Ahh Mantid, my friend... don't forget one of my favorite Permaculture Principles:
"The Problem is the Solution"
The Green Wave of coastal vegetation can really be a challenge, but I find that it becomes much easier when I consciously work to "redirect natural momentum" rather than resist or try to stop a process that ultimately will prevail. The salmon and blackberries are only relatively brief stops on a much longer and complex ecological process. You mention leaving vegetation to "do it's thing". In this case, the berries are pioneering disturbed land, as Brenda points out. Another part of their "thing" is to build soil to allow the long term forest dwellers to get a foot hold. As you have probably noticed, when you clear an area of thick blackberry you find rich, dark, fertile soil underneath that thorny bramble. Our 99 year old neighbor Lester even calls it "Salmon Berry Soil" and uses it for all of his potted plants and builds up his vegetable garden with it. The same reasons that make these plants difficult for us to deal with (thorns, fast growing, etc...) make for great micro habitat for rodents, insects, birds, etc... which all add to the diversity and health of the soil. I try to think about my long term plans for our property when picking my battles with the "pioneers". Sometimes, if I know that I want the area to eventually be food forest, I basically leave the early pioneers to "do their thing" and just do some spot brush cutting to allow mid stage pioneers like Alder get above the brush. If I'm planting non-native species in an area, I protect them from being overwhelmed by using a brush blade (either motorized or hand) and piling the carnage to compost. I've even begun to use the cut brush to build my own version of chinampas. If my goal is to clear and establish something other than a food forest, I use these steps:
1) Cut brush as close to the ground as possible and into the smallest pieces I can (sometimes I borrow a ridiculously heavy duty brush cutter with a solid 3 blade cutter)
2) Pile the cut brush with a pitch fork
3) Wait for new shoots to emerge and reveal the main root balls
4) Using a mattock, I take a few swings around the edges, then bury the digging blade directly under the main root ball. I use the mattock to pry up the main root ball and add them to my next burn pile.
5) Mulch the area with at least two layers of thick cardboard covered with Alder chips
6) Plant a Guild
By this time, I'm exhausted, dirty, bleeding, and have brush bits imbedded in any part of me that isn't covered with Carhartt armor.
But, I'm reminded once again that: The Problem is the Solution
I realize that I have no need for a gym membership.
Piece by piece, I "steer" the natural process and obtain a yield. In the meantime, I leave the pioneers to build soil.
Nathan
