Troy McCoy

Typically full dwarf trees require permanent support because they aren't strong enough to hold their own fruits. They are commonly used for large scale systems to make harvesting faster. Semi-dwarf is generally recommended for backyard applications and are usually 15-20 ft tall.

Have you thought about creating "raised beds" to handle the moisture? They would have to be large, but could be a really neat feature in your design.

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermculture.org

The Designer's Manual is a good starting place to get some ideas of how to start thinking about your space. To get into more specific techniques I would recommend finding resources specific to your climatic situation and specific site characteristics.

For example, I am in Pittsburgh, PA and find that Gaia's Garden (Hemenway) and Edible Forest Gardens (Jacke) are good references for our area. And there are more obscure things like Terrestrial & Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania.

If you are looking for philosophy, Holmgren is a good way to go, if you are looking for techniques often you need to find them specific to your area. Also general gardening books can be very useful if the application of the ideas is in the context of permaculture and not just a disjointed set of "projects."

Hope this helps.
-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org

Hey Weeza!  One quick question, where do you live?

Getting back to the rock piles...

There is a concept known as an air well that was researched for a while back in the day.  Check out the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_well_(condenser) . There are also dew condensers that can create larger volumes of water thanks to an increased amount of surface area (this is also why wooded areas have more stable climates, the trees release moisture, buffering temps but also the leaves have a large cumulative surface area for dew).

In general, from what I have read, the air wells didn't produce "enough" for towns to make use of, but the concept (thermal mass / surface area / air flow /condensation) is still a powerful example of how elements within our designs can help to create beneficial microclimates.

I had mentioned on an earlier thread about the function of rocks as energy syphons and expanded that to a blog on my website: http://pittsburghpermaculture.org/general-thoughts/ideas/rocks-in-the-garden

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org

Horizon Herbs offers Bocking 14 roots for a good price. They have a few different quantities, but here is a link for 20 live roots (could probably be divided even further, knowing comfrey's ambitious nature):
http://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=1606

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org

Hey everybody! This is my first day as part of the forums, though I have been visiting for a while and I am happy to share ideas with everyone here.

I was wondering if we could have a discussion around whether natural jute, aspen, or coconut erosion control blankets would be useful for a weed barrier/carbon source for large sheet mulch sites.  I am not sure what the weave density is or how thick these are, so they may not be very good at stopping persistent weeds, this is where I am looking for someone who may have tried this before.

Here are a couple links:
http://www.benmeadows.com/search/erosion+control+blankets/31222535/
http://www.benmeadows.com/search/erosion+control+blankets/31222529/111401/?isredirect=true

(and by the way, Ben Meadows is a great resource if your looking for professional outdoor gear!)

Though it costs money, it seems like these may be useful on large sites to minimize driving around to find enough cardboard, limit the breaks in the weed barrier, and may look nicer on sites that require a more finished look from the beginning.

Let me know what you think!

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org

I think Josh is right on with his explanation.

I am exploring the use of large rocks strategically spread throughout the garden to aide in the thawing process in spring. What Josh was explaining is very much the characteristic of rocks/concrete in the warm parts of the year.

Something that I find interesting and that I have been looking at in rock outcroppings and also cemeteries is how the vertical face of a rock, if facing south (northern hemisphere), induces melt faster by providing a dark energy absorbent mass. Once the white of the snow is gone the ground warms much more rapidly than it would have in a flat garden space.

One thing I haven't quite figured out but thought about plenty (and Holzer videos may hint at) is that if it is a large rock and much of it is buried (picture an iceberg, with the majority of the mass underwater) will it act as a geothermal syphon and buffer the temperatures of the earth below and the weather above. So essentially, not only would we be getting energy from the sun and storage from the rock, but we would also be pulling energy up in the cold and pushing it down in the warm parts of the year with the rock acting as a conduit.

Additionally, rocks and gravel are the primary source of minerals in the soil and break down as your plants need them.

I am sure this is more than Ludi wanted, but I am curious to hear other people's thoughts about what I have been wondering about for a while now.

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org

Saturday-Sunday Workshop:

Principles and Practices of Regenerative Design

With Dave Jacke and up-and-coming permaculture teachers from around the region.

9 AM – 4:30 PM, Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st

Phipps Garden Center, 1059 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh, PA  (Please note, this location is different from the public lecture, which is located at Eddy Theatre on Chatham University’s Shadyside Campus, Pittsburgh, PA.)

http://pittsburghpermaculture.org/events/healthy-land-healthy-water-healthy-community-regenerating-pittsburgh-from-the-ground-up for more info on this event.

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org

Saturday-Sunday Workshop:

Principles and Practices of Regenerative Design

With Dave Jacke and up-and-coming permaculture teachers from around the region.

9 AM – 4:30 PM, Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st

Phipps Garden Center, 1059 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh, PA  (Please note, this location is different from the public lecture, which is located at Eddy Theatre on Chatham University’s Shadyside Campus, Pittsburgh, PA.)

http://pittsburghpermaculture.org/events/healthy-land-healthy-water-healthy-community-regenerating-pittsburgh-from-the-ground-up for more info on this event.

-Troy
http://pittsburghpermaculture.org