Monocultural farming techniques helped to create successful civilizations throughout history. The beginnings of single crop agriculture are associated with increased population and the ability to produce more food with fewer hours of labor allowing surplus for storage and to process large quantities of baked goods, beer and wine. However, monocultural farms do have serious disadvantages, and have many cautionary examples that show exactly how growing a single favored crop leaves a civilization vulnerable to compromised food supply. Growing a singular genetic stock in a sight specific manner has lead to instances of crop loss due to blight, drought, flood, or infestation and our modern hubris derived from a much better scientific understanding of botany and genetics does not make us immune from the potential consequences of single crop agricultural practice. I support science and do not have any health concerns over consuming genetically modified foods. I do however have many concerns over patented genetic seed stock and the vulnerability of our food supply to the ever adapting food crop pests. Evolution never sleeps.
My biggest concern is the limited dietary selection that will inevitably result from a focus on the shelf life, shippability, and consumer taste demands on the determination of which crops should be grown. Although these considerations are all valid and important considerations to the agribusinessman there needs to be a way for the average person to grow and deliver varieties of produce the family table. The most viable way to do this in my opinion is to adopt a philosophy of maximizing the productivity of ones own micro-agricultural spaces.
Biodiversify your own space and protect yourself against the inevitable problems of large scale single crop farming.
Showing posts with label biodiversity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biodiversity. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Biodiversity and the Edible Landscape
Many home gardeners limit their crops to maybe a few tomato plants and perhaps some strawberries or a small herb garden. Although this is a great start I would encourage these gardeners to look for more opportunities to replace purely decorative plants with varieties of plants that bring nutrition and sustenance and the benefits of reduced trips to the store to purchase produce.
A very good way to do this is to look at the landscape like a landscaper. Divide the yard into three stories. The floor is the story of the landscape that includes ground covers, ferns, mosses and low growing plants. The second story of the home landscape is the overgrowth which includes shrubs, large plants, vines and brambles. The canopy is the final story of the landscape. This story is basically trees.
When a gardener walks out into their green spaces they should look for opportunities to include plants that fill all three of these levels in order to create a design that looks natural. This type of planning is effective because it surrounds the observer in vegetation transporting them away from the hard urban forms that compose most of the scenery throughout their day. This aesthetic is also functional as it allows the gardener to create a microclimate with placement opportunities for greater varieties of plants.
This use of space will automatically increase your biodiversity because you are seeking out plants that produce nutrition and that fill a role within your design. Tucking in an extra few strawberry plants between the rock retaining wall and the pathway below it or placing an espaliered apple tree against a garden shed are examples of such planning.
Considerations:
Be aware of shadows cast by trees. When planting your dwarf orchard be aware of the canopy and it's shade. Get a twelve foot piece of PVC and hold it vertically where you plan on planting your tree. Observe where the end of the shadow falls. Repeat this process throughout a single day morning, noon and night. Record your results and then do this day pattern over a four month summer period starting in April. I know that this puts planting that orchard off for a year but careful observation and planting will allow you to take advantage of every square inch of your usable space.
Every safety railing or piece of wrought iron is a trellis. View every piece of decorative iron and every safety railing as an opportunity to support a grape, kiwi, or pole bean. Do not underestimate the value of these ready made supports in creating food opportunities.
Find edible flowers. Edible landscapes can include amazing flowers and spring displays. Day-lilies, Jerusalem Artichoke, Cherry tree blossoms, Sunflowers, Cone Flower, Roses, Arugula, Lavender, Nasturtiums, Marigolds, Crocus for harvesting saffron, Clover, Bachelors Buttons, and the controversial dandelion are all edible and add color to the garden.
Consider insect diversity. Bees offer good pollination and honey. Lady bugs and Lady birds control harmful insects as do mantis, mud daubers, wasps, masons bees, lacewings, predatory mites, mealy bug destroyer, and beneficial nematodes. Some of these can be introduced into your gardens and landscapes and will self sustain offering years of protection.
Be willing to experiment. Cold hardiness zones and soil types are guidelines that should receive some consideration. However, testing a sample plant now and then might yield unexpected results and opportunities for greater diversity. Try new and unusual varieties of annual vegetables as well as trees and shrubs. Be willing to accept some losses and test the boundaries of commonly accepted local gardening advice.
Consider Dioecious Fruit Trees. Instead of using self pollinators consider the two variety option where there is room to do so. This practice forces the gardener to increase the biodiversity and resilience of their garden. It may be necessary to graft additional varieties onto existing trees where space is limited in order to gain the same benefits.
Look at plant limitations as opportunities. Instead of looking at a label or planting guidelines as a limitation change your thinking into the question: "Where would this work in my garden?" this simple shift in thinking can reveal ways of filling up those nooks and crannies of unused space and increase your yield.
Research, Research, Research. I find new and interesting plants everyday that I am ready to add to my edible landscape and I encourage readers of my blog to share what they know with me or anybody else I enjoy learning everything I can about new edible varieties that will survive in my climate.
A very good way to do this is to look at the landscape like a landscaper. Divide the yard into three stories. The floor is the story of the landscape that includes ground covers, ferns, mosses and low growing plants. The second story of the home landscape is the overgrowth which includes shrubs, large plants, vines and brambles. The canopy is the final story of the landscape. This story is basically trees.
When a gardener walks out into their green spaces they should look for opportunities to include plants that fill all three of these levels in order to create a design that looks natural. This type of planning is effective because it surrounds the observer in vegetation transporting them away from the hard urban forms that compose most of the scenery throughout their day. This aesthetic is also functional as it allows the gardener to create a microclimate with placement opportunities for greater varieties of plants.
This use of space will automatically increase your biodiversity because you are seeking out plants that produce nutrition and that fill a role within your design. Tucking in an extra few strawberry plants between the rock retaining wall and the pathway below it or placing an espaliered apple tree against a garden shed are examples of such planning.
Considerations:
Be aware of shadows cast by trees. When planting your dwarf orchard be aware of the canopy and it's shade. Get a twelve foot piece of PVC and hold it vertically where you plan on planting your tree. Observe where the end of the shadow falls. Repeat this process throughout a single day morning, noon and night. Record your results and then do this day pattern over a four month summer period starting in April. I know that this puts planting that orchard off for a year but careful observation and planting will allow you to take advantage of every square inch of your usable space.
Every safety railing or piece of wrought iron is a trellis. View every piece of decorative iron and every safety railing as an opportunity to support a grape, kiwi, or pole bean. Do not underestimate the value of these ready made supports in creating food opportunities.
Find edible flowers. Edible landscapes can include amazing flowers and spring displays. Day-lilies, Jerusalem Artichoke, Cherry tree blossoms, Sunflowers, Cone Flower, Roses, Arugula, Lavender, Nasturtiums, Marigolds, Crocus for harvesting saffron, Clover, Bachelors Buttons, and the controversial dandelion are all edible and add color to the garden.
Consider insect diversity. Bees offer good pollination and honey. Lady bugs and Lady birds control harmful insects as do mantis, mud daubers, wasps, masons bees, lacewings, predatory mites, mealy bug destroyer, and beneficial nematodes. Some of these can be introduced into your gardens and landscapes and will self sustain offering years of protection.
Be willing to experiment. Cold hardiness zones and soil types are guidelines that should receive some consideration. However, testing a sample plant now and then might yield unexpected results and opportunities for greater diversity. Try new and unusual varieties of annual vegetables as well as trees and shrubs. Be willing to accept some losses and test the boundaries of commonly accepted local gardening advice.
Consider Dioecious Fruit Trees. Instead of using self pollinators consider the two variety option where there is room to do so. This practice forces the gardener to increase the biodiversity and resilience of their garden. It may be necessary to graft additional varieties onto existing trees where space is limited in order to gain the same benefits.
Look at plant limitations as opportunities. Instead of looking at a label or planting guidelines as a limitation change your thinking into the question: "Where would this work in my garden?" this simple shift in thinking can reveal ways of filling up those nooks and crannies of unused space and increase your yield.
Research, Research, Research. I find new and interesting plants everyday that I am ready to add to my edible landscape and I encourage readers of my blog to share what they know with me or anybody else I enjoy learning everything I can about new edible varieties that will survive in my climate.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Virtual seed swap
The past few days have been a great source of amusement as my facebook lights up with messages concerning the first annual seed swap on the "an honest to god gardening group" FB page.
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=2216893182
I created two forums one for a seed swap and the other for a scion exchange. A few of the over three thousand members of the group have decided to participate and the number of plants made available were also slim pickins but somehow I managed to find a very nice scion exchange to get some grape vine starters which will fit well trained over my walls next to the flagstone patio on a south facing wall. These will be very nice.
I was still very excited about the exchanges though as they have stirred my imagination with the possibility of virtual seed and scion exchanges that could provide diversity to the edible landscape. Even in a small urban setting a diversity of productive plants is necessary if you want to insure bounty in the fall. My yard is a 1/8th acre plot. On this I have planted:
Kristin Cherry
Lapins Cherry
Nanking Cherry (2 different cultivars)
Black Currant
Red Currant
All In One Hardy Sweet Almond
Allenia Hardy Sweet Almond
Daylillies
Service Berries (4 different cultivars)
Blackberries (5 different cultivars)
Strawberries (2 different cultivars)
Sweet Basil
Bush Basil
Meader Persimmon
Aronia Berry (3 different cultivars)
Taylor Paw Paw
Sunflower Paw Paw
Bartlett Pear
Mulberry
Gooseberry (4 different cultivars)
Hardy Kiwi (2 different cultivars)
Grapes (3 different cultivars soon to be 4)
Honeyberry (2 different cultivars)
Superior Plum
Methley Plum
Granny Smith Apple
Golden Delicious Apple
Reliance Peach
Apricot
Pluot
Red Raspberry
Golden Raspberry
Black Raspberry
Goji Berry
Cranberry
and about one thousand square feet of vegetable garden space with the usual suspects strategically placed including tomatoes, peppers, green beans, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli, carrots, beets, onions, egg plant, lettuce, and various herbs.
Bees
I will continue to build on the diversity which I see as a good start but not really good enough yet. I would still like to see some more edible plants despite my already highly unusual variety of edible plants. I would encourage gardeners to consider the possibility of increasing the biodiversity in your own landscape.
I think that the logical extension of this concept is the online seed swap/scion exchange and perhaps a perennial trade. Think about the possibilities!
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=2216893182
I created two forums one for a seed swap and the other for a scion exchange. A few of the over three thousand members of the group have decided to participate and the number of plants made available were also slim pickins but somehow I managed to find a very nice scion exchange to get some grape vine starters which will fit well trained over my walls next to the flagstone patio on a south facing wall. These will be very nice.
I was still very excited about the exchanges though as they have stirred my imagination with the possibility of virtual seed and scion exchanges that could provide diversity to the edible landscape. Even in a small urban setting a diversity of productive plants is necessary if you want to insure bounty in the fall. My yard is a 1/8th acre plot. On this I have planted:
Kristin Cherry
Lapins Cherry
Nanking Cherry (2 different cultivars)
Black Currant
Red Currant
All In One Hardy Sweet Almond
Allenia Hardy Sweet Almond
Daylillies
Service Berries (4 different cultivars)
Blackberries (5 different cultivars)
Strawberries (2 different cultivars)
Sweet Basil
Bush Basil
Meader Persimmon
Aronia Berry (3 different cultivars)
Taylor Paw Paw
Sunflower Paw Paw
Bartlett Pear
Mulberry
Gooseberry (4 different cultivars)
Hardy Kiwi (2 different cultivars)
Grapes (3 different cultivars soon to be 4)
Honeyberry (2 different cultivars)
Superior Plum
Methley Plum
Granny Smith Apple
Golden Delicious Apple
Reliance Peach
Apricot
Pluot
Red Raspberry
Golden Raspberry
Black Raspberry
Goji Berry
Cranberry
and about one thousand square feet of vegetable garden space with the usual suspects strategically placed including tomatoes, peppers, green beans, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli, carrots, beets, onions, egg plant, lettuce, and various herbs.
Bees
I will continue to build on the diversity which I see as a good start but not really good enough yet. I would still like to see some more edible plants despite my already highly unusual variety of edible plants. I would encourage gardeners to consider the possibility of increasing the biodiversity in your own landscape.
I think that the logical extension of this concept is the online seed swap/scion exchange and perhaps a perennial trade. Think about the possibilities!
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