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  • From: <eureka AT hctc.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Got a plan?
  • Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:17:38 -0500

Ah...very beautiful indeed! If only we had a smidgen of their rainfall. I agree, the planting of it is a great opportunity. We love our ravine. In our favorite area I have put in a butterfly garden. Since our neighbor drastically cleared the land around us, it's the one place we actually can go and still feel like we are in the wilderness. It creates another microclimate altogether. Our chickens free-range in it, fairly protected by the overgrowth. We have a productive native stand of mulberries growing in it, a bounty of chili pequins, and among the oaks an oak that would make even the Keebler Elves envious.

The greatest permaculture challenge of the ravine is just getting from one side of the property to the other. This also could be looked upon as a design opportunity (except I know more about plants that engineering!). The shallowest crossing for the tractor is at the far end of the land over one of the limestone conglomerate shelves above a drop. The creek is usually dry, but on those occasions of heavy rain there is no way to cross. During two floods I experienced in the last seven years, I could not access that side for five days. So, we are reluctant to put any animals on that side. I have been trying to talk my husband into puting a couple of zip lines across the middle and a small bridge at the crossing for the tractor. My level of adventure is greater than his.

Another inpirational idea is from the Bridge of Flowers that I visited in Massachussetts http://www.shelburnefalls.com/attractions/bridge.html where an old bridge was turned into a garden and foot path. It was one of the most lovely and unique gardens I've ever visited. It would be pretty cool to build a bridge across that was also a garden...if I could figure out how to design a bridge.

Is there any book or source you could recommend on owner-built small-scale bridges (foot, tractor)? I'm thinking of something along the lines you see in state parks, etc.

--Sage


On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 20:31:36 -0500
Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com> wrote:

On Jul 9, 2008, at 11:51 AM, <eureka AT hctc.net> <eureka AT hctc.net> wrote:

I like the permaculture ideas a
lot, but they don't all work for us. For one we are
challenged with a deep ravine that splits the five acres
in half that makes any kind of radius of work proximity
impossible.

A challenge is often an opportunity. You caused me to flash on a place that might urge you to use the special opportunities that a ravine or gulch presents for a spectacular garden. Chris and I visited this botannical garden in Hawaii, on the big island. Not the famous one just north of Hilo, over on the wet side of the island north of Hilo. This one is north of Kona. It has a deep ravine going down through the middle of the property that carries rainfall from Mauna Kea down through the Kohala mountains and on to the ocean.

Okay, Google helped me find it. It is called The Garden of Pua Mau Place at Keanahalululu Gulch. You can view it at this Web site:
http://www.us.totaltravel.com/link.asp?fid=618498

We loved it. In addition to the gardens the place has fantastical sculpture. For the grandsons we took a photo of me astride a giant preying mantis, making as if I were wrestling it into submission. Hah! Enjoy and be inspired!




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