The summer is in full swing here and we are fortunate enough to have one of those rare seasons so far when the rains come just at the right time to keep everything fresh and full of vigor. Here's what we've been up to the gardens this last week and a few observations from the forest gardens.
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The Perennial Polyculture Trial Garden - Ataraxia
This week we started the preparation for the next wave of planting in Ataraxia. For this section we are trying a different method of bed preparation.(for 5 methods of bed prepartion we tried last year see this blog post). We establish the tree row bed on contour and mow the bed pathway emptying the trimmings onto the adjacent bed area. We'll also deposit biomass from other areas of the gardens onto the tree row bed to build up organic matter. We then spot mulch the precise location of where the trees will be planted with straw bales and place 5 L of compost full of young composting worms - Eisenia fetida - and the cocoons of these worms under each bale. By spring time the planting sites should be weed free with a nice layer of compost on the surface and a fine top soil tilth produced by the worm activity. We'll then fork over the area, dig the tree hole, plant the trees and use the bales to mulch the tree. Here you can see the bales spaced 4m apart, the ideal spacing for Corylus spp. - Hazelnut that we intend to plant here.
I'm really pleased with how our new garden Ataraxia is coming along. There are fewer things better in life than taking an idea and literally watching it grow:)
The biomass trial plantings are going well . Left to right below you can see Alnus cordata - Italian Alder - Paulownia tomentosa - Foxglove Tree - Miscanthus x giganteus - Giant Miscanthus - Morus alba - White Mulberry
Here is the planting scheme for the trial beds. You can read more about this garden and our trials here .
If you appreciate the study we are carrying out and the work we do please consider making a contribution to the project. Funding from people that see the value in what we are doing makes it possible for us to develop our project, paying for experts to carry out aspects of study that we cannot, such as biodiversity studies and soil analysis and provides us with the opportunity to focus on our mission to develop and promote practices that provide nutritious affordable food while enhancing biodiversity. You'll find some of the rewards we offer our patrons here.
Forest Garden
The first fruits are forming on a young Akebia quinata - Chocolate Vine that I planted by an IBC container (1000L water tank) to cover the harsh plastic and metal. Grown from seed approx 6 years ago this plant has made an excellent job of covering the container but has a penchant to intermingle with Caragana arborescens - Siberian Pea Tree and Prunus insititia - Damson planted nearby.
Prunus spinosa - Sloe are packing fruit this year. I can't recall ever seeing so many fruits on these plants in the area. I'm guessing that it's the result of the hot and dry April we experienced this year.
One of the huge benefits of polyculture is that no matter what the weather decides to do in any given year something will thrive :)
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| Prunus spinosa - Sloe |
Here's a photo of the Prunus spinosa - Sloe blossom in the spring - early April
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| Prunus spinosa - Sloe |
This Alnus cordata - Italian Alder was grown from a seed that I collected from a street tree in my old neighbourhood in South London. This is the first year the tree has produced fruits (most people refer to these as cones). Italian Alder is tolerant of pollution, dry soils and poor site conditions, making it a useful tree for landscaping a wide range of sites. It can grow in poor soils, compacted areas and soils with a high pH. Its resistance to wind make it an ideal plant for screening and windbreaks and it can also be planted in coastal regions. As with other Alnus species, Alnus cordata has the ability to associate with Bacteria, namely Frankia spp. and fix nitrogen from the air.
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| Permaculture Plant - Alnus cordata - Italian Alder |
If you would like to grow these plants from seed, the best time to harvest the fruits is in October or November (before they open). Place the "cones" on plate on the windowsill for 3 - 4 weeks and when they open place them in a paper bag and shake them. There are 100's of seed in each "cone". Sow the seeds straight away into a tray on the windowsill or greenhouse and they should germinate by the spring.
Regenerative Landscape Design - Online Interactive Course
Want to learn how to design, build and manage regenerative landscapes? Join us for our Regenerative Landscape Design - Online Interactive Course from May 1st to Sep 13th, 2023.
We're super excited about running the course and look forward to providing you with the confidence, inspiration, and opportunity to design, build and manage regenerative landscapes, gardens, and farms that produce food and other resources for humans while enhancing biodiversity.
Regenerative Landscape Design Online Course
You can find out all about the course here and right now we have a 20% discount on the full enrollment fees. Just use the promo code RLD2023 in the section of the registration form to receive your discount.
We are looking forward to providing you with this unique online learning experience - as far as we know, the very first of its kind. If you are thinking of reasons why you should do this course and whether this course is suitable for you, take a look here where we lay it all out. Looking forward to it!
We're super excited about running the course and look forward to providing you with the confidence, inspiration, and opportunity to design, build and manage regenerative landscapes, gardens, and farms that produce food and other resources for humans while enhancing biodiversity.
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| Regenerative Landscape Design Online Course |
You can find out all about the course here and right now we have a 20% discount on the full enrollment fees. Just use the promo code RLD2023 in the section of the registration form to receive your discount.
We are looking forward to providing you with this unique online learning experience - as far as we know, the very first of its kind. If you are thinking of reasons why you should do this course and whether this course is suitable for you, take a look here where we lay it all out. Looking forward to it!
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Support Our Project
If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
- Make a purchase of plants or seeds from our Bionursery or Online Store
- Consider joining us for one of our Courses or Online Courses
- Comment, like, and share our content on social media.
- Donate directly via PayPal to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com or via FTX Pay
If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
- Make a purchase of plants or seeds from our Bionursery or Online Store
- Consider joining us for one of our Courses or Online Courses
- Comment, like, and share our content on social media.
- Donate directly via PayPal to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com or via FTX Pay
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