Grant Creek permaculture project genesis thread

I have been interested in permaculture for a few years now and it is finally time for me to break ground. Step 1 is swales so that tress can start growing and I can get some shade! Power is available at the west boundary but my plan is to have everything off grid using solar panels and water batteries in the form of ponds, one at the top(E) and one at the bottom(W) connected by and underground pipe. All comments, unsolicited advice, and dad jokes are appreciated.

Swales are the perfect thing for a tropical climate.  For missoula, I think a lot of ponds, terraces and hugelkultur would make you happier.  Swales in a cold climate makes a lot of frost pockets.

Paul might be right about that. I did swale lines on my property but I haven't lived on it yet to watch how it works. I plan to do keyline rips on contour, crimping and/or rotational grazing.

Thank you for the suggestions, I will do more flat type of terraces. Similar to the old logging roads that are overrun with vegetation now.

Are there particular types of trees you plan on utilizing? Food/Fodder/Fun?

You have a great canvas, I'd love to hear more about your plans.

The fruit tree plan is apples and a variety of apricot that grows wild all over mineral county. There's ponderosa, Doug fir, and rocky mountain juniper growing wild already so I'm just going to let those go crazy for now. Right now the choke cherries are out of control but I will leave them for the birds at the moment.  

I want to move the driveway north onto the south facing slope, that will be the largest earth moving project.

Trees are very good.

I would harvest the conifers as the years pass (conifers don't play well with others).  And for every tree you add, think diversity.  No more than 10% of your trees should be one species.

Moving the road to the south slope will help melt snow and reclaim valuable gentle sloped part of the land. The picture shows the upper pond.