Feb-March 2022, Phase 1: Digging the swales! We consulted with Festina Lente Farms for our larger scale farm design, and are hoping to address two things with the creation of these two initial 500ft swales on contour. First is water catchment as we definitely have an ongoing water issue due to being on the downside of a ridge. The purpose of the swales is not only catchment, but also the important storage of water. It is always important to keep water on your property, putting it to good use where it needs to be! We brought in 12 large rolls of non-treated hay to cover the swales and newly planted cover crop seeds until it is time to till the terraces and do the plantings (in April).
We have been planted with lots of varieties of salad greens near the black walnuts, and seeded in clover going all the way down to protect and also build up soil nutrients. Also, our copious amounts of goat, chicken and even some rabbit manure helps to build rich, fertile soils. On the swales we will be planting lots of varieties of fruit and nut trees, alongside various herbs and seasonal vegetables that Timothy has been collecting for us. Fruits such as peaches, plums, pears, apples, mulberries, pawpaw, persimmon with understory layering of various varieties of currents, gooseberries, honeyberries, medicinal and culinary herbs, various vegetables, and companion plants like yarrow, comfrey, borage, mullein, bee balm and false indigo that fix nitrogen, bring pollinators, attract beneficial insects, provide a "chop and drop mulching system", and deter pests.
The pathways on the terraces will be built up with wood chips and hay, which will provide a great ongoing mulching system that builds the soil life and health. The wood chips will be inoculated with King Stropharia (wine cap mushroom) spawn in the paths that will become wonderful edibles that support a strong immune system, and the mycelium will spawn as long as there is matter to consume - hence the wood chips. All of these systems will slowly join over time to form a very biodiverse food forest terrace system. We can't wait for what's next!
May 2022 Update
Our experience with permaculture folks down here in TN has been a wreck from the get-go sadly. We are at a loss as we have a real mess on our hands with a project that was started and never completed. We were so excited to be down here in TN and do such a cool project. I am speechless and it is most certainly a huge disappointment. At this point, we are praying we can find someone great who can help us move forward with it and get it implemented.
