Jean Silverthorn

OK, thank you. This adds another dimension to my project.

I'm in the early stages of building permaculture beds on some city lots I purchased. Today I encountered a ground hog that lives on this property. He or she has a burrow with at least two entrances. I'm such a novice at this that I'm not sure if it is good or bad to have a ground hog living in my garden. I would really appreciate some guidance on this one.

I don't have pics of the knotweed. Will post as it grows. How does one work with it? No plans for livestock.

It seems like low hugelkuture raised beds and urbanite are the way to go for now to stop the cars. I take the point about creating areas that are a bit too private and a security risk.

Susan, look for a private message. Glad to find another Pittsburgher here.

Thanks for the replies.

I hadn't thought about hugelkulture beds as a means of defining boundaries and controlling traffic. I'll give it a try. Are there other suggestions for stopping the cars and creating edges?

Another problem is knotweed. I haven't found anything on the internet about using knotweed as a nurse plant. I'm guessing its too invasive for that. That's why I'm thinking of sheet mulching most of the land although I had also thought about seeding it with white clover. I just don't know if the clover can compete with the knotweed.

This is primarily a retirement project for me. I have to work one more year before I will be able to devote a lot of time to the garden. That's why I plan to do some basic things this year and then observe the property. Next year I'll have lots of time and energy to do larger scale projects. I have friends who will help and I plan to hire some strong young people to help from time to time.

I have purchased some abandoned lots from the city of Pittsburgh. It is a north facing slope. The property is in a neighborhood that has been called a food dessert. I plan to sheet mulch much of the property and observe it for a year. The long term goal is to create a food forest. I need advice on how to create edges on the property to stop people from driving their cars on this land. Note the tire tracks in the photo! I would rather not put up a fence and create a fortress atmosphere. I'd like to hedge it with straw bales and plants or something else that would help reclaim the land and define the boundaries. Thanks