Zj Frank

Thanks! Already put in a request for library.

And actually I have a couple questions, specifically about water use (not sure if this is the right forum for it): The site I'm looking at is in the city, but does not have direct access to city water- is this a problem when trying to establish plants? How is it done without supplemental irrigation/how is it done in places without municipal water source (city boy here)? I've read about water saving techniques, but not sure how that applies when planting out vegetation. Second, I'm a little confused about building swales and berms- a lot of things say to to build on contour to the slope and then use an A-frame to find...what exactly? To keep the berm (after digging out the swale) level with the uphill side? So the swale won't overflow? Just having some trouble with the concept.

Sorry about the confusion- no I don't own the site yet, but it is available and gets full sun(!) all day while sloping to the south. There is also a creek bed that runs along the bottom. It is dry now but according to the owner it generally is full in the spring. I'm still working out how exactly I would utilize this property, so the business plan that's in progress is a little on the vague side, and I'm definitely going to be working on it! I'm toying with a nonprofit, but I have no experience in it, and think it would be a little risky considering I'm just starting with permaculture as well. Thanks everyone for the advice! It's definitely clarified a few things.

I'm thinking about buying a smallish urban lot (about an acre and a quarter or so), and have tons of ideas on how to use the space commercially while following permaculture principals. My question is, what would be the first thing I need to start with? Build swales? Do soil tests? Plant fruit trees? I'm pretty low on capital but would like to get moving on it as soon as possible, and am working out a business plan. Any other suggestions?

I recently read Sepp Holzer's Guide to Permaculture (loved it!) and was struck with his hugelkultur u-pick berry plan/diagram. Does anyone have any idea if a U-pick berry farm using hugelkultur beds would actually be a profitable endeavor? Or is there anyone out there that knows someone who uses the beds for profit? I'd love to use his methods and can't get the U-pick idea out of my head, but I'm not sure if I could make a profit off of it (which I'd like to do).