Nicole Burkette Ikebata

I think it is a very interesting idea.  As a potential consumer, my first first questions would be about logistics.  I don't even know if I have space to grow enough flax to end up with fabric for one shirt.  As a suburbanite, I think space would be the limiting factor for me.  But I really love the concept.  I would be interested in steps further down the line in the process

This is such a great project!  And seeing you take on such a large experiment makes me feel more brave about a little backyard pond.  Except for that water spider.  That thing may squash all of my courage!

What a wonderful list!  Thank you.  I hadn't heard of the Experimental Farm Network before and it looks like a great place to get a lot of what I hope to grow.

I will just be prepping the site this fall.  I hope to smother out grass and some other wild and wiley things, then check contours and dig a swale if I'm brave enough.  I definitely have some decision paralysis, but getting the bigger trees removed this Wednesday will force me to do something!  

I'm very excited to spend the winter planning and ordering plants and seeds.  Thank you for the resources!

Okay, I see!  Yes, I think that is what the basin is for.  I've never seen it with standing water but the neighbors say that years ago this area used to flood.  The good thing is that I can direct my overflow right to it.  And thank you for the tip about the downspouts.  I think that would make this experiment less risky

Thank you!

By collection basin, do you mean the sump pump?  That is pumping ground water out further from the property anytime water in the basin reaches a certain depth.  In terms of storm water, I had planned to direct my rain water from the downspouts directly into a conveyance trench that emptied into a swale.  My goal with the swales is to slow run off and keep the water in the ground.  Should I collect it in a basin first?  I could use a couple of rain barrels.  I'd like to invest in something bigger, but I'm nervous about spending a lot of money on a big container now in case I completely fail at this food forest

Nate, this looks great!  So inspiring and congrats on a very successful first growing season.  I'm having someone come to remove a bunch of buckthorn and honeysuckle next week so that I can start my food forest in Roseville.  Where did you get your bare root trees?  I'm planning to work on the soil this fall and have trees ordered for the Spring.  I've seen good things mentioned about companies that aren't in our chilly 4b zone, and I'm worried that trees from other regions will be shocked by our winters.  Did you buy them locally?

Hi Anne,
The sump pump keeps water out of the basement, but just spills out further in the yard (down slope).  It turns on infrequently, mostly during large rain events.  

With the swales, I was hoping to trap runoff to feed trees and other edibles.  And it seems like I can store a lot more water in the ground than in rain barrels.  I guess I'm concerned about where the water table is so I should maybe just dig some holes and check if water seeps in, or absorbs

I moved to Minnesota two years ago, and tasted mulberries for the first time.  Love that it is a volunteer tree in the new yard and my young kids can grab the big droopy branches to pull the berries close enough to pick.  THey make a delightful mess that is a new sign of summer for me

Hello everyone!  This is my first post.  I've been reading all about permaculture this summer and planning to clear the back yard in the next few weeks and prep with compost and wood chips for spring planting.  But I'm still very undecided about how to manage water on my property.  I'm on a 1/3 acre suburban lot.  There is a sump pump in the basement, so I know the water table is fairly high.  The property slopes gently away from the house except the west side that is fairly flat.  

The backyard is to the north and there is a water collection basin behind my neighbors house.  Between the sump pump and the collection basin, I'm a little nervous about encouraging water to stay on the property with swales.  Any recommendations for water management?  Or would small swales be okay as long as the over flow is directed towards the catchment basin?

Thank you for your help!  I'm in the Minneapolis area if that makes any difference