Plants for boggy places

Hey there,

I have a farm in central Massachusetts.  I have an area of about 1/2ac. that is just... it's boggy.  This particular area of my farm was created as a drainage/manure pond for the dairy cattle that have been gone from here for about 30 years.  It's a catchment of all of the runoff from the hill, but it does drain, otherwise I'd have a lovely pond.

So I know that I'm going to put some spicebush down there.  What else likes similar conditions?  Can be edible, medicinal, or 'industrial" (useful material for building, handcrafts, etc.).


Zone 5b/6a

Thanks heaps,

I don't have any suggestions though I found a couple of threads with some good ideas:

https://permies.com/t/156447/wetlands/Perma-bog-garden

https://permies.com/t/42643/wetlands/swamp-permaculture

I have no idea if it has any practical uses*, but horsetail likes boggy areas. It is really pretty, wish I had some growing in the soggy area of my yard near the fence...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum



*Edit to add: Apparently Wikipedia does refer to some practical uses.

The easy answers are cranberries, rice, and mushrooms.

There are a few viburnums for edibles used less often.

If horticultural\ornamental answers are allowed, might make an interesting bog or rain garden.  Willows or dog wood for cut stems.  Willows for coppicing.  Black gum trees, for honey, and as the internet is fond of saying, frequently used in preserves.  The internet is somewhat less forthcoming with exactly what kind of preserves, so consider the source.  Would the internet ever do you wrong?

Dane Geld wrote:The easy answers are cranberries, rice, and mushrooms.

There are a few viburnums for edibles used less often.

If horticultural\ornamental answers are allowed, might make an interesting bog or rain garden.  Willows or dog wood for cut stems.  Willows for coppicing.  Black gum trees, for honey, and as the internet is fond of saying, frequently used in preserves.  The internet is somewhat less forthcoming with exactly what kind of preserves, so consider the source.  Would the internet ever do you wrong?

I always forget rice can be grown here.  Ben Falk did some up on his place in Vermont, after all.  I had thought about cranberries.  They prefer sandy soil and ours (in that area) is a little clay-ey (thus why it holds water).  Bogs are flooded for harvest to make the fruit float up.  And then those wet harvested berries are only used for 'sauce' and juice.   Willow is a strong contender here as we have many uses for them.  I have a friend with lots of experience growing mushrooms and she could be a good resource in guiding me towards what varieties could suit the area. It's rather open and bright,

We have edible viburnums growing natively here on the farm.  Perhaps I can consider propagating more.

Thanks heaps!

I think Cypress grows as far north as Deleware and of course Willow is always good.

You could also bring some brambles into the picture for blackberries and rasberries...

Nissa Gadbois wrote:

Dane Geld wrote:The easy answers are cranberries, rice, and mushrooms.

There are a few viburnums for edibles used less often.

If horticultural\ornamental answers are allowed, might make an interesting bog or rain garden.  Willows or dog wood for cut stems.  Willows for coppicing.  Black gum trees, for honey, and as the internet is fond of saying, frequently used in preserves.  The internet is somewhat less forthcoming with exactly what kind of preserves, so consider the source.  Would the internet ever do you wrong?

I always forget rice can be grown here.  Ben Falk did some up on his place in Vermont, after all.  I had thought about cranberries.  They prefer sandy soil and ours (in that area) is a little clay-ey (thus why it holds water).  Bogs are flooded for harvest to make the fruit float up.  And then those wet harvested berries are only used for 'sauce' and juice.   Willow is a strong contender here as we have many uses for them.  I have a friend with lots of experience growing mushrooms and she could be a good resource in guiding me towards what varieties could suit the area. It's rather open and bright,

We have edible viburnums growing natively here on the farm.  Perhaps I can consider propagating more.

Thanks heaps!

I like the idea of rice!

Importantly, Cattails are my suggestion. The rhizomes produce more starch per acre than any other crop. If you were in a hot climate like mine I’d say taro.

Also crosne/Chinese artichokes are a hardy little tuber you could add to the list

Elderberries
Blueberries
Hawthorn
BlackBerry, especially Himalayan, if you dare
Schisandra!(5 flavor berry a medicinal vine, on edges of bog)
Native currants
Job’s Tears - a type of giant pearl Barley (pea sized)
Wild rice
Cattails

Waterbuffalo
Ducks
Geese
Catfish
Crawfish

If you’re going to make part of it a pond, definitely consider stocking it with appropriate delicious fish! Even fresh water eels.


Also consider Chinampas - great growing system for watery places.

Meadowsweet
Marshmallow
Valerian

I find some of the mints in my moist areas, also have horsetail in the swales of our tallgrass prairie. Horsetail is almost pure silica I believe, find a use for it. I have thought about this.

I found this video of a planted wetlands area. I'm not sure what climate zone they are in, but I get the impression it is fairly mild winters.



I like the idea of making little islands like mini chinampa - the squash climbing the tree is pretty nice. I suspect that many of the trees wouldn't work here, as they would need hotter summers, but I'm tempted to try Taro in my polytunnel....