Making the most of Full Shade

We're thrilled to finally have found our homestead. However it has a lot of more forested areas and full shade than we had planned on. I'd be grateful for some ideas of how you all make the most of your full shaded areas.

One spot in particular; flat, most, and with some sedge is near the duck house. I'm wondering if it's a good spot for a run for them, or if they'll get too cold always living in the full shade? We have a very mild climate, rarely dropping below freezing..

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum!

I cant answer your question about ducks because I have never had them.

It seems to me if the run is too cold for the ducks they would stay inside the house.

Have you measured the temperature in the area where you are thinking of making the run to see if that is too cold for them.

A lot of folks remove some limbs on the trees to offer more sunlight is this possible for you?

If you want to plant something that is pretty, edible and loves shade that would be hostas:

https://permies.com/t/74610/perennial-vegetables/Favorite-Hosta-varieties

The duck might really like them too.

You could consider growing shade-tolerant plants like certain varieties of lettuce or spinach that can surely thrive without direct sunlight.

I wanna bump this topic because I was about to make a thread just like it. Maybe some more people will have ideas or input if they see it now.

In the interest of maximizing the use of your space, what do you do with the side of your house that gets the most/full shade, or other areas of your land that get full shade?

I'm currently thinking about finding plants that will grow well in the strip of shade along that side of my house, but also curious about what other uses it might have, other things people do in spots that don't necessarily grow well. Storage or other productive projects.

The sad truth is, it is the sun that ripens fruits and vegetables. It is very difficult to use shade for growing food. The Hostas Anne mentionad are a great exception to the rule; but salad greens aren't exactly a staple that keeps you fed.
You might be able to grow green feed to animals, though.

It looks like Hostas will be the way I go. I was just looking at a bunch of different varieties and found several that are visually appealing. Their food potential is secondary to me; I'm just happy I can find something pretty to grow there! May have to wait til next Spring though.

J Lovejoy wrote:
I'm currently thinking about finding plants that will grow well in the strip of shade along that side of my house, but also curious about what other uses it might have, other things people do in spots that don't necessarily grow well. Storage or other productive projects.

Your spot sounds perfect from growing mushrooms. A few stacks of small logs inoculated with shiitake or oyster spawn will produce a lot of good food.

Jake Esselstyn wrote:
Your spot sounds perfect from growing mushrooms. A few stacks of small logs inoculated with shiitake or oyster spawn will produce a lot of good food.

Oh man, that's a great idea, and will probably be a lot of fun too. Thank you!

Some ideas: osmorhiza, wood nettle, ramps, fiddleheads (ostrich fern). Fiddleheads and ramps specifically I have seen in the northern shade of houses.

I don’t know that even in full shade it is fully shaded. As long as there is still indirect sun, plants can grow. You can also look to the weeds and see where they are growing in shade—there may be some already in similar habitats who would be perfect for the situation.

Hobblebush might like such full shade. They are one of my favorite fruits: like a soft plum without the sourness, about blueberry sized. Their natural habitat is ravines and most of the plants don’t fruit most years but if they catch enough sun to fruit then they do. And my guess is that is only a short few hours that they need. Part sun in a steep-ish ravine.

Partridgeberry grows and fruits under full shade. They like more acidic soils I think.

I’ve never heard of anyone eating ginseng berries but wondering…

Thank you for all the ideas, Maieshe! Hobblebush I'm definitely going to keep looking into. Your description + some quick research just now has me convinced I will probably want to grow it at some point.

Partridgeberry has me curious too. Some searching tells me some people aren't very impressed with the berries. Maybe could make a good jam with some experimenting?

Wood nettle is oddly appealing too, in a sort of funny ironic way. Just the humor of growing and tending to such a cranky, stinging plant, lol.

edit: this forager chef website is telling me you can eat wood nettle! huh. well I'm still leaning toward the berries anyway, lol

You are welcome! It might be worth looking into more similar native plants to your area as these are all from my knowledge in the East; they might grow better in your climate. Partridgeberry is good to nibble on and is mostly starchy with a little sweetness. I think the people who are unimpressed are likely to be expecting something sweeter.

Lots of lovely ideas.  I'll add giant solomon's seal.  Really lovely woodland creatures and you can cook the spring shoots as well as the tuber.  For more inspiration I'd also recommend thumbing through Sam Thayer's foraging books.  Oh so many choices!

Greg Martin wrote:Lots of lovely ideas.  I'll add giant solomon's seal.  Really lovely woodland creatures and you can cook the spring shoots as well as the tuber.  For more inspiration I'd also recommend thumbing through Sam Thayer's foraging books.  Oh so many choices!

Yeah, it's kind of funny, I revived this thread hoping I'd come away with at least one or two things that would work, and now I'm almost wishing I had more area of full-shade because I don't think I'll have enough space for everything named that I want to try! (including this Giant Solomon's Seal you mention) (looking at ramps now; a garlickly little onion? yeah add that to the list)

J Lovejoy wrote:It looks like Hostas will be the way I go.

got a 'patriot' hosta at a nursery today

I think my most expansive, best tasting hosta came from a garden club spring sale.  Those sales tend to have a lot of plants that spread quickly, thus needing to get divided and perfect to dig and share.  Those sales also tend to have great low prices.  That it was really good eating quality was a wonderful bonus.  Wish I knew its name.  

Anyhow, thought I'd mention this because spring garden club sales should be coming soon!