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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the straw badge in Foraging.

For this BB you will guerilla plant 500 woody perennial food seeds or cuttings (not seed bombs)!

Guerrilla Gardening with Rob Avis:


To complete this BB, the minimum requirement is:
      o Guerilla plant 500 woody perennial food seeds or cuttings (not seed bombs)
      o at least twelve different species
      o at least 10 seeds or cuttings of each species
      o not planted on your land
      o possible species might include:
          o apple
          o pear
          o apricot
          o cherry
          o peach
          o plum
          o grape
          o mulberry
          o nuts
          o blueberries
          o serviceberry
          o aronia

To document your completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or video (< 2mins):
 - At least 12 different species of woody perennial food seeds/cuttings
 - At least 500 seeds/cuttings in total
 - Action shot of planting/sticking at least one seed/cutting of each species
COMMENTS:
 
Mike Haasl
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Posts: 15505
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
4846
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Approved submission
Took me two events to get this one done since I misunderstood the word "woody".    

For the berries I broadcast planted them.  I did take photos of planting the pears and apples since I figured they'd walk away on four hooves if I didn't put them underground.  On a related note, I broadcast the acorns since if a squirrel find them, they'll plant them for me.  If they don't, they'll still sprout at ground level (based on my experience).

I planted the following
First spot:
Aronia - woody perennial


Second spot:
Highbush Cranberry
Winterberry

Red oak


Third spot:

Apple

Pear


The rest were planted at Wheaton Labs this summer and included:
Apricots
Black walnuts
Cherry
Dutch walunt
Hazelnut
Peach

I didn't tell anyone there where I planted them and Paul agreed that by doing that it was still guerilla planting
6-types-of-woody-perennials.jpg
6 types of woody perennials
6 types of woody perennials
Figured-I-d-throw-in-more-cherry-just-to-be-sure-I-hit-the-500.jpg
Figured I'd throw in more cherry just to be sure I hit the 500
Figured I'd throw in more cherry just to be sure I hit the 500
Apricot.jpg
Apricot
Apricot
Black-walnut.jpg
Black walnut
Black walnut
Cherry.jpg
Cherry
Cherry
Dutch-walnut-(barely-fit-down-the-tube).jpg
Dutch walnut (barely fit down the tube)
Dutch walnut (barely fit down the tube)
Hazelnut.jpg
Hazelnut
Hazelnut
Peach.jpg
Peach
Peach
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
Julie Harris
Posts: 167
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Can someone explain to a newbie what guerilla planting is?  From the video, this would not seem to be legal (maybe the laws are different in Canada?).  Am I misunderstanding this?
 
Mike Haasl
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Guerilla planting, as I understand it, is planting stuff on land you don't own.  It may or may not be legal in your area so follow the laws in your area.  In my case above, I planted in the roadside right-of-way and I was planting species that most people around here would find useful or at least inoffensive.  Except the nettles so I put them in a rarely traveled spot.
 
Julie Harris
Posts: 167
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kk.  That makes a lot better sense.  An easement, a lot that's been vacant for a decade, etc.  Was surprised to see the video of planting in a public park.  If I planted a tree in a public park here, that would net me a hefty fine PLUS I'd have to pay for union labor to have five guys come and sloooooowly rip it out and replant grass ;-).
 
Douglas Alpenstock
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Posts: 4991
Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b
1352
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Respectfully, I have deep ethical concerns about planting stinging nettle on land you do not own. Can we come up with something less problematic?

Unlike the other species suggested, stinging nettle spreads almost exponentially in some locations, lacking natural controls, and the seeds persist for years. In large patches, it effectively denies access. Once it's there, it's effectively there forever.

If someone wishes to plant it on their own land, and keep it from becoming invasive, that is their business. But on public land, or someone else's land? Personally, I feel that crosses the line into "not nice."

My 2 cents.
 
Malek Beitinjan
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Posts: 261
Location: SF Bay, California Zone 10b
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Approved submission
This took me a while, but I've successfully planted way more than 500 of 12 different species. Getting all the different species was the hard part! Here's a list:

Pink Flowering Currant
Saskatoon Serviceberry
Black Chokecherry
Live Oak
Oregon Oak
Pluot
Apricot
Elderberry cuttings
White Sage
Purple Flowering Sage (has edible seeds)
Golden Currant
California Nutmeg

To determine where I should guerrilla plant, I used the GIS map provided by the city of San Francisco that shows who owns each particular plot of land. This allowed me to target unincorporated and publicly owned land to plant on. I also used the US Geological Surveys map tool to pull historical aerial images of the areas I was planting at. I used these images to figure out which places were being neglected - a large portion of this land gets maintained by utility and transportation companies, so I like to plant in the areas they're not cutting back.

Here's a video showing my plantings, and pictures of all the seeds.



cali-nutmeg.jpg
California Nutmeg
California Nutmeg
elder-cuttings.jpg
Cuttings of elderberry
Cuttings of elderberry
live-oak-acorns.jpg
Live oak acorns
Live oak acorns
oregon-oak-acorns.jpg
Oregon Oak acorns
Oregon Oak acorns
pink-flowering-currant.jpg
Pink flowering currant
Pink flowering currant
pluots-and-apricots.jpg
Pluots and apricots
Pluots and apricots
riparian_berries.jpg
Saskatoon Serviceberries, Black Chokecherries, Golden Currants
Saskatoon Serviceberries, Black Chokecherries, Golden Currants
sage.jpg
Purple Flowering Sage and White Sage
Purple Flowering Sage and White Sage
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
Rebekah Harmon
Apprentice Rocket Scientist
Posts: 853
Location: 4a, high mountain dessert
410
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Submission flagged incomplete
I feel like the Man Who Planted Trees today. I planted over 1,000 tree seeds. The 12 varieties I chose are:
Top Row:
Maple, autumn berry, apricot, black walnut
Middle row:
Linden, siberian elm, choke cherry, crabapple,
Bottom row:
Juniper, plum, hawthorn, Pear (the last ended up getting spilled by my kids, and I substituted leftover black locust seeds

I planted these close to a lake near me. I am excited to see which varieties come up and survive the winters here with total neglect. Currently, only the "invasive" Chinese elm and autumn olive species are present. I sure would love to see the diversity improve near my fav. Fishing spot.
20240929_142011.jpg
The seed collection
The seed collection
20240929_212948.jpg
Substituted black locust seeds
Substituted black locust seeds
20241002_113943.jpg
Elm samara being planted
Elm samara being planted
20241002_114119.jpg
Autumn berry
Autumn berry
20241002_113809.jpg
Juniper cones
Juniper cones
20241002_113726.jpg
Plum pit
Plum pit
20241002_113612.jpg
Hawthorne berry
Hawthorne berry
20241002_113531.jpg
Choke cherry pit
Choke cherry pit
20241002_113454.jpg
Maple samara
Maple samara
20241002_113403.jpg
Apricot pit
Apricot pit
20241002_113255.jpg
Linden seeds
Linden seeds
20241002_113159.jpg
Crabapple apple
Crabapple apple
20241002_113043.jpg
Black walnut
Black walnut
20241002_110824.jpg
Black locust
Black locust
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone flagged this submission as an edge case.
BBV price: 0
Note: Some photos look like similar things to your BB for growing woody perennials.  The concern is that some of those look to be growing in a yard while this BB needs them to be planted not on your land.  Can you please comment about where these BBs were completed?

Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone flagged this submission as not complete.
BBV price: 3
Note: Rejected after way too much staff discussion.  Some confusion, some edgeyness, several non-food plants

 
Rebekah Harmon
Apprentice Rocket Scientist
Posts: 853
Location: 4a, high mountain dessert
410
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In response to my previous bb post, these two different bbs in question were completed in three different properties. I own two of them, and the third is a wildlife management area near a lake, as stated. I included a map, showing that all three areas are within 5 miles of eachother. What makes the 500 woody perennials post look like it's in my yard? The grass? Here is a video from another bb, showing the lakeside trail along which I planted most of the seeds. It's grassy this time of year.
https://youtu.be/jGK6Tf1oACw?si=l9rQEKOKqd9MwMoP

I also took multiple pictures at each step, so I've posted some of them to clarify. Please let me know if that doesn't fully satisfy your quandries.
Screenshot_20241004_114655_Maps.jpg
Map, showing where the trees were all planted. 500 woody perennials were planted at the lake, the 150 perennials from seed were planted at my house and in the middle property in the north edge of my town
Map, showing where the trees were all planted. 500 woody perennials were planted at the lake, the 150 perennials from seed were planted at my house and in the middle property in the north edge of my town
20240604_202221.jpg
See how this walnut tree is planted next to my fence? In my yard? Where it's supposed to be
See how this walnut tree is planted next to my fence? In my yard? Where it's supposed to be
20241004_103030.jpg
Planting black walnut here next to drip pipe in my yard. The seeds in the background were the ones which didn't sprout
Planting black walnut here next to drip pipe in my yard. The seeds in the background were the ones which didn't sprout
20241002_110313.jpg
Once again, black locust planted by my irrigation, versus the pics in the 500 woody perennials post, with just grass behind it
Once again, black locust planted by my irrigation, versus the pics in the 500 woody perennials post, with just grass behind it
Staff note (Paul Fookes) :

Thank you Rebekah for your rebuttal.
The BB requirements are:
To document your completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or video (< 2mins):
- At least 12 different species of woody perennial food seeds/cuttings
- At least 500 seeds/cuttings in total
- Action shot of planting/sticking at least one seed/cutting of each species

Black locust is not a species listed in your seed list that I can see.
The map and vidoe are really good.
The BB is specific, however, that a cutting or seed from each species is to be shown in an action shot, being planted.
Being shown in your glove is not an action shot. It needs to be on its way into the ground or you covering the seed with it still visible.
I believe that your action shot: 20241002_113943.jpg elm samara being planted is the only shot which fits the criteria.
Malek's video above is a great example IMHO.
I would not have been as kind as the original certifier.  I would have marked you submission as not yet complete.
Hope this feedback helps, but I do love the effort you put into making a difference.

 
Rebekah Harmon
Apprentice Rocket Scientist
Posts: 853
Location: 4a, high mountain dessert
410
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Hey staff team. You're right, I did get edgy about this submission.  I know you all can appreciate the feelings that come with a rejected bb. I lost my temper, and for that I apologize to Paul Fookes in permies, as well as to the Permie community. I wish I had waited to post til I had cooled down.
Perhaps I have been giving too much of my life to this program and I need a break from bbs for awhile.

I am surprised, however, to see that you consider these species as nonfood. I'd like to share why I chose them all. I forage them ALL for myself, using them as medicine and food:
MAPLE: for sap. Maple syrup can be made from any maple tree.
AUTUMN BERRY: my favorite berry. My kids love it mixed into fruit leather. Robin Greenfield also eats them: https://youtu.be/Xdx4QG9QCwA?si=kNWyzFLwe6-Vd4lg
APRICOT: normal food
BLACK WALNUT: normal food. I prefer these to blonde walnuts ever since Dez gave me some.
LINDEN: the flowers are edible and used medicinally to improve circulation. They smell amazing and are my favorite tea.
SIBERIAN ELM: all elm trees can be used medicinally. The inner bark is made into gruel in Dr. Christipher's healing herb programs. The samaras are eaten when they are green. Here's how I do it: https://youtu.be/JbmStZwBL8Y?si=owgyrvmulFFPOrW0
CHOKE CHERRY: eaten fresh or turned into jelly, choke cherries are awesome. Just gotta wait til they're all the way ripe. Sam Thayer makes fruit leather out of them.
CRABAPPLE: I use them just like apples: sauce, cider and vinegar.
JUNIPER: used medicinally for bladder/kidney issues. Also mildly helpful for blood sugar balance. I use the berries in the kitchen in game marinades.
PLUM: normal food
HAWTHORN: these are eaten, too. I can buy them at Natural Grocers. Not just as a helpful herb for heart support, they also make wonderful truffles, like Dina Falconi does: https://youtu.be/i6whq3aTv4M?si=jwGaoavVQBDAd95k (in this public video she uses rose hips, but in her private masterclass, she uses hawthorn as well)
BLACK LOCUST: Samuel Thayer, I would call America's foremost forager, calls black locust flowers his favorite wild food. I also LOVE them: https://youtu.be/cGitAmSA7sk?si=2B-7ATqtK1NBk_VI
 
Rebekah Harmon
Apprentice Rocket Scientist
Posts: 853
Location: 4a, high mountain dessert
410
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Approved submission
Trying this again. I collected about 50 of each of12 species:
1. Apple
2. Aronia (just 10 of those)
3. Cherry
4. Elder
5. Crabapple
6. Oak
7. Walnut
8. Grape
9. Highbush cranberry
10. Gogi
11. Apricot
12. Currants

I planted them along a fishing trail at Carey Lake:

Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.
Note: Nicely done!  Thanks for giving it another go

 
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