[permaculture-oceania] Help needed in planning our PC farm

[Terry Leahy]

Dear permies,

An interesting issue.  Find it fascinating that overseas writers are still using the definition of permaculture from Permaculture One (perennials) rather than the replacement definitions (sustainable agriculture and settlement design and ethics) that are more current in Australia.  But sorry to harp on this!   On a much more practical note.  I find that my mulberries are doing really well in quite deep shade and that even though overshadowed by gum trees (next door to the north about 6 metres) they are fruiting well at only a few metres high.  I am also getting good growth on a macadamia and some fruits from a mango, which I think will gradually do better.  As understorey I am finding canna edulis and yams good.  The edible leaf taro is really good in a damp spot in the shade.  Violets are a definite and easy ground cover that you can eat.  I am just weeding the wandering dew to favour violets under the citrus.  Vietnamese mint likes a shady wet spot.  Sweet potato should work but it seems to get swamped by wandering dew or maybe it is not wet enough.  I also have a loquat which is finally fruiting and has a lot of fruit despite the gum trees next door. The feijoas have been doing nothing but I am not entirely sure if the problem is not rats or ring tail possums.  I am getting flowers and will net it this year.  The guava is gradually going ahead and I have certainly had some fruit on that.  Further up but also in a very shady spot I am getting great success with two bamboos - bambusa oldhamii.  These are rocketing ahead.   I am finding the fig in the shade a bit lack lustre so I have planted another one in a more sunny spot; likewise citrus and pomegranate, olive, carob, lebanese cress.  I am also getting good growth on bananas and pawpaw in the shade but we'll see if they fruit - they may get the sun later when they are higher.  The bananas I have fruiting now have much more sun.  Had quite a lot of fruit on a passionfruit for a few years which scrambled up into the light.  I have a raised bed which has a bit more sun and is growing asparagus; lima beans and red amaranth really well.  No luck with tomatoes, artichokes or pumpkins in that bed - it seems to be too shady and damp.  Another bean that does not seem to mind the shady conditions too much is lab lab.  I have had a lot of flowers and beans. 

Terry

>>> wordgarden at iinet.net.au Tuesday, 20 June 2006 8:31 am >>>
We intend to "scaffold / stack" our plants as they would grow in their
natural rainforest habitats, however the books all recommend full sun for
just about every tree. 

But for the here and now, and there any books you could recommend to help us
in the design stage?
[rf] 
Check out the recently released book "Edible Forest Gardens: Ecological
Design and Practise for Temperate Climate Permaculture" by Dave Jacke and
Eric Toensmeir.
I have just (a few days ago) bought this awsome 2-volume book so can't
really give a review, but it looks like just what you're looking for.
(although you will likely need to adapt the ideas a bit to suit your
particular area).
Find details at < <http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/>
http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/>
> And at
> < <http://www.chelseagreen.com/2005/items/edibleforestset>
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2005/items/edibleforestset>
although you can get it *much* cheaper at places like
http://www.megamediadepot.com/ where I paid $117.65 (incl postage) compared
to the $150 (plus postage) if you buy direct for the author or from the
publisher. (Can't figure out how that works, but there you go...)
 
Now, to find a few quite days (weeks!) to settle down and read the books.
 
cheers,
Robert