Building Climate Resilient Edible Landscapes - Chuck Marsh

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1 Building Climate Resilient Edible Landscapes - Chuck Marsh chuck@livingsystemsdesign.net chuck@usefulplants.org

2 Ecosystem Restoration The keys to ecosystem restoration are rainwater and vegetation management. - Bernd Mueller, Tamara Ecovillage, Portugal

3 Horticultural Implications of Climate Change Seasonal climate pattern disruptions Hardiness zone instability Extremes of heat and cold Precipitation extremes drought, flood Pestilence and disease Increased fire risk Disturbed eco-, soil, and water systems = stressed out plants

4 Understand your site Watershed observation and analysis Surface water flows and potential catchment locations Identify microclimates Sunlight availability- during the growing season and during the daily sun cycle Existing structures and vegetation Shade patterns Soil types and drainage characteristics Seasonal and valley wind directions and flows Slope Aspect Fire risk sectors

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6 Permaculture Rainwater Harvesting Principles 1. Begin with long and thoughtful observation 2. Start at the high point of your watershed and work down 3. Start small and simple 4. Slow, spread and infiltrate the flow of water 5. Always plan an overflow route, and manage overflow water as a resource 6. Cover bare soil. Maximize living and organic groundcover 7. Optimize beneficial relationships among system elements it s the community of life that we cultivate! 8. Continually reassess your system and apply feedback as needed. Design-build-observe-change.

7 Use the water cascade

8 Simple Earthworks To manage surface water flows To create beneficial plant growing conditions

9 Rock and Brush Berms Build on contour with what s available Slows surface flows, allowing water to infiltrate Controls erosion Captures sediments Slows and spreads flow

10 Cracks and Rips Opens soil for water and root penetration Aerates Stores water in deeply in the soil Supports healthy root systems and soil ecology With grazing or mowing, builds topsoil quickly and deeply Scale from garden fork to subsoil plow

11 Holes and Pits Sunken spots to catch and infiltrate water Micro-catchment Direct catchment and infiltration Plantings in and around low spots

12 Vertical Mulching Trenches or holes filled with plant biomass deep, trenches 6 wide on average Supports rapid and deep water infiltration into the root zone In ground composting Plant adjoining, not in, hole or trench

13 Vertical mulching

14 Swales On contour, shallow water storage and infiltration structures Hold water, fill up, overflow Manage storm flows Create beneficial planting habitats

15 New Home Orchard Swale

16 Swale Development

17 Hugelswale

18 Gardening a swale

19 Terraces For shallow to moderate slopes Veggies on flats, berries and perennial herbs on slopes width Crowning or back sloping

20 Basins Infiltration basins sunken, or with raised sidewall berms Mulch filled basins Banana circles Grey water biofilter sites Rain Gardens Plant based on inundation tolerances

21 Large Basin Planting

22 Pools and ponds Water storage Habitat Microclimate Beneficial planting environments Aquaculture Irrigation Scale from kiddy pools to farm ponds

23 Pond Polyculture

24 Net and Pan Micro-catchment Low, shaped berms or rock piles Web planting pattern Directs surface water to planting pockets

25 Boomerangs Spreads concentrated flows Excess flows cascade from one boomerang catchment to the next

26 Deep Bed Soil Building Deep soil prep with an excavator Builds superior plant root growing conditions Infiltrates and stores water Use to prepare whole beds for diverse plantings Use for high productivity, intensive production Excellent for building permanent wide beds

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28 Burying vegetative carbon in hills and beds. Works for annual and perennial gardens. Needs extra water at establishment Hugelkultur

29 Sepp Holzer s Hugelkultur Diagram

30 Palisade style

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32 Wicking Beds Garden beds with subsurface water reservoirs Garden beds above wick moisture from reservoir below. Very water conserving method as there is minimal evaporation from soil surface or drainage loss Above and below ground variants

33 Wicking Garden Beds

34 Sheet Mulch

35 Neo-Horticultural Strategies for Climate Resistant Landscapes Garden as Ecosystem. Diversity and system maintenance protect against disturbance Polycultures forest gardens, alley cropping, inter-planting Capture and store carbon in the soil mulch and vegetation Manage light and shade via pruning and placement Manage plant growth via pruning, chop and drop, grazing, or mowing Stack vertically, pack horizontally

36 Limiting Factors in Plant Growth Sunlight Water Air quality Nutrient availability Temperature tolerances Predators and disease Design systems to overcome limiting factors.

37 Informed Plant Selection Based on site analysis and your nutritional and food needs Right Plant/Right Place Drought tolerance once established Heat tolerance Cold Tolerance Disease and insect resistance Cooling degree days needed for flowering Flowering and fruiting times Size and space available Horticultural strategy suitable to site and plant

38 African Polyculture- humid tropics

39 Alley cropping

40 Suntrap

41 Drought Tolerant Plants Fig Pomegranate Jujube Chestnut Grape Plums and Cherries Rabbiteye Blueberry Muscadine Grape Goji berry Cowpeas Sweet Potato Okra Amaranth Tomatoes Peppers

42 Drought Intolerant Plants Blackberry fruit Northern Highbush Blueberry Rhubarb??? Most leafy greens Corn???

43 Plants for moister soils Paw Paw Serviceberries Aronia Elderberry Cane fruits Hazelnut Walnut Pear Banana Rhubarb Cranberry

44 Poor drainage intolerant plants Figs Cherries Plums Apples Blueberries Kiwi Asian Persimmon??? Potato???

45 Disease and Pest Resistant Plants Butternut squash Cowpeas Goumi Muscadine Grape Jujube Rabbiteye Blueberry Fig

46 Celebrate Fecundity! Chuck Marsh

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48 Plant Establishment The critical first month, first year, first 5 years Dig wide holes or prepare whole beds Crack the soil below and beyond the hole Mix missing minerals and amendments in Seaweed soak pre- and post- transplant Plant and mulch Regular watering Protect from sun, weeds, critters

49 Building Seasonal Climate Resilience: Winter Plant Support Cold Protection: Greenhouses, cold frames, blankets, row covers Wind protection: Windbreaks, greenhouses, cold frames, blankets Microclimates: Use and create protective, beneficial microclimates Rainwater catchment: fill catchment ponds and infiltrate overflows Mulch: Thicken mulch for winter Plant: dormant trees, shrubs, vines in early winter Re-mineralize: Apply rock powders and minerals

50 Springtime Plant Support Freeze and frost protection Season extension Irrigation to support plant establishment and growth Rainwater collection and use Pull back or incorporate mulch to warm veggie garden soils Begin seasonal fertilization as needed to optimize plant growth and yields

51 Summertime Plant Support Seasonal droughts are common in southern summers Cover soil with mulch or vegetation Supply water to support plant production needs Meet plants nutrient and water needs Summer pruning of fruiting trees and shrubs Vegetation management: Harvest plant biomass to build soil Protection from pests and diseases Shade new plants or heat intolerant plants

52 Fall Plant Support Driest time of year Establish fall and winter crops and groundcovers Water to support new crop establishment and fall fruit crop development Prepare winter protection systems Mulch for winter Plant perennial and woody plants Build sheet mulch or hugelkulture beds for next growing season