Comments on: Testing the dam http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/ Permaculture News, Commentary and Worldwide Projects. Wed, 16 May 2012 18:44:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ben - malta http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/#comment-44184 ben - malta Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:32:46 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=156#comment-44184 any tips on converting clayey soil into more fertile soil. i believe i have good nutrients in the soil as it hasnt been worked for a decade and because the clay should have been able to contain this but i fear the clay's structure will prevent rooting of cartain trees and shrubs which should help condition the soil and create the shade i need for water retention. i have put swales in place but they haven't filled up yet. apart from addding oragnic matter to the ground and perhaps adding some sandier soil, what else could you recommend? any help and guidance truly appreciated from the Island of Malta regards ben any tips on converting clayey soil into more fertile soil. i believe i have good nutrients in the soil as it hasnt been worked for a decade and because the clay should have been able to contain this but i fear the clay’s structure will prevent rooting of cartain trees and shrubs which should help condition the soil and create the shade i need for water retention. i have put swales in place but they haven’t filled up yet. apart from addding oragnic matter to the ground and perhaps adding some sandier soil, what else could you recommend?

any help and guidance truly appreciated from the Island of Malta

regards

ben

]]> By: Dan Halsey http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/#comment-29952 Dan Halsey Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:30:15 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=156#comment-29952 Just checking in. Its early March, big snow storm on the way. Expanding Swale system to the west this spring. Smaller system. The fence posts are being cut for new natural fencing and ground clutter cleared from the Savannah area. All is well. I am finishing my Degree in Temperate Climate Polyculture Design. We had out annual event for PRI Cold Climate. I got Geoff's last DVDs and will be making the rounds with them. Good stuff. We just adapt it to our colder zone. Dave Jacke was here last January. I hope I have lots of time to get things in the ground this spring. Dan Just checking in. Its early March, big snow storm on the way. Expanding Swale system to the west this spring. Smaller system.

The fence posts are being cut for new natural fencing and ground clutter cleared from the Savannah area. All is well. I am finishing my Degree in Temperate Climate Polyculture Design. We had out annual event for PRI Cold Climate. I got Geoff’s last DVDs and will be making the rounds with them. Good stuff. We just adapt it to our colder zone. Dave Jacke was here last January.

I hope I have lots of time to get things in the ground this spring.

Dan

]]> By: Dan http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/#comment-2927 Dan Fri, 08 Sep 2006 05:11:35 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=156#comment-2927 SouthWoods Plant Community Observation & Maintenance Logs are available through the Permaculture Collaborative (Cold Climate) Forum. Plant Surveys and Observation Journals formatted by Paula Westmoreland of PRI Cold Climate have enable each plant and guild to be monitored. We have developed shorthand notes and attach jpeg images for a visual record. SW News: Even though the plants were installed on June 23rd. Buck Wheat is ready to harvest and standing 3-5 feet tall. It is being cut and layered over our 300 foot earthen wall for mulch and dormant seeding. Beneath the BW is a newly emerging ground cover of herbs and edibles. Raspberries are spreading exponentially and yielding huge berries in large clusters only weeks old. Thimble Berry and Blue Berry bushes are shooting up new growth, filling in the spaces between plantings. 8 foot tall Maximillian Sun Flowers have rocketed to the sky in the last 4 weeks. They will be our deer fence next year. Compost Tea by Guy Trombley has predictably enhanced the soil. Comfrey and Chickory plants measure 2-3 feet across. The Dam continues to harvest rain from the catchment area and is spilling to the swales with each heavy rain. We have had a number of storms dumping 5-6 inches in a night. The roof and driveway catchment system brings fresh water each time. Large schools of minnows now populate the water having been literally pumped from a wetland pond via a 150 foot x 2" fire hose in June. New plant guilds surrounding the Dam area are soon to be installed. Most all are edible while others infuse oxygen to the water. Dan Halsey Permaculturecollaborative.us SouthWoods Plant Community Observation & Maintenance Logs are available through the Permaculture Collaborative (Cold Climate) Forum.

Plant Surveys and Observation Journals formatted by Paula Westmoreland of PRI Cold Climate have enable each plant and guild to be monitored. We have developed shorthand notes and attach jpeg images for a visual record.

SW News: Even though the plants were installed on June 23rd. Buck Wheat is ready to harvest and standing 3-5 feet tall. It is being cut and layered over our 300 foot earthen wall for mulch and dormant seeding. Beneath the BW is a newly emerging ground cover of herbs and edibles. Raspberries are spreading exponentially and yielding huge berries in large clusters only weeks old. Thimble Berry and Blue Berry bushes are shooting up new growth, filling in the spaces between plantings. 8 foot tall Maximillian Sun Flowers have rocketed to the sky in the last 4 weeks. They will be our deer fence next year. Compost Tea by Guy Trombley has predictably enhanced the soil. Comfrey and Chickory plants measure 2-3 feet across.

The Dam continues to harvest rain from the catchment area and is spilling to the swales with each heavy rain. We have had a number of storms dumping 5-6 inches in a night. The roof and driveway catchment system brings fresh water each time. Large schools of minnows now populate the water having been literally pumped from a wetland pond via a 150 foot x 2″ fire hose in June. New plant guilds surrounding the Dam area are soon to be installed. Most all are edible while others infuse oxygen to the water.

Dan Halsey

Permaculturecollaborative.us

]]> By: Dan http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/#comment-2100 Dan Wed, 26 Jul 2006 20:30:18 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=156#comment-2100 The focus of the water into the hillside has been fascinating. Even though we have had moderate rains and no spillway action as yet, the infiltration is visible and almost predictable. After two days the water is still seeping out the bottom berm into the annual garden area. (Next year's garden) The clay apron of sub soil has worked to retain the water and accelerate the establishment of the trees and plants. Buck Wheat is now 31" high, and flowering in only 4 weeks. The BW weed suppression has been amazing and we are now topping it off in place for mulch.. Guy Trombley's Compost Tea was added two weeks ago, beefing up the stems, fruits and ground cover germination. Run-off from the hill has been significantly reduced and all plant guilds are flourishing. Dan The focus of the water into the hillside has been fascinating. Even though we have had moderate rains and no spillway action as yet, the infiltration is visible and almost predictable. After two days the water is still seeping out the bottom berm into the annual garden area. (Next year’s garden) The clay apron of sub soil has worked to retain the water and accelerate the establishment of the trees and plants. Buck Wheat is now 31″ high, and flowering in only 4 weeks. The BW weed suppression has been amazing and we are now topping it off in place for mulch.. Guy Trombley’s Compost Tea was added two weeks ago, beefing up the stems, fruits and ground cover germination. Run-off from the hill has been significantly reduced and all plant guilds are flourishing.

Dan

]]> By: Permaculture Research Institute of Australia » First big rain at SouthWoods http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/#comment-2034 Permaculture Research Institute of Australia » First big rain at SouthWoods Tue, 25 Jul 2006 02:27:35 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=156#comment-2034 [...] Following up on Testing the Dam in SouthWoods in Minnesota, here’s a series of pics showing how the new swales handled a decent storm. To start with, we had to wait almost 4 weeks for it. No spillway action yet, but the swales filled well. The top swale stole most of the rain run-off but storms are forming again. [...] [...] Following up on Testing the Dam in SouthWoods in Minnesota, here’s a series of pics showing how the new swales handled a decent storm. To start with, we had to wait almost 4 weeks for it. No spillway action yet, but the swales filled well. The top swale stole most of the rain run-off but storms are forming again. [...]

]]> By: Niels http://permaculture.org.au/2006/06/27/testing-the-dam/#comment-1653 Niels Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:31:01 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=156#comment-1653 Hi, Could similar energy harvesting goals (water is one example) be realised without the use numbers of workers or machinery? Contour planting/hedging, vetiver etc. Is there an issue with tree establishment without swaling? Hi Niels you will get some effects from contour planting/hedging off vetiver and similar species or large diverse hedge rows EXACTLY on contour. These will accumulated organic matter and soils and silts moving down hill and in tern slow water which will infiltrate. Although earth worked swales will harvest more water and recover the landscape into stability and production faster. Cheers Geoff Hi,

Could similar energy harvesting goals (water is one example) be realised without the use numbers of workers or machinery?
Contour planting/hedging, vetiver etc.
Is there an issue with tree establishment without swaling?

Hi Niels
you will get some effects from contour planting/hedging off vetiver and similar species or large diverse hedge rows EXACTLY on contour. These will accumulated organic matter and soils and silts moving down hill and in tern slow water which will infiltrate. Although earth worked swales will harvest more water and recover the landscape into stability and production faster.

Cheers Geoff

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