My wife and I finally decided we are going to grow heirloom apples for various reasons. So, I know the typical apple guild of / can be mints, comfrey, currants, artichoke, fennel; there is more (most likely) but I have been thinking of more local berries / or a local guild to attract more local insect predators, etc. In my research of the following plants: Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) Crab Apple (Malus Fusca) Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) Indian Plum (Oemlaria cerasiformis) Salal (Gaultheria shallon) Thimbleberry (Rubus Parviflorus) Black Huckleberry (Vaccium membranaceum) I have been drawing a guild design based on those plants to go inbetween every other apple guild on the property. However I started thinking about this article, and at that point I started trying to research online the ecology of that area where the original apples came from. I want to increase the population and awareness of the other flavors of the local foods, but I can't help but think that on some level it would be important to make a guild based on local ecology of the original apples. I am not going so far as to say I want to replicate that part of Russia here in the U.S. What I am saying is I think it is important to mimic it, but I can't do it without knowledge. Anyone have that knowledge or an opinion on this endeavor?
Hi well done, it sounds like something that does need doing. We are in danger of losing so many food types, Apples is good. Dont forget to include Foxglove in your companion planting and chives. Foxglove is supposed to help them through root secretions to improve vitality, not sure about the chives. I think stinging nettles are supposed to be good for them too but I cant remember why, not that you would probably want them tho, nasty things.
Have you seen these? https://www.nfs.unl.edu/documents/specialtyforest/shepard.pdf https://www.labocacenter.org/Projects/PermacultureDesign/Learning/OrchardSystems/AppleGuilds.aspx https://www.scribd.com/doc/38483043/An-Apple-Centered-Guild-An-Excerpt-from-Gaia-s-Garden https://www.homeorchardsociety.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4072&start=0 https://bugs.scribble.com/newfiles/builds.html
Foxglove? Really? I most likely never would of included that. Awesome and thank you very much. Chives.. grass suppression. I like! Nettles, most likely the same thing, but the apples fall down into them, keeping the deer away maybe? Oddly, I actually do want Stinging Nettle for a few reasons. Biodiversity, and it being an important crop for the indigenous people here.
Oh my!!! You would give me homework for the day!!! :rofl: Thank you! :handshake: With regards to: https://www.labocacenter.org/Projects/PermacultureDesign/Learning/OrchardSystems/AppleGuilds.aspx That's my whole idea from that book. I was thinking like this. Apple Guild 1 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 2 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 3 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 1 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 2 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 3 - Tree Legume Tree Legume - Apple Guild 2 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 3 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 1 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 2 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 3 - Tree Legume - Apple Guild 1 and repeat. Guild 1 - Like PDC book Guild 2 - More local native oriented Guild 3 - More Original Apple forest oriented
Oh yeah, with the occasional other type of fruit or nut tree. And I am planning Hazelnuts on the ends as a fedge, with possible truffle inoculation.
Hazelnuts with truffle inoculation is pretty much a monopoly in the US which was disappointing. Some of the apple tree areas look great, others not so much because a great amount of grass is still prevalent. The one tree where it isn't prevalent is being top worked next month and having scions grafted to it. When it stops raining I will take some photos, which will include my deadwood swales.
Oh yeah I did learn one important thing. Stake your plants and trees so you know what is there! I can't find 4 flowering dogwood trees I planted a month ago.
Any wild onions, and even plain onions and garlic are well used space-time and for ants repellents. Do not forget the early bulb flowers like violet, lilies, crocus etc..
I want to increase the population and awareness of the other flavors of the local foods, but I can't help but think that on some level it would be important to make a guild based on local ecology of the original apples. I am not going so far as to say I want to replicate that part of Russia here in the U.S. What I am saying is I think it is important to mimic it.
I did want to do it the way it was in Russia, but I couldn't find enough information about what else is growing there and I cannot afford the trip to view it first hand. So, I am researching my local area and am finding specimens of Salal, more currants, Elderberry bushes a plenty & other things. It is slow going but I am turning a families old orchard into a food forest that mimics the local area better and I think it is working. Over the last 3 years I could only track 1 family of quail entering and exiting the property for example. This year I have spotted wild turkeys, large hens.. maybe 3 years old as well as 2 families of quail. Chimpmunks have moved back into the area, a brown ferret has been noticed as well.
