Tree-licious.....been out on the landbase to check on the 2014 trees we planted this March/April.....Birches, Spruce and willows (I checked the willows and birches when they had leaves still throughout the year but thought wed lost every single spruce.....happy to say I was very wrong :-D ) Out of the over 100 Spruces (Xmas trees) that I planted myself strategically to the Northern and Eastern perimeters of the site, I lost only ten or so, mainly because some were too old to be transplanted (3 - 5 yr old) and Id planted them on uphill slopes of the landscaping, with the little ones below, getting better water after the transplant....du-uh! HOWEVER, although the little ones a volunteer lanted to the extreme northern edge didnt make it apart from 20 or so, (due to planting too late followed by a dry May in full exposure to the sun)....the ones I planted strategically to the North of the Blackship for the grandkids DID :-D, they were just hiding for the Summer under a large number of nettles and couch grass. This means the grandkids are already secure for building materials in their time by taking only a third in 20 to 40 yrs time, leaving the rest to permanently bush out together and screen the family homesite to the North. :-D :-D The over 1000 birches that shall never be killed (using sustainable coppicing practices for all the familys future needs - ALL made it, as well as most willows and willow cuttings to be sustainably pollarded each winter for materials for basket weaving (first harvest already between now and March) :-D :-D Also tested a trial 10 or so Pines that all made it too......SO....Ill be going for another 2015 trees this coming March to May, timed with the suitable weather (and between planting out the annual veggie beds) and redo the main future Northern screen for the site....and then were onto focussing on an abundance of fruit trees and bushes each year after that. Even though for now the main 2.5 hectares looks overgrown and semi-rewilded - thats exactly what it should look like at this point (and I see already that the deer of the surrounding woodland agree :-) After this next planting, the future needs of a bigger tribe than just my family will be secured on-site.....shame that the old 1700s colonial buildings are turning to ruin and the ship developments have slowed down due to a need for ready cash.....but Ive reassessed the site, been forced to think commercially (yet still sustainably) and think I have a reformed plan, which in time can turn the situation of shelter and facilities around. The massive horse shit pile is still unfrozen Sandra, so it is still possible to start layering up those first commercial raised potato beds to the East and start catching up with ourselves, developing roadside commercial gardens for the local community next year and beyond. I reckon we have about 2 more weeks to get our asses moving. Right, going back out to plan an extremely optimistic East to West waterway / swale system for future water security and deer corridor across the site ;-) Got to keep on keeping on :-)
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:02:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015