Search...
Home Subscribe
Pie
Home Subscribe
Recent topics Flagged topics Hot topics Best topics
Search...
Search within greening the desert Search permies
Advance search Google search
Register / Login
Green Living Book permaculture bootcamp sketch of boots SKIP=SKills to Inherit Property PEP Permaculture Experience According to Paul PDC ATC vids
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
Full online Permaculture Design course and Appropriate Technology Course video GMC website permaculture bootcamp sketch with tools solar dehydrator IC.org comm directory
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Andrés Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

Greening the desert... with beavers?

 
Brett Andrzejewski
gardener
Posts: 319
Location: Buffalo, NY
32
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hello desert dwellers,

I recently watched this Nature program on beavers. There is a section in the video (at about 20 minutes) where two ladies are describing a desert environment rehydrated by beavers. I believe they were in southern California. Has anyone else seen this, done this, know of any other examples?

Here is the video link:
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365243455/
 
Adam Klaus
author
Posts: 961
Location: Appalachian Rainforest of NC, 2200' elevation, 85" precip, Zn 7
79
3
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I saw a beautiful example of this out in Utah last month, at the Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch. In an arid environment, they have a badly degraded and eroded arroyo. Beavers have taken up residence in the arroyo, have built a complex series of dams, and the area is revegetating remarkably.

Beavers are the best water engineers on the planet.

Order copies of my book, Dairy Farming: The Beautiful Way at
www.createspace.com
Help spread the word! Thanks!
struggle - hustle - soul - desire

 
Jennifer Wadsworth
Posts: 2679
Location: Phoenix, AZ (9b)
204
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thanks Brett, for the video - will have to watch it after class.

Phoenix has been trying to increase its riparian areas for quite some time - and it is slowly succeeding. Now a few beavers have moved in and have taken down some cottonwoods and commenced dam-building. And the Riparian Council is all up in arms!

Adam - I took a look at Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch's web site but could not find a picture of the dam. Did you take any pictures you'd be willing to share here? I'd love to see it.

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

 
Adam Klaus
author
Posts: 961
Location: Appalachian Rainforest of NC, 2200' elevation, 85" precip, Zn 7
79
3
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Sorry Jennifer, no pics. I will try to take some next time I am out there, possibly in September.

Order copies of my book, Dairy Farming: The Beautiful Way at
www.createspace.com
Help spread the word! Thanks!
struggle - hustle - soul - desire

 
nancy sutton
pollinator
Posts: 939
Location: Federal Way, WA - Western Washington (Zone 8 - temperate maritime)
91
8
posted 11 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Jennifer, please ask the council to watch the PBS video before they say anything more about beaver tree felling.... it is amazing :)

It's time to get positive about negative thinking    -Art Donnelly

 
Michael Cox
pollinator
Posts: 3910
Location: Kent, UK - Zone 8
717
I like...
books composting toilet bee rocket stoves wood heat homestead
posted 11 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Can't access it in the uk. Got an alternative like for the video?

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Charles Tarnard
Posts: 337
Location: PDX Zone 8b 1/6th acre
16
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Maybe this one?

http://www.klru.org/episode/nature/leave-it-to-beavers/
 
Michael Cox
pollinator
Posts: 3910
Location: Kent, UK - Zone 8
717
I like...
books composting toilet bee rocket stoves wood heat homestead
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9_1FYtycL8

Found this one. Is this the right thing?

First few minutes looks great.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Charles Tarnard
Posts: 337
Location: PDX Zone 8b 1/6th acre
16
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
That's it.
 
Jennifer Wadsworth
Posts: 2679
Location: Phoenix, AZ (9b)
204
posted 11 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Adam Klaus wrote:Sorry Jennifer, no pics. I will try to take some next time I am out there, possibly in September.



Awesome! I think those of us in drylands would really benefit from a collection of pictures and videos of various techniques (nature-made and manmade) that work. That lodge looks amazing - have fun!

nancy Sutton wrote:Jennifer, please ask the council to watch the PBS video before they say anything more about beaver tree felling.... it is amazing



I definitely will!

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

 
Michael Cox
pollinator
Posts: 3910
Location: Kent, UK - Zone 8
717
I like...
books composting toilet bee rocket stoves wood heat homestead
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Great video Brett - thanks for sharing.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Andrew Parker
pollinator
Posts: 524
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah, hardiness zone 6b/7a
8
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Beavers are fairly prevalent here along the Jordan River. Trees chosen to survive are protected with chicken wire wrapped around the trunks. The beavers are allowed to thin the rest.
 
Topher Belknap
Posts: 205
Location: Midcoast Maine (zone 5b)
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Thanks for the video.

I can't help thinking of Geoff Lawton and his earthworks projects. He has a beaver deficiency. b

Energy Curmudgeon
Green Fret Consulting

 
Michael Cox
pollinator
Posts: 3910
Location: Kent, UK - Zone 8
717
I like...
books composting toilet bee rocket stoves wood heat homestead
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I was thinking that Australia could benefit from beavers. They don't have anything filling the same ecological niche and I'm sure that they could turn many seasonal streams into permanent ones. I've been on sheep stations with parched land all around and a trickle in the bottom of a creek.

There is the issue with non-native species of course, but often that argument can be a red herring.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Brett Andrzejewski
gardener
Posts: 319
Location: Buffalo, NY
32
posted 11 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Topher Belknap wrote:
Thanks for the video.

I can't help thinking of Geoff Lawton and his earthworks projects. He has a beaver deficiency. b



Too funny!
 
Meryt Helmer
Posts: 395
Location: west marin, bay area california. sandy loam, well drained, acidic soil and lots of shade
22
2
posted 11 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I just watched the video and it was so good! they are one of my most favorite creatures. I wonder if california had more of them if the drought would not be so serious here. my part of california is currently wet with rain so I am not being as affected by the drought but much of it is.
 
Dan Boone
gardener
Posts: 3545
Location: Central Oklahoma (zone 7a)
1271
I like...
forest garden trees woodworking
posted 9 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
None of the older links to the video would work for me so I found another one:

https://dai.ly/x3umwir

Pecan Media: food forestry and forest garden ebooks
Now available: The Native Persimmon (centennial edition)

 
Tyler Ludens
pollinator
Posts: 11855
Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8
1271
I like...
cat forest garden fish trees chicken fiber arts wood heat greening the desert
posted 9 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
If humans don't have the help of beavers, humans can do the work of the beaver (even if we're not as good at it):



This is what we're trying to do on our place.

Idle dreamer

 
Skool. Stay in. Smartness. Tiny ad:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
Boost this thread!
Similar Threads
More...