doug Hatfield

My acres were farmed for about 150 years.  I purchased the land 5 years ago and have let the land grow up wild since.  Wildflowers and weeds, butterflies and praying mantis have taken over.  The challenge is to change it to permaculture and not be fighting native thistles and chives forever

brenda

great descriptions...

dirt-

I have a drive i need to put in that will require soil removal for stone and I am considering a retention pond on theproperty as well.  I have 5 acres but only want to plant and care for about 1-2 acres with fruit trees etc.  many nieghbors are digging ponds now.  dirt come easy for a while around here. 

Should moving and piling rocks for little plants to support the big plants be considered?  Can this be started on a sheltered descending slope ? 

Monica,

You ambition and ideas are wonderful to recreate the land for better and sustainable future.  Make sure you walk the land, experience all the seasons and notice the wind direction.  Camp there often to observe the wildlife, especially the little creatures.

i think all the advice given is good but you will need to experiment and fail also to create an efficient method of transformatio.

I wish you all the best

all,

I want change 1 hectre of flat farmland to a spiral raised garden.  I have thought for years that if I raised the soil 1.5 meters in the center and create a raised furrow spiral the descended towards the outer edge it would support fruit trees in the ditch part and vegetables in the raised part and would stall the harsh wind in all directions. 

any thoughts?