed. debumldlflecl. and llowly releaHd Yia the crown 01 th8 bws. We may _!his warm humid air as mlaty splrall ascending from th. Iorelt. The tree. modlly ext~. of heat and humidity to a 1I1eenhanc:Ins and tolerable level.

The wl"ds d.flec:ted over the foreal cause comp.-loR In !he stralllllnes of tbe wind, III' eff8CI exllmcitna Ia IW8ty timeI tile tree belPt.1O that a 12 m (4OIoot) hlglllIne of 1Jees comp_the air to 244 m (800 feet) above. thuI crntlng more wa .. vapour per unit volume. and also CQOIing tile ucendlnl air stream. Bolh COSIditIIIaIare conducive to rain.

~ theM eIf8c:ts occur It !he forest SJXjE, a alnSle hedlefOw of 4O~ permelblllty will Cluae .Imlla,r .

,

" ,.

,.,

- FIGURE 1.3 EKMAN SPIRALS

WInd omIUm. '-'td 4-5 IImft downwind Q_ ~ (I( IIranIIInII nsutdng (In ... 1Ight CDIIdIIIonIJ In IIIndI • nil. .

compression. In ltat country. and especially In th8 pm of onshont wInda, ftne pid placements of ,.tn, pups ill such countrIa u Holland and Sweden _I tNt 4Q<4 of th8 raInfaJI _red down-wlnd of trem iUId moundl 12 m (40 'teet) Of more In height II cawed by lhilcampreulon pIIenomana. If wind speecb are hJshe< (32 km/h Of more), th8 strn~ may be p.--f. and rain faUs perpendicular ito the windbreak. However, at lower wind speeds,(the normal winds) • turbulence and overturn occurs. ,,~

Wind streamlns over the hedprow or foresl edge describes. spiral tectIori, nrpnted 58 times downwind. so that a series of comprellion fronts, this time parallel to the w1ndbruk, are crested In the almosphmo. This phenomena wal first described by Ekmsn for the compression fronts created over _yes alsea.

the Bkman spira" over !rea or bluffs may result in'. ranbd __ of clouds, often very regular In their row..

They ... not perfectly In Une ahead; but aN deflected by dras and th8 Corlolus fore. to change Ih. wind direction, so thet the wind after llIe hedgerow may blow ~15 deslW8 oft the pNvtoua cou ..... (One can Imaslne Ihat rankl of hedgerow. placed to lake advantap of IhiI eII«t would .ventually brlnS the wlndllVWld In a peat ground .plraLJ

Wlnda at _ do In fact form peat cIrcuaeI, and bring cydonle raIns to the welterly oceanic coa.ts of .11 continents. Thae c:ydones themselves create warm and cold fronI:t whlch ridp up air _ to cnate rain. In tomI, hedprowa aeoN wind systeml have I profound effect on th8 airJtreIIN puaIns _ than, and a suI>-

MII.,-nt effect on local climate and ralnflll.

CONDENSATION PHENOMENA .

On the ...-tac:Ing couts 'of iIIandI and ~ntinents, the relatively warmer land lurface cntIles quiet Inshore airflow. towards evening. IIId In many _. cooler

143

-.

(Chang. 1968),' In Sweden • M. wooded hlIIs riling only 3050 m (9.500 feet) above the sunronding plains may cause precipitation I .. in onIyl during cyclonic spellA . Ifrontsl to be Increaaed by 50-801'0 compared with average falls over tbe lowland." In motl countries, hoWever, the .. in gauge net Is too coane to detect such small variations (Chorley and 8en'y,1971);

REHUMlDIFlCATlON OF AJRSTRl;AMS

lilt ralns again, and again, the cloudl that move Inland carry water motItly evapo .. ted from Ion!It5, and land less water evaporated from the sea. Forests 'are cloud-makers both from water Vlpow' evaporated from the leaves by day, and _ter transpired as part of· life processes. On high 1eIand.,- standing clouds cap the forested peaks, but dluppeu' If the forests are cut. The great bridging cloud that reached from the forests of Maui to the Island of ~1awe, remm\bered by the fa there of the present Hawallan .ettlerl, ha. disappeated as cutting and cattle destroyed the upper forests on MaUl and eo lifted the cloud cap from Kahoolawe, leaving this lower Island naJced to the ~, With the c:Ioud fore.ts gone, and the rivera diy, Kahoolawe Is • 'true de.ert Island, now used al· a

bombing range lor the U.s. Air Force. .

A large evergreen tree such a. £UCll'YI'!U. globulus may pump out 3,600-4.500 I of water. day, which is how MuslOUnl pum~ dry the P9ntine marthes of Italy. With Ilxty or 10 of'these trees to. the hectare, many tens of thousandl of IlIr .. of water are returned to the air to become douds.

A forest can return (unlike the seal ~ of lIS water to air, "in Iarg. enough amounts to fOlDl new rain clouds.· IDa yard Webster, "!'ores,,' Role In Weather Documented In Amazon", Ntw York nm.. (ScIence ~on). 5 July '831. Forested areas retllm ten times as much moIsrure as bare ground. and twice as mud! as granlands. In fact, as far u the atmosphere Itself Is c:oncerned, "the rel_ of water from trees and other plants accounts for half. or even more, of aU moisture returned to·air." <Webster. JIM.) ThIs is a c=ritlcal flndinS that adds even more data to the relationship of desertification by deforestation.

It is data that no government can IgII9rt. Drought In one area may relate directly to deforestation in an upwind direction. This study "clearly .howl that natural vegetation must play an Important role in the forming of weather patterns" (quote from ~as E. Lovejoy. Vice-president of ScIence. World WIldlife Fund).

Ooud. form above lorests. and such clouds are now mixtures of oceanic and forest' water vapour, clearly distinguishable by c:areIul Isotope analysis. The water yapow' from forests contain more organic nuclei! and plant nurrlents than does the "pure. oceanic water. OlCygen IsqIopes are measured 10 determine the forests' contrlbutlon. which can be done for any cloud system.

Of'the 7SS of _ter returned by trees to air, 2S~ Is evapof!,ted from leaf surfaces. and 50~ transpired. The

146

remaining 25" of rainfall inflltratea the .011 .nd eventually reaches the sne&ms.The Amazon clIscharges ... ,. of aU rain failing. thus the remainder Is either locked into the Ioret tiJaUe or retuma to air. Moreover. over the forestiI. rwi« .5 mu'" Nin /-1" tllait II _a.blt frrmr the In_IInl ,ir, 10 that the '-t II continually recycJlng water to air and rain, J'IVducInI!IK of Its. own rain (Webeter, ibid.). These findInp IoNver put an end to the fallacy that trees and watl\er are unrelated.

Vogel (1981), applying the "principle of continuity" af fIuIdJ to. tree. calculates tI)aI sap may rile. in a young oak, lilly times u fut as the lava II"anapIre (needing only 1 .. of the tolal trunk area as conductln tlaaue. with an ~ sap speed of 1 =1_). 1t II thus cenain 'that' only' perhaps one-fiftieth of the xylem is conductlftg lip upwards at any one time. and that IIIOIt xylem celia contain either air or sap at stand.tID. Per· h.ps too, the tree moves water. up in pulsed' stages rather tIW\ •• 1IIIiversal or continuous streamflow.

With such rapid sap flows, however, we can easily imagine the __ JeC)'cled to atmosphere by • large tree, or a clump aI amaIJer trees.

It II a wonder to me that we have any water available liter we cu' the lonaIs, or any soil There are dozeN of case hIItoriei In modem and ancient times of .Ilch delication as _ find on the Canary 1s1ands foUowing defore.tatlon, where rive,. once ran and springs flowed. Deatgn strategies are obvious and urgent_ve all forett that remains, and plant trees lor increased condensatiOn on the hUls that face the sea.

EFFECTS.ON SNOW AND MEL'lWA~

A1thoush _ intercept lOme snow, the effect of shrubs and trees Is to, emrap snow at the edges of clumps, and hold i'S-95~ of snowlall in shade. Melting is delayed for 210 days olOmpared with bare ground, 10 that release of snowmell Is a more gradual process. Of the trapped snow within trees. most .10 melted, while on open ground snow may sublime directly to air. ThUs, the benellclal effects of trees on high slopes Is not c:onIined to humid couts. On hlsh cold uplands such as we find In the contlnentallnterlorll of the US.A. or Turkey near Mt. Ararat, the thin skeins of winter anew either blow off the bald uplands. to disappear in warmer ~ or else they sublime directly to water vapour in the bright sun of winter. In neither case daes the snow melt to groUndwater, but is gone without productive effect. and no streams result on the lower slopes.,

Even a thin belt of trees entraps Jarge quantities of driven snow In driflS. The mull Is • proInIcted release of meltwaler to river lOurces In the hlghllndl, and stream-flow at lower altitudes. When the forests were cleared for mine timber in 1846 at Pyramid Lake, Nevada. the streamS ceased to flow. and the !aU Jevels lell. Add to this effect that of river diversion and irrigation. and whole lakes rich with fish and waterfowl have become dustbowls, as has Lake Winnemuca. The CululdlJca'. 1ndIans (Paiute) who live there Jost their fISh. waterfoWl. and freshwater in less than 100 years.

.- .. ----~.,.------.--.---.

so.. at a result 01 cUvine forgetfulness), It acts • the agent of. the oak. When the sq,uiml or wallaby digs up the columella of the funsal tree root usocIates, pIded to these by • garllc-1Ike tmell, they swallow the fPOI'IS. activate them enzymatlca11y. and deposit them apln to invest the roots of another tree or sapling with Its energy tnnsIator.

The root fungi Intercede with water, '011, atId atmosphere to manufacture ceU nutrlenll for the tree, While myriad Insects carry out summer pruning, decompose the surplus leaves. and activate esaenllal soU bacteria lor the tree to use for nutrient Row. The

. rain of insect faeces may be crucial to forest and prairie health.

What part of this assembly Is the tree? WhIch Is the body or entity of the system. and which the part? An Australian Aborigine might give them aU the same "skin name", so that. certain shrub, the fire that germinates the shrub, and the wallaby that feecb off It are aU caJIed 1UIItIi, although each part also 11M III name. The HawaIIans name each part of the taro plant differently, from Its child or shoot, to Its nodes and

·umbillcus".

It Is a clever person Indeed who tan separate the total body of the tree into minerai. plant,'anImaI. detritus, and life! This separation Is for simple minds; the tree can be understood only as Its total entity which, like ours, reaches out Into all Ihings. Animal& are the me.simBers of tile tree, and trees the Imens of animals. Ufe depends upon We. AU forc:es, aU elements, aU life forms are the biomass of the tree.

A large tree has from 10.000 to 100,000 growing points or MERISTEMS. _nd each Is c:apablit of Individual mutatfon. Unlike mamma1J. treft produce their seed from multitudinous flowen. Evidence Is accumulating that anyone rnain brandt can theftfore be an ·lndIvidual" genetically. Some deciduous pOplars may produce a single evetgreftl brandI. ~. in fruit. or a specific ripening time. may belong only to one branch. Crafts and cuttings perpetuate tbese Isolated charaderistla, 10 we must look upon the u.e Itself . as a coUection of compatible genetic individuals. each with • set of persistent characteristics whlcb may differ from place to place on the tree. and each of wblcb may respond dllferently 10 energy and other stimulL Uke ourselves, trees are a cooperative amalgam of many individuals; some of these ani of the tree body, but most are free-living agents. !oJ little al we now know 'about trees, they stand as a witness to the complex totality of aU' life forms.

6.3

WIND EFFECTS

Vogel (1981) notes that as wind speed Increases. the tree's leaves and branches deform so that the tree steadily reduces Its tICpoIed leaf area. At times of very

high wind.9 (in of 32 ml sec) the intetcepdon of

light, efficient watet use. and convective heat dls.lpation .by the tree becomes secondary to its survivaL ,

Vogel also notes that very heavy and rigid trees spread wide root maw, and may rely more totaUy on their weight, wlthltandlng considerable wind force with no more attachment than that n~ry to prevent tilde, wltlJeother ._. IMert parted roots deep in lOCk c:revIces r and are IlteraJly anchored to the ground.

The forest bends and awaya. each species with lIS own amplitude. Spedal wood cells are created to bar the tension and CDIIIpmekm. and the trees on the edge of a copse or foreIt are thick and sturdy. If we tether a tree halfway up, It stops thickening below the tether, and grows In cUameter only above the fixed point. Some leaves twl4t and reverse, showing a white underside to the wind, thus reflecting light energy and repllldng It with kinetIC or wind energy. In moll cases. these slrlldngly IIgbH:oloured leaves are found only In foresi edge spedes, and are absent or uncommon within the forest.

!oJ streamlines converge over _ or hills, air spHd Increases. Density and heat may also Increase. resulting In fast Iow-presaure air. 1b leeward of the obsllUcllon, sudlslramUnes diverge. and an area of slower flow, higher pressure, and cooler air may result U rain has fallen due to the compresalon of streamlines. however. the latent heat of evaporatiOn Is released In the air. and this drier air can be w~er than the air mas. rising over the o!>structIon. The premue differentials QUMd by uplift and cle.cent may affect evaporation u much as wind dryIiIg 01' heat.

. Apart from moiJture. the wind may .:arry heavy Ioacb of Ice. dust, or sand. Strand trftS (palms, pines. and c...illlri"".) have tough stems or thick bark to Withstand wUid partlc:1e blast. Even tussock grasses slow the wind and cause dust 10ecU to aett1e out. in the edges of !oresll and behind beaches, tree lines may accumulate a mound of driven particles just within their canopy. The forest removes very fine dusts arIlI Industrial a_1a from the airstream within a few 1umdred metres.

Forestl provide • nutrtent net for materials blown by wind, or gathend· by birds that forage from III edges. Migrating salmon in riven die In the headwalen liter spawn!ng. and many thousands of tons of fish remainI are deposited by birds and otber predators in the forests suiroundlng these rivers. In .addltlon to these nutrient _, trees actively mine the base rock and soIb for 1II1IIera1s.

The eIIect of the wind on trees Is assessed as the Griggs and Putnam Index (Table 6.1). and the acx:omplllying deformations In both aown shapes and growth (as revealed In stems) Is given a VIIIue which Is matched to wind speeds with an average 11'l1o accuracy.

Such IC8Ies and fteIcI Indicators are of great use in design. When we go to any site. we can look at tile condition 0( older trees. which are Ih .. best guide to gauge wind effect. Trees Indicate the local wind direction and intensity, and from these indicators -

139

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---- '-----'"------,,-,._-"'-," .... _" ....

._- •• _-,' ;,.:'......... '- • .1""

I

~""'£<NT" "CLcvo FORe(.;r~ otoJ f'EN(S "'lV"ITJ>."" ... ,IoJ(4 CI"OIIP)

N Mr!iI" FO~ IF TIfe6E. 11a!eS H-e OIT" ~1I"otl MAY ~ &1.

2"? l

Broadly speakIng, Interception cornll1only fills between 10-15'1 of total rainlall. LeIlP Interception occurs In thinned and deciduous tores", winter rain. heavy showers, and cloudy _ther conditions, when II. 15 a. little at 1~ of raIn" MIsIlntercep!lon ClCCUtI With dente, evergreen trees, upl tujllD'ler rain, and IIWIny conditions, when II JIIIy ~ 100" of the total.

H_~, If snore rain flllla, or heavy raiN impact on the b'eeI, Wlter _ 10 drItt a. snIsII or d~ to earlh. Thil water Is called THROUCHFALL. 'J'hIou&hfaU depends on the Inlenslty of rain, and there Is littJ" interception effect In heavy downpours. As an average figure, the throughfalils 85" of rain In humid

cllmates. ,

At this point. tluoughlall lJ no longer just rainwater, any more than your bathwater is ralnwaler; tIuouahfaU contains many plant Mis and nutri,,"ts, and Is In fact • much richer brew than rainwater. Dissolved salt •• organic conlent. dusl, and planl exudates are Included in the water of throughfall (Table 6.2). "The ruults show that rain washes large amounts of potassium and smaller amounts of nitrogen. phosphorus. caldum. and magnesium from the canopies to the surface soU. Utler adds organic matter, and 1& a rich source of calcium and nitrogen and a moderately rich source of magnesium and potaSSium.' (Murray. J. S. and Milchell. A .• Red Gum and the Nutri.nt Balanct, Soil Conservation

Autbority, \Iktoria, AUAtralla.IU\dated).

Nor can throughfaU be measured In rain gauges. for the trees oft"" provlde special receptors, conduits. and stora8ft lor such water: The random f.1I of r.in 15 converted Into w.II-dllKled p"1IImIs of flow thal_ the needs and growth In the forest. In the ttem bases of palms. plantains. and many ephlphyta. or the nanged roots of Tmnirul/l4 treeS and lip. water Is held as aerial ponds,ol!en rich In algae and mo.qultoes. Stem _ and epiphytet absorb lIIIJ\y times tIIeIr bulk of water. ' and the tree Itself directs _ter via Insloplng brandies and lIssured bark to Itt tap rooII, With lpIders catching their share on webs. and (\Ins! IOaIcing up what they neec1. Some trets trail !I(~ln8 !mInche. 10 c1lrect throughfaIJ to their libmwI ~",_., roots.

With the aerial resevolri flIt.d, the through/all' now enters the humus layer of the IoI:est. which can Itself (like • greal !>Iotter) abeotb 1 an of rain lor ewty 3 an of depth. In old beech ior8l$. thIa ltumus bIanUt lJ at leas' 40 em deep, and the e8J'lh below I •• I1WB 01 fungal hyphae. In un!sturbed rainlonsl. deep _, may carpet the forest floor. So. for ~ em depth. the throughfall Is absorbed by the decomposers and living sy.tems of the humllS layer. Again, the composition of the water changes, picking up humic exudates, and water hom deep forests and bogs may then take on a clear golden colour, rather like tea.

ITA8l£6.2
Nutrient conlent 01 Hiler. CItIOPI' dtlp. and taillin lilt open 01 a natutallY ItDI.BIIIIng SWItI ot m~1lm IE~ ~1ItI. GrinGBQllaona.
~IC. AUSlraIla, (Sourct: MulllY. J.S .• and A. Mhcllall. IItd Gum and the Nulrlent Ballnce. SoIl ConseMliOft Authority. AIISIIiIb lundated)).
SOURCE PERIOD- TOTAL NUTRIENT RETURN ILI/A.l TOTALUnER
RAIN (In.) H ,. II &a MD Ha CI (lb.)
Old tree.:
(5% of Total) 19.0 1.2 6.0 25.0 6.0 4.0 NO 2.800
LITTER l' .
CANOPVORIP 1 30.67 6.0 1.1 28.0 13.0 11.0 71.0 143.0 .
TOTAL 1 30.67 25.0 2.3 34.0 38.0 17.0 ,·75.0 .
ReOrowtfl:
(95% of Total) 38.0 1.9 10.0 49.0 15.0 5.0 NO 5.400
LITTER 1
CANOPVDRIP 1 30.67 3.0 0.7 16.0 6.0 5.0 29.0 51.0
TOTAL 1 30.67 41.0 2.6 26.0 55.0 20.0 34.0 ..
Rain:
Nearby 2' 9.25 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.7 4.2 7.0
COleralne§ 3' 33.81 0.5 NO 1.5 3.0 3.0 21.0 38.0
Cavendish § "'. 21.75 NO NO 1.0 3.0 2.0 14.0 20.0
'1: 515160 • 415181. '2: 22111180 • 415/61. '3: 119155 ·119158. '4: 1/9154 ·1/9/55.
§ From Hulton and leslie (1958). NO • Not Determined. I.

148

,<

Chapter 6

TREES AND THEIR ENERGY TRANSACTIONS

On the dry Island of HIerro In the Canaty I~. there I. a legend or the rain tree: a jpanl Til' tree 1000000J-eMJ •.... the lea_ of whlcb amdeneed the mountain mlata and cau....t water ID dl1p Into two large "'-terna which were placed beneath. The tree waa dcstrG)lld In • stbO'm In 18,12 A.D. but the slle Is known. and the remnants of the dalem preserved :.. 1TbJ. one lreel dl.Ulled sufficient wa ..... from the sea mJats to meet the nil'eda of all the Inhabitants ."

<David Bramwell)

For me. trees have lIl_ya been the, most penetraung teachers. 1 ,..""".., them when they hve In tribes and famtllea. In forests and grove.... They struggle with 1111 the forces of their II1IeS for <me thing only: to fumu tI1eInseJfts aecordlng 10 thetr own laws. to bUild up their own (orms. to represent thern.el-. NothIng Is holler. nothing's more exemplary. than a besuurul strong tree.

(Herman Hesse. '"!n!eo •• N.lurtli Rn.nlrtn /"""OAI. Spri"llI980)

I am astantshed to Ond whole booIts on the func. Uonln, of trees whiCh make no mentIOn o( their splendid mechanlcal and aerodynamic performanCe •.

(Vog.~ Uft in MOIJin, Fluidl. 1981)

A POint which Is often overIooJced Is the elTect of treea In Infreaaln, the total precipitation cOnalderably be)oond that reconted by rain caugea. A large proportJon of the rime whlc:lr c:oII_ on the IWtg$ o( !rea In fI'oIIta ~ _elMs the gJ'OUnd .. -. and. In climates such .. u- of the British 'sles. the toUlI amount o( water depOllted on. the ""',s (rom (0". and drtftlng cloud. Is conaIderabIe. and'moat of It ~ the

streams or underground storage. or at least repl.oeea loa .... (nnn sU!Mequent rainfall.

Of more Importanee. however. to hydraulic engineers h the dTect or woodlands In modlJYtng the Nn..,(f. The Nsh o( water frOm bate hiHeldes ,. eKchanged ror the slower delivery (rom the matted carpet oC the woodland. losses by evaporation may be much dtmlnlahed and the melting of snow uaeluUy retarded. In,c:&tehmettta from Wllleh. nood waters are largely loat. woodlands may Increase the aw.IJable runorr by _ding the pertod of aurfac:e flow. The IJUlJdmum floods of riven are redw:ed. lind the Iowa, summer tIow Increased. Woodlands are usually much more eII'ecUve than mInOr waetaUon. such as gone and heather. In prevenung the 4011 from being csn1ed Ii1Hn the land InlD an open 1'eSer1IOII-.

To protect a reserwlr (rom allUng. It may be unnecesury to plant large areas. the slit being arrested by .wtable planting of fIam>W belta of woodland. or by the proIectIon of natural growth along the",.,.".. of the _. •

Some engineers eon.'der that In the' case of small ~ the shelter aI10rded by • belt 0( trees along the rnat'JIIII8 IS o( Yalue In reduetng the _ount of scour of the banks eauled by _ve ""tlon. Atroresrauon OWl' colWlderable areas In large 11_ ba.atM -.Ald. In ftWIy _. reduct the amOunt o( sliUne In naYlpble rivers and es~. '

A matter whIch does not receive sufficient attention In connection with hydraulic et'IIJneerIn, la the etl'ed: of judicious planting or woodland C!OII8erVaUon over small areas. A narrow belt oC tWOdIand along the f_ of a slope wID art'I!8t the soli bnrught down by rains &om the hillside. The encouragement 0(' dense vegetation ,alonll the botlDln o( a narrow valley may check the rate or /load dtscharge ID a useful extent. The planting or

137

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I

, ,

suitable trees along r1d,ea and for a little way down the aIope fac:tnc the rain bearing and damp wlnda. wtll produce the maximum oC certain destred effect.. In proportion to the area occupted. Sultable tree and bush sr-tha In awampy areas and around tbetr margtna wtU tncreaae their effect In checking Oood dlsehar,e. and may prevent these arlllUl livm contributing large quanUties or slit to the atream. dw1ng 'mY heavy raJna. Al'eaa of soft. eulUvableaoll liable to denuclaUon may SlmIIvIy be protected.OeneraDy •• country wIdch ts, In the ordinary English lienee or the words. 'well umbered' I •. from the point or view of the hydraulJe engineer. • favourable country; and In the development of new ~ the future effects or a popoaed .,rlcultural pollcy should be considered Crom this point oC vtew, and In consultation ~ h,ydraullc engIneen.

(R.~. Ryves. Enginmillg HtutIIIIoot. 1936)

6.1

INTRODUcnON

Tills chapter deal. with the complex Interactions between trees Iftd the incoming energies of ncn.tIon. precipitation. and the wiftcb or g_ envelope of earth. The enav tranAcdcmI ""- trees and their physical environment defy preciIe __ t a.

they vary from hour to hour, and ~Ins to the composition and age 01 fof'BII, but we can .tudy the broad effects.

What I hope 10 show II the ~ vaJue 01 trees 10 the blosphen. We must deplore the rap:ity of uwho. for an ep~ JIIOIIt ill daIIua, wwId cut trees for _priIIt. pacbging. and other temporary -. What we cut foresta. we IIIU8t pay lor the end COlt ill druught. water as. nutrient -. and salted ICJi1s. Such cosli are IIlIt charged by IIncaring or corrupted ,overnmenll. and deforatatlon hal therefore iJnpoverilhed wliole nI~ TIle proc:ea continua with acid nil! as a IIIOft modem ptabIaI. not charpd .pinst the cwt of eMctricIty or _ vehIdet. but with !he inevitable _t building liP" that.., nllloa can pay. in the end. lor NhIbIIitation.

The ·capitaU.t·. "commuNlt". and "developing" worlds wID aD be equaDy IJrousht down by I'oIat loA. ThoIIeIMmn poIIdcaI or reIIpM ....... whidllail ·10 care for tonst. carry their own datNcIion u lethal ' seeds within their fabric.

We should not be deceived by.the propepnda that promise "for "8'f In!e cut down. a bw pIantad", n. ecchanp of a SO g seedlin& for. foIat pant of 50-100 __ Is lib the oII'wof a _ for an elephant. No

_ IRIbatatlon can repbK:w an old fonIt ill eneisY value. and even thlt lip ""Ice Ia omitted In the ''':ut ... nd-Nn" foreltry practlled In Brazil and the :ropIcs of Oceania.

The planting of trees can aNuredly inanse local

. i38

"

. "";"".

precipitation. and can help revefle the effeelf of dryiuld IOil .. Itlns. There Is evidence everywhere, in IIl1ri1twe and ill the field. that the great body of the forest .. ill ftry active energy transaction with:'the . whole envtrona.nt. To even begill 10 IInderstand: we muat daI with themes within themes, and try to follow a ..... nInatonn or airstream through Ita interacti~ with the bat. . '

A )'OWlS bwt or In!e doesn't behaw 1il<e the same entity In age; It may be more or I •• froat-har~y. wlnd-lut ... It-tolerant, drought-resl.tant or ,hode toIerint at dlIfennt .... and _ But let us at lea;t try to .... jvat how the. fo_t worb. by taking qne theme at a time. WhIle thIa Mplented approach I~, to further IIndentandillg. we mlllt keep in mind that everything II cxmnacted. and any one factor .(feeIs ·an other parll 01 the tyStem. I can never .... the forat'u an...nbty 01 plant and anlmaIlIpedeI. but radler a$ a aingIe body with· dliferIng celb, organa. and functlona. Can the orc:IUd exist without the bW that IiIpporta It. or the wup that fvtII ..... It? Can the Iomt extend its bonIen and _py paulands without the pIpon that c:arrIa ill berries away 10 pnninale __ here?

'lie. are. for the IUth, the uIlirMle translalOrs and moderalOrs 01 iJ.IcomIng enerzy, At the crown of Ihe fomt. and within its canopy. the va.t energle. of 5UftiIsht. wind. and pndpltatlon aN belAg modified for Ute aDd powth. 'lie. not only build but conserve the 10111. shielding them Iivm the Impect 01 ralndropa and the desiccation 01 wind and 'lin. II we covld only undmtand what a !lee does for "" how beneIldaI It II 10 Ute on_nil. we -..Jd (as _y tribeI.haw done) __ aU treesu bmthen and ........

ill thIa chapIIr. I hope 10 thow that the Uttle we do 1!now haa thIa IIltbnate _nlng: VliI""1I1 "'". till, CllIIlIIIt inMbil 1M.nIt. WIthout trees _ rapidly craie

cIeIerta and dmught. and the evId_ for thIa II befoN our eyes. Without trea. the atmoaphere will alter Ita COIIIpoaition. and Ute IiIpport I}'Items wID taU.

6.2

THE BIOMASS OF THE TREE

A tree iI. blaldly .peakIng. _y bIoIMM -. These are the·1IftI and crown (the vIaIbIe tNe). the detritus and hllmlll (the tile at the aoIIlIIJ'fKe boundary) and the IOOta lad root.-ocla_ (the III1deqpmuId IRe).

Uke all UYIng thInp. a _ hulhecl ill weight _y

timet over 10 .nil aDd .. aDd hat bulIt much 01 the aoIIlt sIaIIdIln. Not anIy the crown. but aIIo the motto dIe and tiled thaIr wuta to .rth. The living tree stand. In a zone of decompo.ltlon, milch of It tranaferred. reborn. _porNd. or reincarnated into gra.lea. bact.rIa. tungu., Insect life. bird., and INIIII1IIII.

Many of ~ a.-Uves "belong with" tlW ttee. and IItiIf function .. put 0I1l WbeSI. blue jay. cumwong. or squirrel ~ an - (and -oy recoven only

!)

The COWboY' have won the day. but ruined the future to de se,

PROVISJON OF NUCLEII FOR RAIN

The upward spirals of "umId air coming up from the forest carry inaeCtI. pollen. and bacteria aloft. ThJa iI beat _ .. fIIghta of guIIa. awIfts and Ibb aplralling up with the warm air and actively catchlnglnHc:ta 'lifted from the foreat; their ga.tric: pelleta COnlllt of lnaect remaiN. It It these organic aerial particles (pollen. leaf du.t. and bacteria mainly) that create the nlldeli for

rain. .

The violent hallslorms that plague Kenya tea p1antlnp may weIJ be caUMd by tea dust IIImd up by the local winds and !he I'eet of pickerl. and "once above the ground the partido are ea.ily drawn up into thunderhMds 10 halp form the haiIaIOrmi that bombard the 1a-growiJig __ In utoundlng numben.. Kenyan organlc tea leaf Utter cavaed _ter to freeze ill a teat chamber at only -soc, In comparison with freezing points oI.llOC for euc:alypllll grove leaf litter. and-8OC for Ihe litter from the local Indlgenolll foreata· (of Colorado), That Is, lea litter "i. a much better seedln .... pnt than Illver Iodide. which qqvIra -8"<: 10 -100c to seed douds." IN"" Seielllifl. 22 Mar '79). Thus. the _teNIa st- up by vegetation lI\Iy be a . c:ritlal factor in the rainfall inland from fo_ ...

Allot these fac:ton are dear enough for any penon to understand. To doubt the connection between fomtl and the water cycle II to dOllbt that milk Row. from the breut 01 the mother. which II just the analogy given to waler bY tribal peoplea. Trees weN "the hair of the earth" which caught the mists and made the riven flow. Such metaphora are cIea!' a11egorlcai .... ldes to aenslble conduct. and cau.ed the Hawaiiana (who hac;J th._Iv. brought on earlier environmental cat.ulrophea) 10 "tabu" fo_t cutting or even 10 make trac:b on high lIopea. and to place II\OWIIaIA In!ea ill a .. ered or protected category. Now th.t we begin to underatand the realOM tor these belief •• we coliid OIIrselvea look on _ a. our _tiaI companloM.

giving us aU the ~ 01 Ute. and deserving of our care and rapect.

It iI our strategl .. ~te that make water a acarc:e or plentllul_ To atart with. we mvat e>IIImlne waY" 10 inc:reaMIoaI prec:lpltation. Unl .... there Is absolutely no free water in the air and earth about UI !and there always is .ome). we can usllally incre ... It on .... ite. Here are some bNic ttralegiea of water captuN Iivm air:

• We can cool the air by shade or by provIdillg cold . surfaces for it to flow over. using In!ea and shruba. or metals. including glaIa.

• We can cool air by forcing it to higher aItitvd ... by provldlAg wlndbNUl. or provldlngupdraughta from heated or bare aurfaca (Ia,. conaeted a_). or by mec:hanIc:aI mealll (big industrial fans).

• We can pnMde condensation nudeii for ralndropa to form on, froIII pollen. bacteria. and organic putides.

" We'~~ Compress air to make waier more plentiful per unll voilime ot ·alr s . by forcing. streamlines to conve .. e over treeS and objects. Qr forcing turbulent

f1j>w in a1nt1'eams (Ekman 'Plra">, "

.. ' It by. any.:iitNte&y, .we can eool air. and provide sliitable condensation Slirfaees or nucleli. we can increale preclpltlltlon locally. Tree •• especially c:roaswlnd belli of taU tree.. _, Gil o!/}'eM: eTil.,.;" in ont ;111.,1"111l1li 'YI'.m. They allO ltore water tor local climatic modification. Thus we can dearly see II'ees as a strategy for creating more water for local use.

In summary. we do.not need to accept "rainfan" as having everything to do with total local precipilltion. espeqally if we live withIn 30-100 km ot COlSts <as much of the world does), and we do not need to aecept that total precipitation cannot be chlnged (In either dilectlonl by OIIr action and designs on site.

6.6

HOW A TREE INTERACTS

WITHRAIN.

Rain talls. and many tons of rain lI\Iy impact on eaJ1h in an hour or 10. On blre sol" and tlllnly spaC<'d or cultivated crop. the Impact of droplets carries aWly soil. and,may typically remove 80 t/ha. or up to 1.~ tonn ... in extreme downpours. When we bare the soil, we lose the ... rth.

Water fIIn~tt and pan evaporation. estimated as 80-90'" of all rain falling on Australia. carries oft nutrlenll and silt to the .... or to inland basins. As we clear the land, Nn-oft increases and tor a whlle Ihis pl_ people. who see their dams lin quic:kly. But the dams will silt up and the river eventually ce_ to flow. and the clearing of forats will rnult in flood and drought. not a 10ng-re gu I.ted and .teady supply of clean water.

When rain fall. on a forest. a complex process begins.

I'"lI'IIIy. the tree canopy shelters and nuDlfies the impact effect of raindrops. reducing the rain to a thln mitt below the canopy. even ill the most torrential 'howers. There is .Hght measurable sUt loss Iivm mature forests. exceeded by the autlon of soils by foresta.

U the rain is Ught. little of it penetratea beyond the canopy. but a film of water spreads across Ihe leaves and Items, and iI trapped there by ",rface tension, The cells ot the tree absorb what is needed. and the remainder evaporatet to. air. Where no rain ~tes through the canopy. this effect is termed "tot. I Interception", INTERCBPTION is the amount 01 rain· fan caught in the crown. 11 ia the m~st Important primary effect 01 treea or forests on rain. The degree ot intaupIfon It most infIuenc:ed by theae facton:

• Crown thlc:knesa;

• Crown density;

• Seuon;

• InteNlty 01 rain; and

• Evaporation alter rain,

147

~. pH an reach as low as 3.5 or 4.0 from naturAl humic layers, and river!! nmlike clear coffee to sea. Below the humus lies the tree 100II, ueb clothed III tungal hyphae and the gels secJ'l!ted by baeterial colonies. 3O-4O'lI> of the bulk of the tree Itsi!lf lies In the ,011; moat of this extends over many aens, with thousand. of kilometres of root hairs lying mat-like In the upper 60 an of soU (only lG-12'lL of the root mall lles below this depth but the remalnlng roots penetrate as much a5 40 m deep in the rocks below).

The root mat actively absorbs the solution that water has become, transporting It up the tree Iglln to transpire to air. Some dryland plant roob build up a damp soil surround, and may be 8Ioring surplus water in the urth for daytime use; this Wlter Is held In the root associates as gels. CenllOStlllillnd GIIdiJ;;' both are dryland woody legumes which have "wet" root zones, and other plants are also reported to do the same In desert solis (PmopI! Ipp.)

The soil particles around the tree are now wetted with a surface fUm of water, as were the lelves and root hairs. ThIs bound water forms a film available to roots, which can remove the water down to 15 atmospheres of pressure, when lhe 1011 retains the lut thin film. Once .oil is fully charged (at "field capacity"), free· water at last percolates through the Interstitial spaces of the soil and commences a slow progreuIon to the streams, and thence to sea.

At any time, trees may Intercept and draw on these . underground reserves for growth, and pump the water again to alt. If we Imagine the visible (above-ground) forest as water (and aU but about !>-10'lL of this m.us is water), and then Imagine the water contained In sol~ humus, and root material, the forests represent great lakes of actively managed and actively n!C)'ded water. No other storage system Is so beneficial, or resuJts in so much useful growth, although fairly shaUow ponds are also valuable productive landscape.

At the =wn. fom!fui raindrops are broken up and scattered. often to mist or coalesced lalo small bark-f1isured streamS, and 10 descend to earth robbed of the kinetic energy thai destroy. the soli mantle outside forests. Further Impedence takes place on the forest floor, where roots, Jitter, logs, and leaves redirect,

slow down, and pool the water. .

Thus, in the foreat, the soli mantle has every opportunity to act as a major storage. AI even poor soils store water, the soil Itself Is an Immense potential water storage. INFlLTRATION to tl\ls .tonge along roots and through Utter is maximised In forests. The soil has several storages:

• RETENTION STORACE: as a film of water bound to the soU particles, held by surface tension.

• INTERSTlTIAL STORAGE: as wa~ed eaviti ...

between soU particles. . .

• HUMUS STORAGE: as swollen mycorrhizal and spongy detritulln the humlc content of solis.

A lesser storage I. a. chemically-bound water In '.Omblnatlon with minerals In the soU.

As a generalisation, 2.!>-7 em (1-3 inches) of rain Is

150

stored per 30 em (12 Inches) depth of soil mantle in retention storage, although solis of fine texture and high organic content may .tore 10-30 an (4-12 inches) ofralll per 30 em depth. In addition, 0-0 em (G-2I11chesl may be stored as interstitial storage.

Thus the soli becomes an Impediment to water movement, .nd the tree-.(lnterltltlai) water can take as long as 1-tO yean to peicolate through to .treams. Greatly alleylatlng droughts, It also recharge. the retention storages on the way. Thus, It almoat seems a. though the purpose of the forests is to give soli time and means to hold fresh water on land. This Is, of C01IlH, good for the forests themselves, and' enables them to draw on water reserves between periods of nIn. (Qdum, 19?4).

6.7

SUMMARY

Let us now be clear about how trees affeci total precipitation. The case taken Is where winds blow inland hom an ocean Dr large lake:

. 1. The water In the air II that evaporated from the surface of the .... or lake. It contains a few salt particles but I. ·clean". A niIan propo~n may fall as rain (l!>-20'lL), but moll of W. water II CONDENSED out of dear night air or fogs by the cool IlUffaces of leaves (80-85'lL). Of W. cond_te. IS'lL evaporates by day and SO'lL Is transpired. The rest enters the groundwater. Thus, lrees IIrt mpGn,i"'t for mort .... Icr in slrtllms lluln IIrt Nlin/tlIl./oll4! prt1f1Ides.

2. Of the rain that falls, 25'lL again r.-evaporates . from crown leaves, and SO'lL is transpired. This moisture Is added to clouds, which are now at least 50~ ·mr ""'.,.". These cloud, travel on Inland to rain again. Thus _ may double or multiply rIIin/tlllltslill by this process, which can be repeated many times OYer extensive forested plains or foothllis.

3. As the air' rises hiland, the precipitation and condensation Increases. and _. ,_ plus standing clouds may form In mountains, adding considerably to total precipitation and Inflltrailon to the lower slopes and streams.

4. Whenever Wind. pan over tree lines or forest edges of 12 m (40 feet) or more in height,. Ekman spirals develop, adding 4O'IL or so to nWsII In bands which roughly paraDeI the tree lines.

5. Within the forest,. 40~ of the Incident air rnass may enter and either lose water or be rehumldlfied.

6. And, In every case, rain Is more likely to faD as a result or organic particles formiag nuclell for condensation. whereas industrial aerosols are too small to cause rain and instead produce dry, cloudy conditions.

Thus, If we dear the forest, what Is left but dust?

.- _.

. Once the ~ater has reached the arroyo or stream, your object IS to spread It out and slow it down .. Your work will have the greatest effect high in the watershed, where trickles tum into

. streams. Here you can build low, leaky check dams out of rocks I or brush, or you can plug small flows with one or more

: strawbales. As you work, you will become familiar with

patterns of water flow. Start small, and watch the effects your structures have,

I

. 1. Make sure your dams are "keyed in", that IS, make sure they are dug far enough into the banks that the wa~!! __ ~!l not eat around them.

_.-_. - .... ~.-- .. - .. -.-.--.

2.M~e them broader in the center where

the flow.'is:.&ongest. '

I

3. Also make them lowest at this point and make a splash pad of rocks below the ched: dam.

J

.. 4. Don't make your Structures taller than about a foot',and a half, .and try to design them so that the sIlt trapped in one dam reaches up to the bottom of the next.

\ I I

l I t

. 5. Once your check dams have filled with silt, you can build them up higher.

. Remember that these structures work only in first and second order stre~. H your structures blowout, Don't be discoura ed Kedy them ~ better, or better yet move higher in the watersh:d ' .~ try again .

. -., - .. -.

- .. J

'My friend joel says the best thing you can do for a watershed is line up sticks on the contour lines. You can also make microcatchments on a slope or flat area by pitting the land with a shovel. The pits collect seeds, water, animal droppings and mulch! 'creating rich, sheltered microclimates for' plants to establish, Just laying down mulch on bare spots will conserve enough water to allow many seeds to germinate.

Also keep in mind that the structures you build are only temporary. Their. primary function is to allow plants to establish. Long after your swales and check dams have silted

up, they'll be visible as lines of trees along the hillsides. These ! trees' roots reach deep' into the soil to hold it in. place, tapping into the underground streams and sharing nutrients along

webs of mycorrizal fungi. Their shade and mulch allows other plants to grow, reweaving the web of life that existed there before.

These ideas work in the city too. In Tucson, AZ,. people

"marked the contours of a gently sloping parking lot. They removed a three-foot wide section of asphalt along the lines they had marked, and planted native trees there. The runoff from the rest of the parking lot watered the trees. Bust up your driveway and divert the water from the street to the street trees. In asphalt or concrete-covered lots, remove the pavement from the low spots and plant. trees there. Plant native pl~t~ in. your guerrilla gardens-- they can survive on . local rainfall; and they

bring the real world into the heart of the city. .. _ ... ,

-::_.....;;.__::...:-_~;_. _~ ... ~~r-:::::'";"" _. _ ••. _ .o_ - . - _. ..~, - ... _- .•.•..• - ...••. -

. " ...

.' .

FIGURE'.'

How A TREE INTERACTS Willi RAIN CIIftI9OIIIIotI ,nervy, and dlslttbultatt of wallr; 1111 OVII1I1 eI1lC1 of

tnt. I¥IIY plan! ..,.., InlltadII In IIIn 10 ChlllOl th. -.1110 IIIIIIIIIIIIIItd _m Inc:Gn*Ig .nervy.

149

.::ct

t: ..

YCIS hive eojoyulCft Ilwa _ ck) the v.rieIY ..... __ of Eyerywl.- r'" 1Um! 70U ~ inIr> .... poo<lIQII'. body. land.

bI"""" u _0 u the moIlI. c.peted IrouIb of the poadl. We 00""'. or .dvice. TWn, otlaon 1010 ICC<oWIt DIII\ mom,

.llnCI and feed beoofic:loI u.ct. with umbellif.ullcI' compromi-. nul un_ iat ...... 1io,.. is'OIIo 0I1bo fiDina iad

cooapositi ... Proo"""live muIcben DIly be • bit cooru-J by the chormilll features of IIIbooa lif e, Ratbor _ jJrivati1A' trOl

dUoniorly uny thol oOlllioGta them! M tIIID)' ... _ •• dAily .otivilielli' mo6.om deaip oacI tec:bnoIiJay ck>. utboo

pouible ore _hi-AoacIlcuL 1be lovely ,...;a.-flower. for pennac:ultura _b to incIeA ... opea up ....... I!bare I'" di_

iDs ....... pew 15 feet biah IaIt year ..... 1IhodecI port of our hot paths. pllCeI, aDd pattemt 01 urban oOllvivial-it,. F", buotance.

IOUtb aide.'We...., ate ita --. my DelII.door

IIowets. fruil. and lteaI. Ovenll, nei",bar. ViII-

moint_e effort i. low. A lot of CeDI, I ... us use

oUr work iICunina Nell, horveotiag. . bio "'ckytotd ...

..... imalliaina how we can betI!It playiD.licld.

workwithna...... We 0110

We feel that our cooperatioo with tixchlap lawn

- ba. beJUllIO ,_entte • hiahly coie (y ... _ cut

functioaal. productive. and beuJliful his 1IwDI) for

bo_eacl. 1\io hi. led 0110 think the privilep of

thlilhe _liplfi_ .01 of tria uiilll die IOUIb

pcrmaculture i. nllorin, • balaace . aicIc of hi.

beIweeo hll1lllllllOCiely""" IIOture. prase ....

Since .. _ every iDCb of urt.o and ~ .ite.

IIII>urIu JalIcI hal beea -bel, Thus IliPm

covered;' poiooaed. aacI aIuacI, il .,,__w-

beplO be 1MIoted, This doeI DOl ernl1racollll<;i.1

- --.iI)' _ retumiq illo ita diversity aDd

oriJinaIform. i.e.. foreaI. Jftirie. or ip~on. &II~

IIIInh; bullealOriDa. -mabie .- ...

. ~ 1haI-'chea and provides for dosi .... fl!at

111._.II1II for fu_ ,_entllcu. FI'OIII "'"'of. HHdln,'DIU' iI/I~r pmNkIIII_. oaoJlimize their

1beplaoe~this""""_ '. frequeocY.

vitoibly It the pnIetI. This It where we "_.Icara • .w.p atoriea, . inlClllity.1lICI CGIIIiDuity. JUlI. we doli .. pllIIl plldI in !be

pia)', tdU.1lICI woader.. prdeD. we deaIp people piJdI in Iholioipborboodo. We call

.', . llil DOl bird 10 imqiDo ciliea 1llll1UIJurtIs .. w,e,.udeoL put people ill lIIUcb'wllh OM 1IIotbet,IiIIIch lOlDOhody·. Dooda to

N.ture mlb from blcJrarouDd 10 forepitIad. Eacb h........ _her per.-' •• W ..... aurpIua, _ tIM! cyclallld Dows

activity aDd iulibllioD feecII into the Ioopa of ~ .,_. of bUIDIII .--y, Jettina ~ join ill IlICI hive full.

1be W .. U SIN« JormtOl (JuI)' 14. 1994)...,..... 6aat,..,., Comrmoaity buiIdIaa II _., _... _of Iood d8siJII.

• Amid DulnJcdoD, S~ Bloom ... GudIII Spot: '!be com 1bere .... poUemo that ...-11llCl....- thot.lieDate. I oft,o

powa tall, beaDa ....... NIideDtI..,..s aeeda of __ twII to Cbriatopber A1elWJiJer'. A PI1llUIllAt&"",~ for JOOd

oivilizatioo. • Traaedy baa puIMd ~'I iaIJIlJIt.IuIb 10 ideu. Tbtn 111.1 ... JIOWiaI body of literature ... ..-;aable

.,.,...." e, ,,_ food. aDd"__ aelf-4uftlcieat. os- rite utblII dell ... 50me oflboae ideaI_y 10101--'''

abov. baJcoay raiw.,.. T __ rIpaa oD rooftops. 0lIl_ indicated by the WI. articIeo of N_wmc (May 15. 1995).

"" ..... idewa1b. COWI.,.ze 011 -u... .trijII. ° Former cros "Bye-By., SubutblII DrMm. ° IlICI "15 W.,.IO f'1lI1ho SIiburIJI.·

beco __ ,""'-n. Amid Iho deotructiOD. OM COlI "'y. Lett tblo lOUIIIllOO ~.Iet me II1I1I10 __ •

·We bave.U whot we Deed here.' bappeaiDJ ill a-.boroaad bereaboltll. LuI,.. •• tum of ,

.1biJ briftcs 10 mind lIIOIber Imponaat.".ctice of urblII .i~ teocbets II 10_ Middle SchcoI lilted me 10 work

,........uJture. coarar;", particularity, ideotlty, and coaviviolily with IllUdei.II to _ • .,._. A '1M' Jalet. we oit

to a pIace-iD 0IIw words. maIcitI. iI. "_here." PettIopo I witJIiD our ...... of _. fruit ID hetbtpinll. poDd,

J!aouJd .. y thol OM evobllhe ~ 411. place. TG COllver! IWirIina pedII (they ~ID IlIII08ba .,...,.1). and ripe

I .._ ituo. ptdea III 10 Jiv. il parlicuJarily and. iIccOrIIinl to .trawbeniea. from Iho bePmIaa. I forNow Iho _ important

tbo .... y it i.o cIaQa. III icleDtity. Our fnlaI, ...... y.1IOtIIOIbiDa port of thiI_, -.ly, tho buiJdiDs of oo8lRlllllily: teacher

about wbo we an aad whal _ carl be. III ~ iDlenctiOD. and ......... piDcipallllCljlDil«, • ....se-a and _-aardellets.

evob the .._ coavivioJiay ofb"_' Iho .idewaIt II1II porch. but driven aad....-. WlIh NpI'II to JeuaiJIa, il brouJbt

IlICIIbo IlCiJltbadlood. Ail oIdorIy __ fJotD EDaJand wallted 10JCIh« hIDd aDd mind.lelll ..... cIoed. cla_1uId 0I!Id00r0.

by. tumed GOIIIId, and _ tbIouP Iho,,_ atbor. "I feel l've The pnjea wW CiDaIiDue 10 pow and witb it, .... ~y .....

"""'" bomo:, ° ~ o..,.",..-uId. , cutriculum, beco ..... aociaJ ..... 111 ..... 1 ec:otoalea ore __ ted.

Our ~ III. microcoalll oIwbat haJlpoll e"_bere. Other .. III.... .

anywbac. ill city or 1Ubwb. You COlI be wbon you ore, riSbl Uoder .. eirpeat JIIidaace of Bee •• 1ocoI ........... , our

IIOW. "" ..... Ie_aca .. auita you. You can illiliate Iy._tic or odPlJorltoodjoialld,lOpIhottoftlllQre -", Buffalo Creek.

tIIIdom .octo of rulonItiOD aa>eI evob Iho lPiril of the place. Our iDtctwnIioaI bave beea mitUmal, maiDJy COIIIiIIIiq or

DiJcovtrina harmanlou • ..- . pla.atiDa .wi"" apcc:ieo. to the cnek II lIqeIy "" ita 0W1I. IDrwo

U ..... perRMCuINN II ifIUIIaeI, _lol. Everytbia. you do ia y_. the "",*tiaa pew Iuab IIId ~: lIIiDIi;inoecli. and

within .;,ht. -..d. or toucb 01 a ..m,hbor ... or an in&peclor. birda flouriobed; Ibe WlICt tem ..... ture dropp«l. iaipn>VinB

CI1iBU Rl!OIONS' bl!dMBElu993 /

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. Or, University ~ in his yard

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""UwIo)O~ - ~ eNlIl. ~~ /#oJ1Il.'r 'n:' ~ ~ ~

Olt.. ~1G11..Jc:i I"t:i1lC.. ,.. l'I"CclJr'( ... , .... ,~ 'lID "'_"'CI'C.. ~ t=.. )

~_.v"'n!:':" ~I'.It.IG ~..,~ ee:r ~~I-f ~ Ne::r .V'~' .

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~~~~ II>I&IP~ ~o Dvr~I~& /oULr" W/TJ04 "~It:.III:&I<-II/l.,",-~ (I *'&T" CII/l""_AJr "' ~ ~ Ct -...:v MUI/&TI4IC.. ..... ,.JI~).

""""'_y' I oe: MO.u=: ~.",. ..-cI ~,.",~ ~'A:II!J> T"P'I,~.s:!o

;t.J.J~ "'AI , .. u rwl<'TVIC.I!!.., ~A.LL.y' ",Ll- CcMfltArIf!!.P U&AJ ..."TH

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."e.-r'D!I/ aT' 0.8. MIA.,...,. , "16) IOt!!>1oJ O-.,OIH:J:.I-~I-~ "Ilc.HAJOL..C>&y' 'DI!!..VI!!.L..O'-"""I!:.IJT" ~cau,. Of'" "'DC'rH .A.H~CA... _INCo.

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Broadscale

Restoration

T~e cheapest and easiest place to store water is in the soil.

Grazmg, logging, roads and agriculture all cause erosion. Once the topsoil has washed away, plants cannot establish themselves. Without vegetative cover,' water can't infiltrate into. ~ soil, so it runs off, causing more erosion. So the first step in r~st?ring a watershed is slowing down the flow of water across hillstdes (called sheet flow) and allowing water to infiltrate before it reaches the streams. On gentle slopes (less than 15 degrees) broad, shallow ditches called swales that follow the contours of the land willhold storm runoff and infiltrate it .over time. They will also fill up with silt over time and form terraces. Swales should be mulched to reduce evaporation, and planted with trees.

On slopes steeper than 15 degrees, dig networks of v-shaped "boomerang • swales. These are v-shaped berms, pointing downhill, forming basins that direct water to one tree. Steep slopes can also be terraced with straw bales, Dig a shelf on cO.ntour for bales t~ rest on, and pin each bale into the ground With two stakes (willow, bamboo and rebar all work well). Swales and straw terraces work best if their ends are anchored by a tree or bush, then water is less likely to erode around the ends. Plant a native tree or shrub behind each straw bale. When it rains, the bales soak up water like a sponge and water the trees. The bales . will clecompose in a few years,. and the line of trees you have planted will hold the hillside in. place with

thei!_ JQ_Q~~ .. _. .. __ ... _.___ __ _ _ .__ .... . ..

.. _·4

To Mend the Broken Circles:

Thinking' Green in City Spaces

-_._-_._._---_ .•.... _ .. _------_ ..... _-- .. -._--_._------------_ ... _--

'I

Charlie Headilliton

Tho urbut .,.. II lite least llUdiod yet moot iiDpOl1anl ........ of pennocalrure. III import_II .... frum .... _ • ..,.....aJy _rappeN., .Ibeillllilpidecl, _.. of""'_'lJ to dwell ia .... _of~""iadIIIIry. Whilew .... _ ..... _

..._.,.1Ient of~villo ... 'N)IIalnJb.cit;.and

I .. Cllofwil...._ .......... to~b..-;!'Iioa ., we hive i1111.....,-.lcof~ WillI .......... IUburk ....... tod rinlcul,_ ODd ~ "Wl1domeaa"

. rracta. The city. !IF virNe of IIa ~ _ filuclallIDd

political dec __ • aocI,IlIDd culluril_iaaa. II1II laduatrial inertia. IIICb cIrJ" rinl II1II wild JIll- II1II ......... iDlo .1tcIato,_.;aa Iaidaaapa. '"- .... haw •• .......,hy of _.....·.1OUIIeaa 1IIirItcape' 'J"IIoorIbe, farlile r-.bIe~"'''''''''''''''_~

our beat Ibiakittt ad _belt cIeaipi. All of II

1"*1"" •• I11III1 0I'0Ity-wide .... 11_ ....

1Itd_.

Several y .." aty wife (Debonh SeaItroQb)

.nd I WOIIdeIaI to _ to. dart_,. 01' lilY

in o.-boro, • city of200.ooo mdart rnid-AJI.uaIic Piod_ or North Camlilla. AI lite 1i_.1 draupt I could do "'_"nlrwe ollly in .... COUJIIry. with. ocnrap.lIId willlout .-icliYe cil)' _ill COIMIIIIicaa IItdbuilclia,f.OIIea. We_vwyca-to""" 17 .cr.. buI_dec:icIed iDatNcI to plirY ID .... _

Wobad 1IIIIIe"""_ ..... wbom oxialu., frioadabipa were very"lmpartoat. _ WIIIIod to CODIiDne bic,..1iDI 10 warlco' ........ ODd rrienda' --.. ODd .... had_ DlICOOI idoa oboul "",kin, our IIO-ynr-old home •• SO' ~ ''P' 101 .. urIu bonIeaIead.

TWDlIIIIo 0lIl' JIoooI Y .... (an. bus)' ODd JIIII"OW ._) ..... bad • few idea. 6om. -:iety of __

Pulmob. Ruth StouI. &a,Ilah coItap pnIeas: __ il "iy. mill il up, mulch, .,.....UIII. We'd.1Io IIeanf

1bouI ... _ ,._,.,_....... Soia euIy .

....... of 1m wi para; leaf IIIidcb (lilt plcbpa fuD).

.aiI_. _.........cI_ ...-- obMoiioa." Ia""'. Wo

... .,.,. far rocb. r-1IIIIIerioI1a, -. pIauIa, aDd ideu. We planted _IoIIIII~. aadwaited.

WilhiD twO 1IIOIIIha." pnIeu filled 0lIl. N.ipabon_' .... t il ...... "'~PI willi ... foot _Bowen. lite .....

• iII«s (oam, ....... _ ..... ) by tile .... pIdfiachea 011

lhilllel. toada lit IIiubII poIa, eIIeny.....-1IIIIIIiDt over ..... buabaa. ....... fIOIIIIiaI ...... tollle JUIUW. PIuI ••

• m-I friertdI, .ad -iJIbora aU 6Juad a aIche ill DIll' pnIea.

PIOIIIID 0Idiauy city -. .. pnIeu COIWWIed tho _ m .

franl of _ bouao to. __. IpICCI or coavIvialiry aDd in_iia,life"'_. Our fruat porcII eqjoyed • reaailum:e II • c:oIinecIar of home lad ....... A roae arbor .Pled lbe __ IIIIIIJIIIItoIiJDd lite ~ 6airD pnIfIDe to_creel

..... An aid ....,.. .IIoa' .... -maIed lit 111_ plld of

'radInIariId buIbeI. tad berbI. It _ Ute Iad • .-

cul_ liamdle old.

We""" 10 Ibe backyard, By then Iliad _ fonnaI perrua-

cuitunl tniDiqaDd. with ellwe·d ......... rmmourlioalyud "".....,_ ..... bad IllUCb """"' apeclfic ideu about deal .. aDd ec""_. We neptiatod with our kida.bout aocial ...... ; lbey tolerated IIICIIl of our ....... bur vetoed my f'aYOri-.u., Ibo jUapr.,...1I ..... by lrellil.laden with Iwdy .kIwi. W.lllO bad. problem to turD mro. rroIlIIicxr, II the ciry __ worb b.d

j .... pod ia. DOipborhood eire pipe and lell. IS' wide_h

ofhlrd .ubooil wbere _ maiD WlDtod to be.

Ta pormaculture ....... we built.p 6om .

. briaJia.iDmoreloafmold..,a ............ t_ .. ltb lm .

1IUII1pI. 1beu __ bIiObed --' pnIeaa: by-bole ahaped

becIo for _, ....... bIea. au CIICbard pnIeo of dwarf fnaillroe8. hit ...... aDd __ ruy pIanII. •• ODd (aurpiael>- __

...... by _1inC dIRe porada. C"_' to dart bact door. we pur in

4 filE Pl!ilMAOOl.flJR! Act1VtsT .1J3

Appendix A

LIST OF SOME USEFUL PERMACULTURE PLANTS

('

) )

-(: )

Most of the species below are perennial, although some annuals are included. This list is by no means complete; it is intended only as an informal stan to your own local permaculture species lists. The plants below range from temperate to bOpicai climates; many temperate species can also be grown in the subtropics or highland tropics. In most cases heights are given (in metres· m) but these will vary according to climate, care, soils. and cultivars.

ACACIAS (Ac"cia spp.)

Leguminous IleeS and shrubs 18ftginS from 3-2Sm, species growing from arid legions to the tropics; orlen spiny. USES: Somo species are impotUnt fodder p1anu or drylands. willi leaves. pods. and seeds used; lilCWOOd and (some species) limber. Nilqen·lilling; Fukuoka planled silver wallie (.4. Ualbtua) in his fields 10 boost prodllC-

tJon. Etosion contrOl. .

Fodder: Mulga (Acacia QM..,.,,) widespread In AIlsuallan drYlands. fllSt·growinS and palal8b~ 10 stock; 10 7m 1A1i. ClIIIIOl thorn (FaJdM,bill aIbidIJ) Ihomy uee to 25m; fOl1a80 and pods imponant (odder yielding 13$ kg pods/IICe in Sudan. Deciduoul in wet season, full leaf in dry. Mya1I (.4. pcndMl4) srows on heavy.sQi1s WhelC 110 oIher IJ'Cei will srow (pmu:ccs soilllld givessluldo as well as (odder). Other (odder II'CeS are A. S4licilUJ (native willow). 04.1"""841. A. uya/.

T1mber:BIiIctwood(.w.c;,,_~~).J8st.growins. IonS-lived, cool climue acacia::sed in line furniture (in WIIm climates A. _kInozyloll is a scraggly, sbonlived tree). Silver WIIUIe (.4. dl!tJ11H21a) and hickory wallie (A'/d/ci1o,mit) also imponanuimbcr trees.

ALBIZIA (A/blzllJ IOptJIIIM. A. jlllibri.rsill) LegumillOUl. evergreen, quick-puwing __ willi feath· ery leaves. Height: 9.15m. Warm lempenue ID lIO(Iic:aJ climateS.

USES: Shade eee, willi omamenlallcavCS and Dow· ers, Wiru:lbteak iflopped lOeIICOWlIgebusllineu. Pioneer IRe; in the uapics. chili peppers. pinespples, banana, and (ruil ttceS are srown under widdy-spaced albizla. proyidlng a 3-tict productive system. Mosupeciesare pallit. able 10 SIOCk (A./opaIllM.A. cJWu:lIJis). Nhrogen·r.xing.

ALDER

(Ah .. .,spp.): Fasl-growing, shon·liveduees I1UIinly form· ins dense Ihickeu. Heigh!: IO-25n r, Although not IeBWIIC$, ate niIrogen~rlXing. and CA:8re a thick, b1ack humus. Useful i( already present ror rou.h mulch, composting. UIUsa nurse crop for other IR:eSI provides shelter. muldl. and nitrogen. Can eventually be cut out

I

allOgether.cirl few ueesallowed 10 pow on (01' nitrOgen. rlXin., mulch. AI litcwood it IIIIIY bum 100 hoi. but stickwood is useful. Some A/IUM SlIP. are A. ,cnlAl!olla (mounl8in aider). A. crispo (dovmy alder).

AMARANTH (AmtzrGmhas spp;)

Upright IIUIIIIls ID 1m of which sraln _Mill (;I. h:JPQehtwJritJclU) IlMlIeaf IIIIIIIIIIIIh (.4. ,an,.,klU) ate most valuable. Otown In ftIII sun 01' even pIII1i8I shade: grai~lIIInI\dlneeds·IIC).daYllOWinl_lOselseed. TempetIIfO _lIrtough highland dry IftIpIcs.

uses: OlDin _th a hlBh protein crop (18\\); seeds eaten poppedOl' 1JOUIICI1n101lour. Leaves_ raw orcooked. LelfIDllll8I11h POWft dU'OuBIIouIJC8rln WIIIIII clhll8res; laity Iea_ -btla:ht tell and arecn. Valuable vil8minllMlmlneralplanLChlclccnfoclder(seeds);ieaVCS for 1IOCk-cllil be turned inlO silage. Cover crop.

ARRAc:ACHA W .... CIJCM mlllltorrhlra, A. mill"",,) Also known 81 Penwlan parsnip. Otownin bigh-alllwde tropics to subtropical c1imlUel. Ht:rbaccous perennial. producinB IarBs, swcby fOOlI. Propagated by tubers.

USES: Eaten like polAIOeS or cassava. Coarse main roocstocks and mature leayes red toanimals. Y OIIng srems (or salads. Excellent undcrslOrcy crop.

ASPARAGUS (A.rpararllS offlejlllJiis)

Perennial tOOISIOCk willi new. edible sIIOOIs each year, yielding wcll fOl"atleast 20 yeatS if III8IIURd and W8W'ed. Yieldslfler 3 years. in spring; Easily projIIIgaJed in wilUt bycrowndlYision.NllUraliselaJonssandywlllCrCOWBCS. though docs IIOl produce large IIaIts II docs manured . aspatlIglI$. USES: human food, bank sl8blllsen for sandy steams. Temperue 10 subtropical climates.

AUTUMN OUVE and RUSSIAN OUVE (£1_11111$

. .1UIIbc/ltua,E. anlusrlfol14 ol other 1IlP.)

FasI-gtowlng. niuogen-rlltinSIhrllils 10 4.5m and 20m respectively: Auwmn olive fonns tblcktu IK hedges when c1lJlped. Toletaleipoor soi1. dtouPt Likes full sun. althOugh other species ~lIlOlel1lre paniaJ 10 full shade.

179

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Building a Water

by Rocky Brittain (Designer ~nd Assistant Research Profess of Arizona College of Architecture). Rocky built one of thesi using creosote branches for ribs.

Mc&& ~ 'Col .... ' ".?act... 11 CIII::#I"1 UD ') ACU~)~) ... '=" c.~> , ..

~ 'u '~c.. c: +1C- O/C,. I'Of&,4.

I"bc.. .-..c.u,.,~ ~ ~ TO &llU"ltoJe.

~o _&.e. 0,. UIUJ

,..~ .A.iJ ''''I..CT" "'141-4. QIJ U#C.N ~PCloIoIo4J- ,..fIt. Q:WtJ~ A~ .. "'~.c.w.I _ ,~~ "" 6~'T"( PC.A6~c.ClC.lTu:T

,

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o 'hIilPUMACUL1\IRIIlEilVift.m

l-f/

ages nowers and young frub. bUI not the trees: very ~t wca&het in autumn c:an rot the ri~nlng pods. A legumInous tree. although does not fix nl!lOgen.

USES: Human food: ground meal is a chacolale ~, coffee substiwce. widely used in health ~ood produc ,; Pods as slOCk feed for energy and proretn co~tra. <ground as meal or fed whole 10 large animals). YIC= Medit.erraJ1C811 c6maltiS arc 4S-22.S kg/1ree. 1M.

yield a gum with wacer-absorbing qualities. used III cos-

metic and chemical industries.

CASSA VA (MlltUMI tscultn/Il) sed

Lowland tropiCal crop. with starchy IUberS. Widely.u

in Africa. South Pacific. Latin America. Grown on ndges or mounds. intetplanted with ~nual (ood. ~ps. Can withstand neglcl:l, grows in nutnenl-poor SOIls. 101m: drought (except afeer propagation). Can be kept In e

ground until required. 0 'ed

USES' Eaten (aftu peeling) boiled or baked. r1.

- emI onths; cassava Dour IS

slices may be kept for sev m. I is

ado by grinding these dried chIps. Fermented pu p ~ in West Africa. Stareh '. or tapioca, ls used for _ puddings. biscuilS. and confectlonary.

CHFSTNUT (Cas/Ilnell mollissiltl(J, C. sa/Iva) .

Large spreading deciduous tree 10 30m;. long~hved. GraC~ treeS yield in 7-9 years. Tcmpernce Medll~rra-

l'maces"lOlerace dry conditions. Like weU-dramed

noan c I. ~__ lis May not

sOils. Need cross-pollination for ."..1 resu .

belli' well in climaleS with cool summers. . .

USES' As food: Spanishorsweet~hestnu~(C.~lIva) . im nt' commercial crop in Europe, while Chlne_se C=I (C. "",111ss;""') grown in U.S. because of resl:

bl'ghl funeus ChestnulS Ole eaten whole, rOllS Wlce 10 I ''0' n rich in starCh and husked. or ground for sweet our,. .

High-grade slOCk fodder. espoeially for pigs.

CHlCORY (CiCMriwn iIIlybus). .

Herba<:eOUS pereMiallong used as a "egetable In Europe

and the Orient; grows !'rom 0.6-1.6111. Likes fun sun and grows from temperate 10 subtrOpical regions. Naturallses

in r .. 1ds and on distwbed soils. .

USES: Bee forage: early and IonB-n?wenng. Roots rOIISIfd forcoffec-liJcc beverage. Mineral-ncb lca.e.s (f~ deep taprool mining the soil) e~cenenl ~mponcftt 10

astute as forage crop; improves mille quahty and quan~ty. Medicinal (both human and animal): used for rheumatism. eczema. blood diseases.

CHINFSE WATER CHESTNUT (Elt~h4ris dulcis) Aquatic rush with edible culms. Brown In shallows or damp mud. Sublioplcs/llopicS: can be grown wherever lhetc are 8 frost-free months. May need 10 be ne~ against ducb when green shoolS are emerging. CAlIli!lD= As with mllRY aquatic phillIS, these may accumulate heavy meUlls so mnkc sure pond water is not polluted (or uSC these 10 help clean up w81,er; d.o nol harvest). USES:

Valuable human food, high in carbohydrate. used OXlCn-

sively in Asia.

CITRUS (Citrus spp.) . .

widerangcofcycrgreen shrubsOtttCCS~O 10m, Including,

lemon.limc.cumqual,orange,grape~nJlt.mllRdnrin.Dry,. wann temperate (Meditemnean) .hmaleS 10 tropl~: In mar inal tempcrale areas, plac:e in warm. sunny ~'II~n. Tr; can withstand light fros~ but frosl at -2 C ktlls nowers and young fruil. Need shelter in ~Igh Wind are:

USES: Fresh fruit or juice, m'!""aladc. ~nco:nlr.l . for cordlals_ High vitamin C sowte: especIally If while

·th is also eaten. WOSlC pulp fed 10 caule. Peells source ~~ essential oils (used in ~.vouring and perCumcs); qlsD

provides pectin.

CHOKO or CttA VOTE (StChiwn t4u~t) .

Herliaceous scrambler, vigorous, perenOlal on thick root-

. ui trOpics' not lulrdy II> frosL

SIOCIe. SubtrOplcS • h boiled OI'baked: young'

USES: RootS used for stare ,. .

shoots eaeen as a salad, steamed. MOSlcommonly-eaten 1$

181

home b_, and llIe lermltes wen. denied dIrtd _ into the hou .... We alao applied beneficial nematodes which cal tennltes, but not earthworms.

We used Ill .. soli from the 8ublloor excavations to bulld the bue for the cistern, and 10 build berms to both block some ol the noise coming from the bordering sln!et and to harvest rainwater. The termile damaged llooring wu then replaced with llooring our neighbor had Just ripped out 01 his house. The llooring was fianded then oiled with a mix 01 1 quart boiled IiNeed 00, 1 pinl white vinegar, and 1 quart turpentine. Once dry, the n""r wu waxed.

We moved In and hooked up our ceDing Iuw, our sole source of m«hanized c:ooling. My partner, Marci, and I then made exterior window shades from hemp vine and aalveged hesperaloe nower stalks from the university reseatth fields. W .. built more rebar treUIses on which we're growing grapes and bougalnvlUaca. We ohaded the perimeter 01 the house even further by exll!ncllng a shade doth (blocking 47% of the sun) from the house to the garage. We took support poles from our old chain link fence and bDlted them flat against the ends 01 the nftera on each structure, and stretched shade cloth between them. with clothesline.

Under the Wdecloth we dug aunken garden beda thJough solid caliche earth and buill raised paths around our DIinl-orchard with the dug-up caliche. This, In tum created aunken planting basins that would harvest water runoff. Caliche acts like decomposed granite as It doesn't get muddy orblow away. The beds dug through the caliche were then partially filled with good IDil and aalveged compoated manu re, The surrounding aoU was graded to drain all rainwater from the north of th" house and the south 01 the garage inlo the garden. The north aide of the garage Is gutteml, with ralnwater diverted to. 33O-galIon c:lstem of six aal-

U",_ tight: Plllnting bods dug into OJlich., fi/ld fllitlt corn,_t .ndooil.

Right: TIlt r«yt:Id rtIIIIIUIJIlktping pIIIl/Orm .ruI fAIOrl: ...... 8./".,,: TIlt sill In propa., rn-.d fttnn rrmuuI. W1OJ. Homti 0Mt .. ruin- ""II"TIlt:lion tin right.

No. 27 Wlnterl996197

vaged 55-gallon barrels we gol from a bakery. The bamlll a ... elevated by bricks we pulled from a tom-down .tore.

W., incorponted UI herb spiral into our kJtchen garden. watered by IUbmersed, unglazed oIIas.Aroc:k lid cuts evaporation 1_ whll" water seeps through the sides 01 the olla and Is delivered right 10 the root 2.one 01 the plants. The chipped and damaged o1Ia. we bought were cheap. The ht!lb spInIsllII next to our worm/compost pit which is covered with an old carpet.

A baak principle 01 permaculture - turning waste into reeoun:e - enabled Rodd and me to buy our house, and then to fix II upl DIving through dumpsters for materials, IeUSing _~ on site, and repairing thls old adobe OUrselves has saved u. a bundle while giving us sJcilb, knowledge, and a confidence we dldn't have before. We now have far more than we would have had we somehow purchased a new property. and all for a fraction 01 the impact on the earth. Is that dumpster .tuting to emeU good yel1

Perrnacutr_ DrytarHb Journal 1 3

Water

Catchment

and

Restoration

Remember back to third grade, when you learned about the water cycle. First it evaporates from the oceans, then condenses in clouds, Above forests, pollen and other orgartic particles seed the clouds, raindrops form,. and rain falls back to earth. Some flows back to the earth, some evaporates or drains into

saltpans. .

We humans have tried to create our own water cycle. The . East Bay's water travels from high in the Sierras, down the Muknolumne River, past a series of dams,. through miles of

_ aqueduct, concrete tunnels and steel pipes. It crosses the Coast Ranges through siphons and pumping stations, then is treated by chloramine and other toxic chemicals before flowing out the, faucet. Most urban water follows a similar path.

Unlike the natural water cycle, the system of aqueducts and reservoirs benefits only ourselves. River life dies out, wetlands are drained, canyons and valleys disappear behind dams. Even the oceans are slowly dying.

Meanwhile,_millions of gallons of water fall in city roofs and _ streets and run off mto- the sewers .. H we catch this water and use it in our homes and gardens, we step outside of the destructive cycle of dammed rivers and depleted aquifers. Infiltrating the runoff from hillsides, roads and parking lots allows trees to grow. Under trees, natural systems to regenerate through the cracks in the concrete. In the same way that composting creates rich soil from trash, water catchment and

graywater cycling create opportunities for growth in barren , .

. places.

FlGURtI:z.21 SweIeI on contour do no( flOW; 1liiy ~ 1II0D IIIId I"'n ItMIOIII ~ WIlIer now. &w ...... Dlanltd

Tcmpel'lle and cold ... plall;

USES: Good ~ IJId eIOIion conuol planL Edible berries rot birds IJId poullrr. cold area chicken forage planL 0mImcaW _lied ... SUverberry ($. '_'lIIa) and cheny ellaplUi (E. IIIIIIIi/lorlJ) also impaNnl wildlife, pouIlIy beny planll.

AZOLLA (A'~/Qlpp.)

fRo.f1oaIinl. amall Wirer fems (red 01 Peen) which conIIIn I niaocen-fixinl becrmill ~ ".""IM). All cU_, aIIhoup dies back in boI ~. USES:

Dudt fodder. N'1IrOpII mulch Cor rico or lIfO crop Cor ' nilrOgCll. Can be skimmed orr surface 0( poI1ds and used II • ric:b mulch bn adjacenl crops: Of ponds drained, A."'14 IUmed under. and crops grown.

BAMBOO (1250 species)

Two main 1l'JICI. 1M running bamboos and ,lumping bamboos. o-Ily IhII tropic:aIfsubaopicai v.riclics 1M c1umpers andlhe lempeme varieties 1M runnctS. In die cue 0( _ bamboOs. care mUS! be liken 10 lbaldlcy do IIDt become rampant; lheydo IIDtCRJU WIler, so may

" be C:OOllined on iii island ilia dam.

Bamboos pow fIom Ihe -equaror 10 about 40' north and soudl. I'Illpepdon is by diYisioa of clwnps. rhizome cuuinp. and besaI cane cUllinp; bamboo pows besl in rich orpnic lOiI.w.idl pieRI)' tlf Wirer.

USES: human food (,lumps 1M billed 10 produce large, ICIIdDr 1boIKs) and foliap as animal fCJrl&C (some spec .. such as AruItdUrGrlir '''"_. S;ua palmal4). Suuewral: slakes. rlShpolei • .., (smail CIIICS). build· ingCllIIIICworitI.concrereJeinfoR:lnS (b;'c:ancs). Chunps: windb!eat.SlCCpbankllabilisers. Ocher: UlellSiIs, mulch, anisanry.

BLA"CK LOCUST (RCIbUtiD ps,udodcaciD)

Dc:dduouI II11II 100:2Om. lIIin folilp, li_ up 10 200 )'0111. GRIWI npidly and rOllllI tIIlcbII by lOOl.ucken (very auraslvo). Very hudy and suited 10 cooI __ • poo(soils.

USES: P_improver.on verypoorcounuy(niuogen 0-); IIOIiGa CDIIInII: ~ InlI; boo forap; seed rot pouIIry; lad __ 1UI11d 10 ...... 1OOb and

shafts. PoIeIIISl_ 20 '_'1IIIII'eIIOd In Ihe tp'OURd~

BLACKBERRY, RASPBERRY (RIIbIu spp.)

CuItivIn i1IcIude~.IoaIinIJenJ. VipouIIy-', pow.., prIeIdy lIIickeu (10m" Ihornlea ¥IrieIiiI hive .

! i 'Ii~ Hip.v.luecommen:ial crop on uellia. 'i :0 :tbcayeasity bocomeanmpant, .... -by ... and : .. U WIlnI- c.n " .. lIinllilled on iaIandI. BIicIIbeny (R'. ~ "'lacini4lJu) .... a ~. YIrioIy (0R&an dIOnIlea)

wldch is bell COf pnIcns. Lopnbeny and bo)'lllllbeny - pICltmldculliVln, willl very large beniea. May need neWng apiJIIl birds. leo forage.

180

BLUEBERRY, HUCKLEBERRY, CRANBERRY (Vacdni ..... I!IP.) Dec:iduoulllhnlbl6om2.5cm103.6mwl:coolremperate 10 subtrapicalclimala- ToIo<aIc psnlallI1ado:Of full sun. USES: Und __ y beny crop. Moll species good boo

fCJrl&C.

Hllh b ..... bhIeberTJ (V; c'!rymbosum) grows ID 1.2· 3.6", . and is pown Ii a commcn:1aJ crop, needs 10 be nctredagaina bUdS. Low bush bluelleny(V. "",lUli/Ol;"",) CIII be used as I groundco~r <.-2Ocm): avoid I'rosl pockel&

HuddebtrrJ'.(V. mcmbrllMccum. V. OlIQlum) arc IIDt commetdally grown (01 berries. bullheac _ laSty (or hUIIIIII use: also pouJUY fOdlC. Everpen huckleberry produces bell In pania'-,hIdc. Species grow 3Ocm·3m

wI. . •

Cranberry (V. oxycoccru) is lbouI1Scm wi: il is an e~. proIInIe Ulldersluub.lnd. grows well in pesl bop, .. ilhsoU pH or 3.2104.5. A conslllni w_ supply is ncccssary for good liullinl. bul planlS should IlOl be swamped. Richhwnusand IIllct mulchcnn: ideal. Avoid planting in known flOSl pockell: CruilS must ripen before han! CIOIIS. High-value comrncreialcmp.

BORAGE (BOI'IJ,O ojJicbuJlls)

An upright, sclf-sccdinl annllDllD 0.6m at malurity, Can . be grown in fun sun or panlaI shade; IOIctaIa JIOOf soils but needs regular walCring. Easy 10 propagace in large qlllllllities:sow.secd In sprins. Tcrnpenuc climate. USES:

Good bee fOllp. willi I long flowering season. Leaves and IIowecsin SlIads.CompoSI/manun: tea wilh comfrey: ""h in powh and calclwn: brealai down ~ry quickly. Medicinal propcnics: antI-inllammlllOry. .

BROAD BEAN (ViciDlGbf,)

Annual legume O,S·lm: rempcnlce 10 sublrOpicaJ cli· mara. likes full sun but jpOWS _II In doudy maritime cllmatcsoVc,winrer. USES: Human rood-young Iea_. pOds. beans (fleSh or dried). Also iaacd as slOck fodder. Co_ crop over garden beds, rlelds; JPCCII manure crop and nitroPa rlllCl'. willi cnip CUt and used Cor mulch bc(ORIlJowcring (nillOSen SIBYS In Iho soil).

CAPE GQOSEBERRY U'hYl4fis f1C,,,viDlI4)

A pereIUIiaI. tciIdcr. cn:cping bush oIlhe 1Dm8lO Camily (SoIanaccac) wilhlllllil s-nish-ycllow rruiusurroundcd by lpaperycalyx or husk. FruilSripen in late swnmcr and an: used fftIIh Of SIeWCd. Used in Mexico as .'hot sauce wilen mixed with chillies and oniOlls. Easily frosl-<!am· IfDd; grown IS an annUli in cold temperate climates.

CAROB (Caralo";,, sil/qlUJ)·

A long-lived IRe S-iSm grown for ill sugary pods. A tree ollhe Mcdi&enancan. it doc& best in city cemperace c1imares and c:an tolerate poor soil conditions. Frost dam·