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Geoff Lawton's "40 Years into a Cold Climate Food Forest!" now live

 
Posts: 2679
Location: Phoenix, AZ (9b)
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See the full version here. (you will have to sign in with your email address)

EXTRA BONUS: at about 7:08 in the full version, Geoff talks about extending the energy of wood fuel by using stick fuel in a RMH. Paul has made some great dvds on how to build RMHs - check them out!

Here is the short version of this lovely climax food forest example in a temperate zone:

 
Posts: 268
Location: Colo
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I thought it was a toilet seat.
 
author and steward
Posts: 52495
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
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I was wondering where he was, but Geoff says "a secret and private Massachusetts cold climate food forest."


 
Posts: 278
Location: S.E. Michigan - Zone 6a
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Yeah I was wondering also, maybe a fellow Permie?
 
pollinator
Posts: 4715
Location: Zones 2-4 Wyoming and 4-5 Colorado
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Thats the kind of place I am working towards in Wyoming. Glad to see him mention the fungi !
 
Posts: 18
Location: WNC Zone 6
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Thanks for sharing!
The Food forest suburb video on that site is awe inspiring.
 
Posts: 561
Location: Western WA,usda zone 6/7,80inches of rain,250feet elevation
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Great video!After 15yrs in my food forest,I continue to realise that-Increases in gross yield do not always transfer to increases in net yield.The kiwi might produce 1000lbs of fruit but if they are not easily reached it is of less use to humans.This is why conventional producers scoff at forest garden desighn.
 
Posts: 114
Location: Ontario Canada, Zone 5b
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Really amazing stuff. I like his encouraging words about living in cold climates and still creating these incredible systems. 5 stars!
 
pollinator
Posts: 3738
Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!
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Just be careful of the hardy kiwi!

I planted it by my garden fence and had to move it because it was too aggressive. I'm not sure how long it's been moved - 5 years? 10 years? but it's as big as the one in this vid.

The fruit is... ok like regular kiwi with edible skin but instead of a bright taste like a regular kiwi it's got something else - banana like maybe. I tried some this year & thought maybe the pigs or chickens might like it more than I do. I'm a little reluctant to move it to a new spot. It does need male/female plants.
 
Cj Sloane
pollinator
Posts: 3738
Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!
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Ackkkkkk!

Don't drink water like he did at 10:13. I don't care if it's a spring - look's like a spring/creek combo like I have. You still don't know - as clear as it looks there could be nasties in there.
 
Cj Sloane
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Posts: 3738
Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!
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I've never seen those plastic buckets. Around here they use taps and plastic lines that gravity feed into large (multi hundred gallon) type containers. If your just tapping a few trees, a clean empty milk jug will work.

I'd love to see a pocket rocket/ sap evaporator... sugaring season is coming right up!
 
Cj Sloane
pollinator
Posts: 3738
Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!
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And don't go touching random mushrooms!

Instead of enjoying a 40 year old forest, Geoff has flung me back 17 years - back to being a [mildly?] neurotic Jewish mother living in the forest with little kids. Sheesh!

I really wanted to see more of the walnut/apples/peaches. Were there 7 (planned) layers to this forest? Was there any earthworks done at the start? How much land was there? How much yield?

And hey, if you (little kid or Geoff Lawton) are going to go walk in the woods, at least take a dog with you. Please?
 
Posts: 1670
Location: Fennville MI
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CJ, remember Geoff is a professional. He isn't out in the woods alone. He is in a forest garden with a cameraman
 
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