"Cherry Valley" EkoFarm - 1 hectare Food Forest

Discussion in 'Members' Systems' started by Lee Real, Apr 10, 2014.

  1. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Read a lot, saw a lot, and thought a lot. I figured: why wait?
    I moved permanently from the city to the countryside and start my first big project.
    One hectare, one man - could there be a better way to learn?

    I'm starting!

    PS. Counting on Your good advice [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    First plans:



    [​IMG]
     
  2. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Zone 6
    Country: Poland
    Region: Subcarpathia

    Area indicated on the plan for now looks like this:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  3. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
    What are the existing trees on the property? Annual rainfall and when do you get it? Soil type? What is your aim for the property? (Grow for the market or for yourself only?)
     
  4. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    What are the existing trees on the property?

    Old walnut and cherry.
    At the bottom of the plot I leave them, but at the top I have to cut it. A neighbor planted the poplar forest too close to my fance and all the trees (on the top) are dying. Fortunately for my project he will cut of a 6 meters wide strip (to let the sun). From the top of the area I have planted a strip of firs, as the windshield.

    Annual rainfall and when do you get it?
    Annually about 508 mm of precipitation.
    [​IMG]

    Soil type?
    Mainly clay

    What is your aim for the property? (Grow for the market or for yourself only?)
    For now, I'm doing it for myself, because I believe that you should create edible forests wherever you can! Excess can give away or sell, do not know yet. I think it will fit here about 100 fruit trees?

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Nursery reactivation!

    All shrubs and helping plants will grow from seeds.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    _______________________________________________________________________

    Can someone tell me if this is comfrey?
    It grows near my pond ...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  5. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Yes that's comfrey. In reply to your other question - you only have a short time period (10 mins I think) to edit your post. Other than that just make a new post and add to the information.

    I have 1750 sq m in suburbia and I have about 50 fruit trees, chickens and vege patches. You'll EASILY get 100 fruit trees in there with support species. Not speaking Polish - I'm interpreting the colours to mean that you get your rain in summer. Is that right? Will you be able to pump water from your dam in the drier times?
     
  6. mischief

    mischief Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2009
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    s/e
    Location:
    South Waikato New ZeLeand
    Climate:
    Cool mountain
    Hi lee,
    Sounds exciting. Yep you're gonna learn heaps.
    I'm looking forward to reading all about it!!
     
  7. CraigMackintosh

    CraigMackintosh *****

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2008
    Messages:
    333
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Just to confirm for you, the time limit is 20 minutes.
     
  8. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0

    The last two years in the summer were so dry that even a pond dry. But I think that this is an anomaly and that everything will return to normal.

    I plan to dig up (with the excavator, next spring), system of swales. The terrain is slightly sloping as shown in the pictures. In addition, clay holds water well. I hope not watered at all, except maby for the first years?

    [​IMG]

    The table shows the average monthly temperature and precipitation. But in extreme conditions in winter-20C, +35C in summer. Fortunately, most of the time we have a temperate climate, and everything is beautifully green.
     
  9. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Thanks for the translation. The weather in Australia has started to be less predictable as well. THe usually reliable December rain (our summer) arrived in March this year. Living on the driest continent makes you very aware of the importance of water on site.
     
  10. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Yesterday I planted mushrooms :)

    I hope I did it correctly.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
  12. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I planted mushrooms method shown by Sepp Holzer. But thanks for the page, I found a lot of interesting information.

    __________________________________________________________

    Update:

    Current ground cover:

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    And my soil (mostly clay):

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Soil can be improved. Therefore, I sow white clover and lupine. I'm trying to grow a mullein.
    I bought today the seeds of forage turnips.
     
  13. Lee Real

    Lee Real Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2014
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Update

    Currently, the garden looks like this. I cut already part of the old trees. Branches nicely arranged await the arrival of shredding machine. The grass grew, soon I'll be mowing.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Mirrabooka

    Mirrabooka Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2010
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    18
    The clay looks very damp, is there a drainage issue?
    If so, think about Hugelculture as an option, we have found it really makes a difference for what would be an otherwise waterlogged food forest.
     

Share This Page

-->