Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat
Joe Proto wrote:I have been out of town for a few days but want to keep the conversation going. Everyone's ideas and feedback have been great and have served to shape the direction of the idea of Lego-izing polyculture. There seems to be a few different directions that this post is moving towards.
One direction is for a simple infographic similar to the USDA "Plant Hardiness Zone" map.
Another solution suggested is the method that James Colbert put forth with creating a seed mix comprised of at least 3 different plants from each of the 4 categories listed below. The mixes would be tailored for dry, temperate and cold environments:
Biomass producers
Nitrogen fixers
Pest Management (Insect attracters/repelers)
Soil conditioners (looseners/nutrient minners)
And lastly a solution which is highly data driven and dependent on a extensive relational database to allow a user to input specifics about their plot and output a complete planting plan.
In my opinion all these possible solutions are equally valid and its great to see the creativity that everyone has put into this post. I think we should start small and branch out. Crawl, walk, run.
I really like the idea of combining James's 4 category method with a simple to use infographic and I will work towards this. I believe that I can create a map of the US shaded similar to the Plant Hardiness Zone map to denote dry, temperate and cold environments and then provide a list of appropriate seed mixes for that climate.
@James Colbert: James would you be willing to create the necessary prototype seed mixes for dry and cold climates? We already have the very detailed one you submitted for temperate climates.
As always please continue to post your great ideas and feedback as I think that collectively we can create something useful and wonderful.
Tim Southwell
www.abcacres.com
www.facebook.com/abcacres
Youtube: ABC acres
Tim Southwell wrote:Just an fyi, Cloud 9 farms in Montana has a custom made Polyculture seed mix with perennials, annuals, nitrogen fixers, cold hardy, natives, etc. I can send list if interested, but understand they will be posting to Permies in the next week. I plan to use the mix to modify my pastures which have monoculture hay grass for decades.
Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat
Tim Southwell
www.abcacres.com
www.facebook.com/abcacres
Youtube: ABC acres
Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat
Permaculture is more than cool... it is essential to the survival of a species on the brink. It is a step back to the point where we forgot about our connections to this world and those we share it with.
Permaculture is more than cool... it is essential to the survival of a species on the brink. It is a step back to the point where we forgot about our connections to this world and those we share it with.
Permaculture is more than cool... it is essential to the survival of a species on the brink. It is a step back to the point where we forgot about our connections to this world and those we share it with.
My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.
Permaculture is more than cool... it is essential to the survival of a species on the brink. It is a step back to the point where we forgot about our connections to this world and those we share it with.
My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.
Permaculture is more than cool... it is essential to the survival of a species on the brink. It is a step back to the point where we forgot about our connections to this world and those we share it with.
Paul Cereghino- Ecosystem Guild
Maritime Temperate Coniferous Rainforest - Mild Wet Winter, Dry Summer
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein
Paul Cereghino- Ecosystem Guild
Maritime Temperate Coniferous Rainforest - Mild Wet Winter, Dry Summer
Practical Plants is a collaboratively edited database of over 7000 plants with information on edible, medicinal and material uses, polycultures, interactions and more, and we need your help making it even better!
Written from Xardín do Cernunnos, a little valley permaculture homestead in the beautiful hills of Galicia.
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein
James Colbert wrote:As promised, a general seed mix intended to work in most climates:
Acacia
Alder
Black Locust
Borage
Buckwheat
Burdock
Chamomile
Chard
Comfrey
Daikon
Dandelion
Fava Bean
Hairy Vetch
Helianthus Tuberosus (sunchoke)
Lamb's Quarter
Landino White Clover
Lavender
Lupine
Mullein
Mustard
Pea (Pisum Arvtiuse)
Siberian Pea Shrub
Stinging Nettle
Sunflower
Sweet Clover
Turnip
Yarrow
This is intended to be a living mix, so species should be added or subtracted based on conditions. This is just a basic template that should produce good results in most places.
When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven't - Edison. Tiny ad:
Free Seed Starting ebook!
https://permies.com/t/274152/Orta-Guide-Seed-Starting-Free
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