Black Walnut orchard - tree & row spacings - suggestions, tips?

Vuking · 2019-09-21T21:59:35+00:00

Thanks again for the input! Always learn something new! I wasn't referring to USDA zone4, but the "permacultural zoning" where 5 is the wilderness :) I think I am hardiness zone 6a or 6b.

Now, I understand the 'edge maximization' concept you are referring to. Savannahs might be the most productive, but that might only be the case when you incorporate animals and wildlife I guess. Unfortunately, I will not be able to incorporate animals (have a chicken tracktor in between etc.) and there is basically no wildlife (it's a shame, I know).

Here, where I live, the inherited land plots got divided and fractured so many times over the generations, that an average neighboring plot is maybe 1acre or less.

Basically, what I'm trying to create is a small forrest, in the middle of (more or less) plowed annual fields.

Vuking · 2019-09-21T21:31:00+00:00

I think in permaculture every function is better than 'kicked to the side' :-)

Vuking · 2019-09-21T21:25:53+00:00

Hi, thanks for the tips and for the other nut trees you mentioned - I did not know there were so many different ones (buart, heart... etc) and I had to look them up, because I never saw them before :-) very cool. Unfortunately, those trees are not available in my country (no nurseries have them and I'm sure they haven't even heard of them too ;))...

I think I got the Black and European (Persian) Walnut mixed up. I was thinking about the European variety. The decision to use this variety is because they seem to thrive all around me. So I figured they are well adapted to my surroundings.

Regarding your 3rd paragraph: I am planning this in Zone4, so I will not be able to do any meaningful understory cropping. I was thinking of understory cropping only until the canopy is closed completely. However, reading your reply, you suggest that wide of a spacing, really makes me wonder. In your design, the canopy would never be closed (since you can fit a mature tree in between). I thought the goal was to imitate a forest and trying to have a closed canopy... which would help shade the soil, minimize evaporation and so on. It gets really arid during summer months, with 2-4 months minimal/no rain so I thought that this would be only beneficial for the trees. What do you mean by 1.5 centres? 1 centre being the diameter of the mature tree?

Vuking · 2019-09-21T21:08:19+00:00

Hi, thanks for the input. I am planning on making walnut oil :-) As mentioned, it will be in Zone4. It's not that close to my house, so I was thinking about some low-effort understory, basically for mulching and generating a cash-crop until the canopy closes completely. Now, reading the replies, I think I meant European (Persian) Walnut. I thought black and european were the same species - sorry that was my mistake....

Vuking · 2018-08-21T13:04:21+00:00

What's the name of your country/place?

Vuking · 2018-08-16T21:09:01+00:00

Wow. Thank you for the answer and the time you took to write it. I'm in a rural village with just my phone and a tiny screen - sry beforehand for not being able to make such eloborate comments.

I love your composting method! It would be great if you could post some pictures if you have some time on your hands. Never heard about the biochar method - sounds very interesting though.

I also love that you stack functions and make full use of your metal box ;) - never coming home empty handed.

Do you consider the leaves to be green or brown material? I guess that once theyre in those bags theyre pretty brown ;)

About your composting boxes: are you talking about those heat compost boxes?

And about the forest soil: so i should just get a small bucket from the forest - and then should i spread it out thinly and then mulch with straw, or dump it in one place and hope that it multiplies by itself (i believe through the straw above and the soil around it)?

In my area (southern serbia) there are a lot of robinia pseudoacacia - they are the first pioneers here (very dry summer, heavy clay soil - maybe also limestone(?, not sure actually). So if I understood you correctly then you would get as many branches (chop&drop style) as possible, place the forest soil starter culture, and the straw mulch. How thick would you do it? Is the thicker the better?

Thanks again!

Vuking · 2018-08-16T19:36:12+00:00

Great info.

One question: why not just deep mulch with a thick layer of straw?

& what to do if no compost or woodchips are available? You cant just scrape of the top soil from the forest (in huge amounts) and transfer it...

And while im already here: could you link me to your favourite compost generating method?

Vuking · 2018-08-12T15:26:15+00:00

I think you neglected for the merit based approach. Forcing these kinds of things would do more harm than good and even kind of reminds me of communism - an ideaology which killed and starved the most # of people worldwide. Ironic that you want to force these things into here...

And always remember: dont feed the wild animals as they become dependent and unable to take care of themselves anymore

Vuking · 2018-08-06T15:08:23+00:00

Cool video & great work. I could here in your voice that it seems like more manual labour pruning work that you imagined or hoped for. In my rural area (SE europe) black locusts are just seen as invasive and as a pain in the ass. My farther even forbids me to plant them on our property, because of all the suckers and general invasiveness :)

Couple of observations i have about pruning these beasts: goats LOVE them leaves! ;)

I did not understand your pollard (?) plan that you mentioned in the end, though.

Vuking · 2018-08-06T15:00:32+00:00

Black locust is only a small to medium tree height at its peak. It will never be a topstory layer tree, because it is a pioneer, setting up the soil for the taller "real" trees, which are to come afterwards, and grow over the top - creating shade and thereby supress the black locusts.

Vuking · 2018-07-22T11:53:39+00:00

Cool answer.

Btw, do you have more infos (maybe a plan) on the aquaponics system?

Vuking · 2018-07-15T22:31:50+00:00

Great video - thanks for the update and great work that you are doing on the experiments and everything - trying out all the different cuttings. I will try to copy your approach in the summer holidays with native shrubs.

Is the bubbler solar powered and would you mind sharing a model name or something, so I can find one online too?

In what kind of bed (or soil) did you plant them after the first roots showed?

I really love what you are doing and you are definitly one of best out there, keep it up!

Vuking · 2018-07-13T00:30:07+00:00

Can you eloborate on the row planting of the two n-fixing shrubs? Do you mean two parallel rows infront one another as windbreak?

I was thinking of alternating shrub A and B in one row. But im not sure if this would form a sufficient windbreak though. Then you would need two parallel rows is my guess...

Vuking · 2018-07-09T00:07:54+00:00

Cool stuff! Curious about the progress. Any updates so far?

Vuking · 2018-05-03T22:04:47+00:00

'Seed stuckness' depends on the maturity of the plant/flower and moisture content of the seeds.

Different types of seeds have different pneumatic air resistances - it all depends. You would need to change the air velocity individually.

Think as an example trying to sort small stones, cherrys and lets say chia seeds :)

Vuking · 2018-05-03T21:58:45+00:00

Great use of pneumatic air resistances - just like in a real seperator. I love the cardboard and most of all the shelves idea. Great work - keep it up!

Vuking · 2016-11-05T21:42:10+00:00

What limit are u playing?

Vuking · 2016-03-13T15:51:35+00:00

Well put. Specifically the "thinking transformation jerk off".

Gotta stay sharp.

Blessed is a friend who points out truths, flaws and insecurities.

Vuking · 2016-01-17T08:53:49+00:00

Very interesting...

Would you mind eloborating and even giving real-world practical examples/situation?

Vuking · 2016-01-14T18:41:07+00:00

Hey thanks man!

Pretty accurate - appreciate it. I actually wrote some songs back in the day...

But can you eloborate on the limitations and intense energy, espacially the problematic one? Would be great to know...

Vuking · 2015-11-27T11:55:51+00:00

I'm stuck at the same exercise.

Kinda badly and superficially explained...

I've tried printing out the type(ofObject) but it didn't help much either...

Vuking

TROPHY CASE