I'm looking at a property with about six acres cleared to nearly flat arable dry
land with a small stream running north to south through the middle of it for passive watering. It also has about four acres of pines at its margins. If we buy it, my long term plan will be a mixed herbal ley with deep rooting dry climate favorites like chickory, cocksfoot, and
perennial ryes to establish sheep pasture. Off grid-electric fencing ideally.
I'd also like to put in orchard
trees like apricot, almond, fig, mullberry,
apple, pomegranate, lemon...ideally they'll get a significant head start on the sheep. I'm trying to figure out the mojo on placement and which
should be guilded together or kept separate. My husband has an allergy to olive pollen so that's the only one to definitely leave out of the mix.
Can I please also have your opinons/research on which trees should get priority for placement closest to the stream? Like, is there a known hierarchy for which mediterranean climate crop trees need the best proximity to
water? My gut says apples and figs would be thirstiest (and apples might not really belong) but I think that the orchard would be apricot heavy since those are harvested in the months we're most likely to be able to be at the property if we get it. My twins are 9 and I'm imagining retiring/summering in/near one of the tiny towns with fewer than 100 residents once the kids are into higher education. If I start the trees soon that timing should work nicely :)