User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 8:23:29 PM EDT
The city of Hastings said "Yes" to installing a food forest on city property.
I floated the idea of planting a food forest on one of the cities empty meadows that gets almost 0 use. The people I talked to in planning, and the city maintenance department LOVE the idea, and are running with it. They asked me to put together a proposal for the city council meeting scheduled today. At the meeting the city council voted "YES" unanimously. 
I have ZERO experience in designing a permaculture food forest. (they said just take a satellite picture and draw a bunch of xxxxx on it to symbolize trees, and we can work out the detailed planning after official permission is granted) Is there anyone in the Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kzoo, Battle Creek area that would like to use the city lot as their PDC Design submission? Or if anyone is in the area, I can show you the space and if you want to help, you are welcome to give input on the project. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 8:23:46 PM EDT
[#1]
Right now I have the city maintenance department willing to mow a few walking paths through the area. There is a park nearby, so they are right there anyway.
The space is by Bliss Niagra Clearing in Hastings, MI about 50 feet in from the Thornapple river. As it stands right now, if I don't get anyone to help, I will be cramming as much info into my brain and planting a bunch of stuff and hoping it survives. (I'm hoping someone in the area wants PDC design credit) If not, there are some landscapers that work for the city that are excited to help, and they will know placement better than I will. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 8:25:20 PM EDT
[#2]
Here is what I tossed together to drop off at the city. They approved the project just off this rough sketch.
The circled tree names are not individual trees, but stands of trees. The space is a little over an acre. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 8:52:14 PM EDT
[#3]
Talk to the Ag department at the local university or Ag Extension dept to make sure all of that stuff can grow there, and with the same water/soil requirements. It's easy to give one plant enough water/sun and it kills something else.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county/info/barry http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county/barry/barry_county_4_h |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 9:37:17 PM EDT
[#4]
I don't think comfrey is a nitrogen fixer. White clover would be nice (not sure how it does in shade, but if it is feasible) for the fact it is low growing, fixes N, and is very soft so would make for a good park-like environment. I passed a link on to this thread for somebody who has been studying permaculture but doesn't have property. Not sure if he has does any designs though, and really don't think something like this should be somebody's first design. If it doesn't go well, or a bunch of stuff dies, or whatever, it could give the whole notion a bad name. I'm not saying planting some food items in an otherwise poorly used area is a bad idea, just that if not done well it could give the movement a bad rap (and even if it is a good design, some oversight should be done to make sure it is executed well to avoid otherwise good ideas getting a bad rap from poor executioners).
Great job getting this approved! I am quite interested to hear about any progress, particularly 3-5 years later. Any irrigation available? That could be a big deal, don't want half your stuff dying come summer (a fall planting helps in that regards, October-ish is when I've been planting on my property with no irrigation). |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 10:37:58 PM EDT
[#5]
This is a great project, and I wish you luck!
I'll be following it, but to learn without much to add. I did read in Swire's restoration thread about black walnut trees excreting some substance that leeches through the ground and ruins the soil, so that may be a concern to research. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/22/2017 11:58:18 PM EDT
[#6]
What kind of Apple trees are you going to plant?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 5:42:08 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What kind of Apple trees are you going to plant? Probably will be the cheap/free kind. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 5:48:35 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don't think comfrey is a nitrogen fixer. Any irrigation available? That could be a big deal, don't want half your stuff dying come summer (a fall planting helps in that regards, October-ish is when I've been planting on my property with no irrigation). I may have to add some swales to hold moisture, but some of the guys at the city may know better. The area is in a lower area close to a river, and I think it has water directed at it from the adjacent higher areas. I'll add a couple hugelkultur beds from some dead trees in the area that I will have buried. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 5:55:08 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Talk to the Ag department at the local university or Ag Extension dept to make sure all of that stuff can grow there, and with the same water/soil requirements. It's easy to give one plant enough water/sun and it kills something else. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county/info/barry http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county/barry/barry_county_4_h I originally floated it by the Barry County Conservation District. Thur are into permaculture stuff, and they are the ones that originally told me who to talk to at the city. I'll get as many experts as I can involved. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 6:02:40 AM EDT
[#10]
See if the city guys can recycle/shred any (non-oak) tree clippings or grass from here or elsewhere into mulch for your forest.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 7:44:02 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
See if the city guys can recycle/shred any (non-oak) tree clippings or grass from here or elsewhere into mulch for your forest.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 9:50:55 AM EDT
[#12]
Pay this guy: http://www.thesurvivalgardener.com/about/consulting/
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 9:53:35 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Pay this guy: http://www.thesurvivalgardener.com/about/consulting/ No thanks. I'm not paying anyone. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/23/2017 12:07:32 PM EDT
[#14]
I wish I were closer. I would love to be involved with that.
You will need to irrigate probably, the first two years, so I suggest you put that on the table, along with eveyrthing else. After that, if everything goes in together, you won't need to as much. First year is most important. There are probably ways the city could help with that. Getting you free water access, etc. Seems like everybody is on board, and putting out that you need to irrigate a couple of times per week in dry seasons should net you some ideas. I think with a project like this, planning for this contingency is likely to net you a higher success rate than putting them out and letting them live or die. Success with this one could spark willingness to install more such useful, but nontraditional, plots. Good on you for undertaking this. Nice to see someone take the reins with an idea and have others jump on board. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/2/2017 7:44:03 PM EDT
[#15]
Called in to The Survival Podcast and Jack weighed in on what I want to do
Clickety Clickety Fast forward to 1:18:40 |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/8/2017 4:16:53 PM EDT
[#16]
I was really hoping you would get more support from MGO members on this. You'd think posting it locally would have helped. Wish I was on the west side because this sounds like a neat project. Sadly, you're about 3-4 hours from me.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/8/2017 4:38:03 PM EDT
[#17]
@chosos sent me over here. I'm about 30 minutes from you. This sounds like an awesome idea. I'll read up on this later when I have some more time and see what I can do.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/8/2017 5:00:34 PM EDT
[#18]
I made a Facebook page for it.
Still need to get some people together to work out who is in charge of what. Hastings Food Forest |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/8/2017 5:36:07 PM EDT
[#19]
Neat. I grew up in Kzoo.
Good luck OP! |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/8/2017 6:12:22 PM EDT
[#20]
Very interesting
Not sure how this all works but personal experience has shown me that raspberries will expand and choke out other stuff and if allowed to get too big you wind up with a big nasty briar patch that will only be harvested by the birds (who will then shit purple poo all over your stuff) |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/9/2017 4:06:45 PM EDT
[#21]
A friend of mine works in the Ag department at MSU & they might be able to help with this. Is that something you would be interested in?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 11:26:44 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A friend of mine works in the Ag department at MSU & they might be able to help with this. Is that something you would be interested in? If anyone is interested, they are welcome!! I set up an email account for the project also. [email protected] |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 12:31:52 PM EDT
[#23]
I wish I lived closer or I'd help out
I'm in hudsonville |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 7:41:03 PM EDT
[#24]
OP I just saw your diagram.
Are the Juglans nigra (black walnut) already existing? If you're open to more nut trees, I would suggest some Shagbark Hickory (Carya Ovata) to go along with those. Perhaps on another area of the perimeter? It looks like you are around zone 5...is that right? If so, you can also grow some varieties of mulberry. As I reviewed the diagram, what I see is that it seems to be shorter on the larger trees That's not a criticism in ANY way. I just happen to love nut trees, and I know that the Shagbark Hickory, like the Black Walnut, is an excellent long-term choice for food source and is native to your area. I did not grow up with mulberries, but have recently learned to appreciate them. I also think Quince might be a good addition, and it's stunning in the spring. I notice that you have sweet potato included. If you're going with a few herbaceous plants, I would honestly not be one bit afraid to put out a few patches of asparagus. ETA: Oh OH!!! Persimmon. Definitely persimmon. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 7:45:30 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Awesome idea One thing you might want to do is plant a buffer zone of paw paws under/around the black walnut trees. The pawpaws are juglone tolerant. The juglone in the hickory is not NEARLY as bad, but even so....that could be another area where you plant a few pawpaws as a buffer. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/11/2017 8:36:47 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
OP I just saw your diagram. Are the Juglans nigra (black walnut) already existing? If you're open to more nut trees, I would suggest some Shagbark Hickory (Carya Ovata) to go along with those. Perhaps on another area of the perimeter? It looks like you are around zone 5...is that right? If so, you can also grow some varieties of mulberry. As I reviewed the diagram, what I see is that it seems to be shorter on the larger trees That's not a criticism in ANY way. I just happen to love nut trees, and I know that the Shagbark Hickory, like the Black Walnut, is an excellent long-term choice for food source and is native to your area. I did not grow up with mulberries, but have recently learned to appreciate them. I also think Quince might be a good addition, and it's stunning in the spring. I notice that you have sweet potato included. If you're going with a few herbaceous plants, I would honestly not be one bit afraid to put out a few patches of asparagus. ETA: Oh OH!!! Persimmon. Definitely persimmon. I'm an Oregonian, so I'm still learning g what grows here in MI.
I'll plant anything that grows!! I think my biggest challenge will be deer. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/11/2017 9:51:36 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Ya I'd like to get more nut trees. The Black Walnut might be a little too disruptive to the system. I like the hickory idea though. I'm an Oregonian, so I'm still learning g what grows here in MI.
I'll plant anything that grows!! I think my biggest challenge will be deer. Black walnuts are really prolific trees, and the nuts are very expensive in stores. It would be worthwhile to figure out a placement that works. One question...does this area flood regularly at all? |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/12/2017 6:41:17 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don't think the black walnut will be a problem, especially if you plant it "downhill"--near the bottom of the direction water drains, and buffer it with pawpaws. Black walnuts are really prolific trees, and the nuts are very expensive in stores. It would be worthwhile to figure out a placement that works. One question...does this area flood regularly at all? I was thinking of huelkultur mounding the downhill side. I'll need som e more people to look at it on site. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/12/2017 6:42:13 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I wish I lived closer or I'd help out I'm in hudsonville 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/13/2017 12:51:59 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Not regularly, but it has flooded in the past. I was thinking of huelkultur mounding the downhill side. I'll need som e more people to look at it on site. Either way, I think with an understanding of the plants, you can make it all fit in. If I had an elevation drawing, and knew how often the river floods, and how far from it we were, I might could offer suggestions for placement that would include all your desired plantings. However, Local resources would be a far, FAR better option. If you can find those, use them. If not, bump me and I will do my best to help. 
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
