posted 10 years ago
I bought and watched the Permaculture Orchard film and I am wondering about grazing 2 sheep in my half acre that would also be orchard. Will the fruit trees produce without too many pest problems (I could use traps and such) if I don't have the guilds and have grass growing around them? I think in the Back to Eden film, he has bark around his fruit trees, but no plants. I could keep the grass a foot or so away from them using mulch. I just don't see having guilds with sheep. Maybe when the trees are much older and stouter and then you could just wrap the bark with hardcloth, but not when they are young.
Just wondering if guilds are absolutely necessary in large rings around the trees or if the orchard would do okay without them and have sheep and chickens grazing?
Thanks,
Martha