[permaculture-oceania] Advice on Berry Site

[David Arnold]

Hi Dan,

nitrogen fixing shrubs [shrubs that host nitrogen fixing bacteria] interplanted in an 
orchard only help make nitrogen available to the fruit trees if cut before they set 
seed.  Otherwise they take up that nitrogen for their own seed production.

The acacias you mentioned and casuarina grow big, and might not get cut each year 
because what is the special yield from their foliage?  What has fairly often happened 
when people try to apply the nitrogen fixing nurse shrub idea is the interplants become 
competitors not nurses for a few years then are eventually cut out.

Even with tagasaste, which is a terrific fodder shrub, it is very vigorous so the 
orchardists had better really want that fodder for their animals and be willing to keep 
cutting it and cutting it or it will become a competitor too.  

The rainfall there might carry a few perennials other than the fruit trees.  I think I would 
prefer lucerne [alfalfa] in the inter-row space as part of a grass/clover sward, and 
shelter/ insectivorous bird habitat shrubs planted around the perimeter of the orchard.

Regards,

David Arnold

> Hi all,
> 
> I'm helping with a permaculture-style orchard retrofit on a 16 acre
> site just out of Berry, a few hours south of Sydney (over last seven
> years the average annual rainfall was 94cm, the July average
> temperature 8.7 degrees and the January average 18.2 degrees with the
> occasional frost.  The soil is acid brown clay loam).  As well as
> integrating poultry and eventually bees, we're wanting to interplant
> some appropriate nitrogen fixers amongst fruit and nut trees.  Anyone
> familiar with this area/climate able to recommend any species that
> would be suited to this function?  So far are thinking acacias
> (floribunda, dealbata and decurrens), tagasaste and maybe casuarina
> and leucaena.  May also trial miracle plant (Lespedeza bicolor).  If
> anyone can advise on the rampancy potential of rosewood, icecream bean
> and honey locust (or any other exotics - the site fronts onto a salt
> water river) in this area that would be a help.
> 
> Also, a lady on the neighbouring property is considering giving up on
> her chook tractor due to rats burrowing in underneath, eating all the
> food scraps, and apparently stressing out the chooks enough to stop
> them laying.  She is considering a rat-proof raised fixed pen and
> manually shifting them to a day run morning and evenings, though my
> feeling is the right chook tractor design should get around the
> problem with less ongoing labour inputs.  Has anyone managed to get
> around major rat problems with their chook tractor?  Or is the fixed
> pen her best option?  Any experiences/opinions welcome.
> 
> Finally, the folks I'm working with are also interested to network
> with permaculture people in the Berry area - any contacts would be
> appreciated.
> 
> Best,
> Dan Palmer
> http://www.permaculturesolutions.com.au
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> permaculture-oceania at lists.cat.org.au
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> 
> 
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David Arnold			davidarnold at iinet.net.au

4446 Murchison Rd, Violet Town  VIC  3669
03 5798 1679		0428 981 679

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