PERMACULTURE

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Recent photos from Sunday June 15th site visit to Mike Bernhardt's homestead in Afton New York:

On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 1:12 AM, Carl Arnold <carlarnold@mac.com> wrote:

Many thanks again for everyone's presence and input last Sunday. It was a relaxed and stimulating day. For whatever help it might be, below are my few notes.
Looking forward to next month at Mike and Mary Jo's, then Carole and Gene's in June.
Carl

Permaculture Group notes, May 11, 2008
Curculio (a weevil) in plum grove: knock the trees early in the AM — bugs fall; chickens and pigs’ll eat ’em. Fence in the plum grove and alternate pigs and chickens. They’ll thin out the grove and eat the curculio bugs.

Long Lot (ca 19 acres, biggest on farm): plants indicate = too acid for hay, Needs lime, which unlocks minerals while shifting pH. Lime the best fields.

The worse the land, the less water it holds. Soil = the best water storage.

Dock, fennel and comfrey break up hardpan with deep roots, release minerals otherwise unavailable.

Plant orchards near the swales that make ponds, which are located at the ends of topographical curves on upper hill.

Encourage locust trees in upper New Lot. They’re nitrogen-fixing, rot resistant, useful as posts. White oak = also rot resistant.

Hornbeam (also called ironwood) = hardest local wood.

Transition house’s windbreak to Norway spruce — low branches remain live. What other species that can stand local winter + N Carolina climate?

Spread watercress seeds in top of stream; will spread along stream.

Local Indians planted the three sisters — corn, beans and winter squash. They balance each other well (details?). Plant beans early as possible; heat with black soil.

Mike & Mary Jo have solar dehydrator.

Old tools sold in Bainbridge every weekend.

Old barn foundation = great heat sink — good for retaining temp in cooler weather.

Robert Kourik, Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally

David Jacke, Edible Forest Gardening (covers needs of many species)

Jennie's notes follow:
Make a species list, sketch on a blank template...Measure aprox 100 feet from house.

Zone 1 isn't just concentric, it continues along paths. Plant blackberries and raspberries along these paths so that they can be tended as you walk along the path: borers must be broken off when you see them. (Blueberries require less maintenance, so can be in a further zone. While blueberries are woody and shrub like black currants look lovely and are a good Vitamin C source, spread by runners...near pond, and Elderberries.)
Greenhouses are high management, keep close to house. The built on greenhouse has 2 problems: sudden heat and moisture. (By the way, I photographed the Koch solar greenhouse, its on the wiki: http://oneonta-region.wikispot.org/Local_Food

Also there is a listserve for permaculture enthusiasts which you can join by sending a blank email to: otsegopermaculture-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

The Koch's have a typical way of venting their greenhouse: the windows open outward at the very peak on a pulley system.

Considering the 4 season passive solar greenhouse versus the hoop house: Hoop house has 2 layers: the house itself and the row covers. The old 6 mil plastic can be recycled as a row cover to get spinach in midMarch. Mike B: "We are the generation of transition, not purism".

Start dry beans early, they dry on the vine, warm the soil with black plastic or cloth and boards around to stop wind.

Carl mentioned the 3 sisters: add to that: they were dried beans, dried corn and GROUND COVERING squash. Pole beans go in the middle.

The dock and fennel were meant to be planted with trees to open up the hardpan.

Scythes are a lot of fun and more practical than I thought, there are many different types and of course that is one thing to look for at the Bainbridge flea market. Seymour old technology like sickle shaper for example.
Blacksmiths: Gerry Scheck, his company is called Blue Lantern welding, and his phone number is 746 3604. He is located on Elk Creek Road in Delhi.

Gardening tips: Till....buckwheat....till...buckwheat: enriches the soil. Rodale CRIMPER machine Iwhich I think you could probably rig up) crimps down the last crop and plants in the next crop, using the last crop as mulch....holding carbon and nutrients in the soil.
DYNAMIC ACCUMULATORS. Perennial vegetables. Lasagna gardening: just cover it then add biomass on top.

Liming is both about alkalinizing and adding back the calcium that we do not have. Also, we have no selenium in our soil, both would be problems in a macrobiotic diet.

Robert Kourik, Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally

David Jacke, Edible Forest Gardening (covers needs of many species) these both might be cheaper on

Ex Libris.