posted August 15, 2012 02:00 AM            

Trees(Upper Story):
Mulberry
Mango
Ice-Cream Bean
Jack Fruit
Guava
White Fig

Vines(Vertical Story:
Passion Fruit
3 types of Grapes
Snail Vine
Jasmine
Red Morning Glory
Several verities of the following:
Beans
Squash
Melon
Eggplant
Cucumber

Bushes(Under Story):
Blackberry
Tomatillo
Several types of peppers
Several types of herbs like:
Basil
Cumin
Fennel
and different spices used in Indian curries

Ground Cover:
Sweet Alyssum
Thyme
Edible Wildflowers
Several verities of lettuce
Nasturtium

Roots/Ground Cover cont'd (Sub-Surface Story):
Several verities of carrot
Beets
Radishes
Onion
Sweet potato

posted August 18, 2012 10:48 AM            

We'd like to do something like that where we live, too.
Do you have any recommendations for resources?

posted August 18, 2012 01:33 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Randall:
How much did all that cost?

---

posted August 18, 2012 02:24 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by mockingbird:
That's really cool, Xiiro!

We'd like to do something like that where we live, too.
Do you have any recommendations for resources?

---

It depends on where you are located and what you plan to do. I would check out food forestry and permaculture principals. It is a phenomenal way to farm and so insanely easy (while remaining the most sustainable way to grow food).

Here are some youtube videos with good information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG_vRG66wkA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESyCbN7Psps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o2kVOyE5Ww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hftgWcD-1Nw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBShBeC1f-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY2_17NTd7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF6-xh34ovA

What I did:

I was afraid to mention it to my parents, because they have their own mono-crop style garden and my suggestion was certainly different from what they were familiar with. So I asked for the most useless and uneven piece of land on their property. LOL

The rectangular piece of land was just toasted clay dirt, and spots of nasty bentgrass. The rectangle was also uneven and split down its length by a 3 food incline.

The first thing I did was acquire free cardboard and I laid it down over the whole of the area.

Then I ransacked my parent's wood pile and laid piles of logs and sticks on all the low and settling points of the land. Eventually the logs will decompose into water sponges. When water is less available, the logs will act as a water storage).

Then my parent's friend had given them a pile of horse manure, so I laid a layer of manure over the cardboard.

Next I went to my neighbor's houses and asked for their garden clippings like mowed lawn scraps, tree trimmings, etc.. I laid a layer of plant compost over the manure

Next I got a bale of straw for $5 from a feed and grain store and spread of layer of straw.

I then added another layer of manure

and another bale of straw layer.

At this point the soil was intensely nitrogenous, so I went to the store and bought a bag of DYI bean stew. I mixed the beans with some kidney and chickpeas I already had, and sewed beans through the entire area.

Next I planted my upper canopy trees.

I then laid down stepping stones so I could avoid compacting the soil as much as possible.

After each bean plant began to flower, I cut the stem at the soil line (leaving the roots) and composted the plant. This leaves pockets of nitrogen and root pathways in the soil after the roots die.

Though I had created rich and beautiful soil by the time the bean plants were harvested, I decided to add soil to the garden. It was against my original plan, but I had been lazy and the bentgrass had trickled in from the sides of the garden. By the time I was ready to plant, there were areas completely enmeshed in grass root. Instead of dig up the garden, I added a layer of organic soil to choke it out.

I then walked through the garden sewing seed randomly and in any direction. This will also choke out the grass with useful herbs, veg, and ground cover plants.

Finally I put a bale of straw through a wood chipper and spread a layer of straw mulch over the recently planted seeds.

I weed maybe 5 shoots of grass a day, but it is getting more controlled as the garden grows. Right now the ground is covered in baby sprouts, it looks like moss hehe. I also feed the garden compost tea which I brew from the compost bin I built for my parents.

Most of my ideas came from watching youtube viedos. =)

posted August 20, 2012 10:43 AM            

We're in the DC/Metro area, so will definitely have to modify our planting choices ( ), but are currently looking at (1) planting as many native and near-native edibles as possible (Paw-Paws, etc) (2) planting and maintaining around 10 fruit trees as organically as possible and (3) securing a dedicated area for food growth with a goal of transitioning a good portion of it to permaculture (or at least seasonal companionate planting) as possible.

I say "secure" because the deer are a scourge in our area. No one can grow anything pretty or edible unless it / their property is blocked off. They even demolish "deer resistant" plants. Our main food growth area will have to have a solid deer fence around it.

We have about an 80x200 ft lightly fenced area that will be fortified this fall. As soon as that's done, I'm going to move some tayberry, blackberry, and raspberry bushes that've been planted...and thoroughly picked over by the deer.

The soil there's already lovely, worm-rich stuff. We also have several compost piles (leaves, clippings, chicken litter, and pre-composted scraps) going for use as needed.

posted August 20, 2012 02:13 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by mockingbird:
Nice!
I'll check those links out. It may take some time (3 kiddos), but they seem great.

We're in the DC/Metro area, so will definitely have to modify our planting choices ( ), but are currently looking at (1) planting as many native and near-native edibles as possible (Paw-Paws, etc) (2) planting and maintaining around 10 fruit trees as organically as possible and (3) securing a dedicated area for food growth with a goal of transitioning a good portion of it to permaculture (or at least seasonal companionate planting) as possible.

I say "secure" because the deer are a scourge in our area. No one can grow anything pretty or edible unless it / their property is blocked off. They even demolish "deer resistant" plants. Our main food growth area will have to have a solid deer fence around it.

We have about an 80x200 ft lightly fenced area that will be fortified this fall. As soon as that's done, I'm going to move some tayberry, blackberry, and raspberry bushes that've been planted...and thoroughly picked over by the deer.

The soil there's already lovely, worm-rich stuff. We also have several compost piles (leaves, clippings, chicken litter, and pre-composted scraps) going for use as needed.

I'm going to revisit your post / this thread for ideas and inspiration as we chug along

---

Fortunately I don't have a problem with deer in San Diego, but my parents do have peacocks and chickens who gobble up flowers and tender baby sprouting plants (I learned the hard way).

I just planted a bunch of fast growing decoy plants around the perimeter of the forest. The chickens and Peacocks munch the crap out of the snail vine and fuchsia I planted along the fence, and they have left the other plants (which they could easily access by flying in) alone.

I also planted plants like marigold and daffodil throughout the forest and it has worked wonders in keeping the critters out.

posted August 25, 2017 07:24 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by juniperb:
I saw a miniture terraced garden this week and it reminded me of this thread.

---