http://forums.permaculturenews.org/ Permaculture principles in action, encompassing plants, veggies, trees, composting etc. en Mon, 20 May 2013 02:48:11 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.permaculturenews.org/images/misc/rss.png http://forums.permaculturenews.org/ http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16590-Plants-that-grow-in-full-shade&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 00:46:00 GMT I need a list of edible plants that grow in full shade. The summers here can get very hot, I have set aside an area so I can make a 1000 square... I need a list of edible plants that grow in full shade.

The summers here can get very hot, I have set aside an area so I can make a 1000 square feet courtyard, and this courtyard will have at least 50 large leaf deciduous trees planted in and around it, I am going to have an Aquaponic system in this courtyard so the constant flow of water can help cool down the shaded courtyard even more.
I am doing all of this so I can have a nice cool place to sleep on those hot summer nights.
I am also going to make other larger courtyards that have plenty of sunlight to grow my food so don’t worry.

I would be a lot easer for me to just put a water fountain in the shaded courtyard but keeping with Permaculture why do it one way when you can do it a different way and also get food out of it.

So far the only plant I have on my list is Japanese wasabi, it thrives in 80% shade. ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants Nickolas http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16590-Plants-that-grow-in-full-shade http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16588-rough-barked-legume-tree!!!!&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 20:51:44 GMT found an interesting specimen in Sydney bark like angophora floribunda leaves like soybean any ideas:D found an interesting specimen in Sydney
bark like angophora floribunda
leaves like soybean
any ideas:D ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants andrew curr http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16588-rough-barked-legume-tree!!!! http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16584-Bamboo-planting-tips&goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 08:28:42 GMT Today I bought Bambusa textilis Gracilis and Bambusa multiplex Alphonse Karr. They are to fill an awkward spot on a steep east facing slope that separates my house and my neighbours. I wanted something that I could use a garden stakes and that would generate a good amount of mulch to keep the area weed free. Apparently the Alphone Karr shoots are also edible as a bit of a bonus.

They were quite expensive so I don't want to kill them! Any tips on how to prepare the planting hole and look after them over the next few weeks as they settle in? ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants eco4560 http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16584-Bamboo-planting-tips http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16573-camphor-laurel-trees&goto=newpost Wed, 08 May 2013 22:35:55 GMT g'day,
I'm new to permaculture but have been studying like mad since I discovered it a few months ago, I am about start designing my backyard (1000m2 urban block) into a permaculture garden and upon identifying the existing trees I discovered that the beautiful big tree right in the middle (camphor laurel) is actually a pest and is toxic and allelopathic according to some resources! I was going to use it as a nurse tree for a small food forest but now I am stuck! there are so many different clashing opinions if it is allelopathic or not, that it kills fish and birds? What should I do pull it out??? ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants shmack_1 http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16573-camphor-laurel-trees http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16572-need-help-with-solar-aspect&goto=newpost Wed, 08 May 2013 16:09:23 GMT hey there, i recently purchased a 1 acre property in austin texas, where the avg daily temp in winter is around (60f high and 38 low) and in the... hey there,

i recently purchased a 1 acre property in austin texas, where the avg daily temp in winter is around (60f high and 38 low) and in the summer (95-100 high- 75 low). my question is this... even though it gets baking hot in the summer, is the best solar aspect in the summer still south, or is it something more like southeast? i am trying to determine the best spots for my annual vegetable garden and cant seem to figure out if i want to protect it from the heat and risk giving my plants a little less sunlight, or if i should give them as much sun as possible at the cost of baking temps. the crops i am talking about are heat loving annuals anyway like okra, tomatoes, peppers, basil, corn, summer beans etc... so i figure i would be ok with a south or even southwest aspect?

then in the winter garden for my veggie crops, i obviously want a southwest aspect, correct? i figure i can just make a few large beds with southwest aspect and grow all my annual crops in that one veggie bed, even though in the summer it will be extra hot in the afternoon. i just dont know how things change in an extreme-ish climate like mine.

i appreciate your help, i need it. thank you everyone:) ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants alexizorbas http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16572-need-help-with-solar-aspect http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16561-Hot-compost-is-highly-alkaline.-Why&goto=newpost Sun, 05 May 2013 00:40:42 GMT I have just emptied my compost bin that had a hot compost made from grass cuttings, horse manure (pet horses fed on grass) and shredded paper, plus... I have just emptied my compost bin that had a hot compost made from grass cuttings, horse manure (pet horses fed on grass) and shredded paper, plus some garden/kitchen scraps. It went pretty well, reached about 52oC after each turning and was ready in 4 weeks. It is a bit damp but very usable except that it is registering as highly alkaline like 10. Does anyone know why this happened? And what I should do with it now? ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants Zengarden http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16561-Hot-compost-is-highly-alkaline.-Why http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16558-oaks-acorns&goto=newpost Sat, 04 May 2013 08:08:55 GMT Now is the time for all good Permies to send Andrew any special acorns that are lyeing around :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: Now is the time for all good Permies to send Andrew any special acorns that are lyeing around
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants andrew curr http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16558-oaks-acorns http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16557-Where-to-get-Duborskian-Rice&goto=newpost Fri, 03 May 2013 19:51:38 GMT Hello,

I've been searching for Duborskian Rice seeds but I can't find them in Europe.
I would love to have these seeds, I can pay you for them if you'd like!

I'm testing all kinds of grains in my garden, I have golden giant amaranth, kamut, perennial rye, but I cant find Duborskian Rice
If you have these you make this 14 year old kid really happy ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants Matis http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16557-Where-to-get-Duborskian-Rice http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16553-Bees-and-flowers-quot-talk-quot&goto=newpost Thu, 02 May 2013 20:07:11 GMT Amazing stuff. :clap: http://naturalsociety.com/bioelectromagnetics-bees-flowers-communicating-electrical-fields/ Amazing stuff. :clap:


http://naturalsociety.com/bioelectro...trical-fields/ ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants annette http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16553-Bees-and-flowers-quot-talk-quot http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16549-Edible-Forest-Gardening-Create-your-own-Garden-of-Eden&goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 04:43:48 GMT Is anyone interested in learning how to build an Edible ECOsystem that takes care of itself and can take care of you on going for life and... Is anyone interested in learning how to build an Edible ECOsystem that takes care of itself and can take care of you on going for life and beyond--and aid in healing the planet?

i run ForestGardening.net a teaching Database chock full of resources, articles, information, videos, youtubes, a Forum, and more, on just this subject to teach, connect and support Global community.
i have 2 books on the subject-- my Ebook is free; an Introduction to Forest Gardening; a step by step 10 day guide to learn the basics.

The Community FORUM is also available to help globally networking as well.You are cordially invited~~check it out and share your work/input/ideas/blogs/inspiration with us.

all the Best,
deborha d'Arms
www.ForestGardening.net ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants Deborha http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16549-Edible-Forest-Gardening-Create-your-own-Garden-of-Eden http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16522-Banana-Circles-for-Cold-Climates&goto=newpost Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:26:17 GMT Has anyone ever done one? I found a fruiting Banana that can survive frosts outside. Any suggestions out there? Has anyone ever done one? I found a fruiting Banana that can survive frosts outside. Any suggestions out there? ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants Pakanohida http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16522-Banana-Circles-for-Cold-Climates http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16521-Hugelkulture-our-first-effort!&goto=newpost Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:19:31 GMT We were planning on creating some hugelkulture beds this winter. But yesterday one hour from dark, SO informs me he is going to play on the tractor.... We were planning on creating some hugelkulture beds this winter. But yesterday one hour from dark, SO informs me he is going to play on the tractor. I know what this means because after his 5th prize at the local Giant Pumpkin competition last weekend he told me about a cunning plan for next year's competition. Of course he wants to grow his next Giant Pumpkin on a hugelkulture bed.
After a short while I went out to see he had dug a pit trench thing about 3 m long and about 1.5m deep and 2m across. He put a big pinus radiata log in that we had and then some hardwood logs and then some small branches cut from near the powerlines by AGL, then all our corn stalks that I had just dug up. On dark he put the hose in until the trench was full of water to try and get the pine log to soak up some initial moisture.
Apparently a big bucket of dried blood is going over it all and a sprinkle of some compost before we pile all the soil back in and over. Time will tell how that concoction works! ;) ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants mouseinthehouse http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16521-Hugelkulture-our-first-effort! http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16490-Raspberries&goto=newpost Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:58:07 GMT just picked my last punnet for the year ,began before xmess what should i do now? ( i have an urge to run over them with a slasher) do i mulch... just picked my last punnet for the year ,began before xmess
what should i do now? ( i have an urge to run over them with a slasher)
do i mulch ,weed companion plant (they are with tree onions and rampant loganberries under juvenile robinia pseaudoacacia below a swale):rofl::rofl:
when is best time to transplant??? ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants andrew curr http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16490-Raspberries http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16489-Potential-frosts-9-months-a-year-and-40C-heat!&goto=newpost Sun, 21 Apr 2013 05:57:40 GMT This battling with the vagaries of weather is so frustrating. We had the first frost for the year 2 days ago. The vegetable garden went from hero... This battling with the vagaries of weather is so frustrating. We had the first frost for the year 2 days ago. The vegetable garden went from hero to zero overnight. It looked like someone sprayed it with Agent Orange. :(

So that ended it for the squash, pumpkins, eggplant, chilli, zukes, tomatoes, pineapple sage and cucumbers. The young grapevines hadn't lost their leaves yet and are frizzled. The young 4 foot fig trees leaves are fried. The pepino is 2/3 stuffed. The little citrus trees in the back yard had their new growth shrivelled.

Lots of the vegies had only just got ramping up again after the horrid heat wave cooked everything in January. Not to mention beetle plagues. Talk about pull your hair out.

Our latest frost comes in December. Talk about a short growing season. Getting small trees established is VERY difficult. They either get frozen or die of heat and dry conditions.

Would building rock cairns in the garden and food forest help with the frost? What about car tyres around stuff like the pepino? Any ideas appreciated. ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants mouseinthehouse http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16489-Potential-frosts-9-months-a-year-and-40C-heat! http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16488-suggestions-for-shade-tolerant-ground-cover&goto=newpost Sat, 20 Apr 2013 09:57:33 GMT We recently planted 5 pineapple guavas (feijoa) along the north side of our house, which is one of the few areas on our property where they can find... We recently planted 5 pineapple guavas (feijoa) along the north side of our house, which is one of the few areas on our property where they can find some relief from the intense Florida sun. I'd like to plant some sort of perennial ground cover in that area, but it will need to be quite shade tolerant, if not shade loving, especially as the feijoas get bigger. Ideally, it would be edible, too, but that's not as important to me as being compatible with the feijoas. By compatible, I'm thinking not too competitive or allelopathic. A shade-loving nitrogen fixer would be ideal, if that exists. If not, any living mulch that would not adversely impact the feijoas would suffice. And if not a ground cover, perhaps some low plant that we could plant close enough together to cover most of the area beneath the trees, leaving keyholes to access the feijoa fruit. The soil is very sandy, but improved with large amounts of compost and leaf mulch. We are in USDA zone 9A. I thought about planting some native bracken fern, but I'm not sure if it would exhibit allelopathy, inhibiting the growth of the feijoa. Any suggestions? Any ideas would be much appreciated! ]]> Planting, growing, nurturing Plants Sandman http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16488-suggestions-for-shade-tolerant-ground-cover